Independent Operators

Whiting & Hammond’s seventh site

11-Nov-2011

Whiting & Hammond, the award-winning south-east multiple led by co-founder Brian Whiting, has secured its seventh site, historic 18th-century Stanmer House in Brighton.

Responsibility deal condemned

11-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Government’s responsibility deal will fail because it creates a fundamental conflict of interest within the drinks industry, according to public health campaigners and an influential committee of MPs.

Multi-sites prove pubs are alive and kicking

10-Nov-2011 By The PMA Team

This magazine has been charting the rise of the multi-site operators for a while now, through our MA250 programme, adding around 50 companies a year to the membership.

Restaurant Group refinances on sales uplift

10-Nov-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The Restaurant Group (TRG), owner of the Brunning & Price pub chain, Frankie and Benny’s and Chiquito brands, has completed a refinancing exercise that has given the business a new five-year, £140m bank facility.

AB-InBev UK Q3 volumes rise 0.8%

09-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

AB-InBev, the international brewer, has cited “poor summer weather” for a modest 0.8% rise in own-beer volumes in the UK in Q3 2011.

Living Rooms: They’re the new Smoking Rooms

09-Nov-2011 By Mark Daniels

So David Cameron has announced that he supports the smoking ban and thinks that it has worked — cue every smoking zealot spouting figures to the contrary, and everybody else telling them to shut up and get on with it.

Georgel: pubcos must empower BDMs

09-Nov-2011 By Ewan Turney

It is puzzling the industry does not spend more time focusing on the role of the Business Development Manager — that’s the view of Admiral Taverns boss Kevin Georgel.

A third Cosy Club opened

09-Nov-2011

Loungers, the privately-owned group led by Alex Reilley, has opened its third site under its Cosy Club brand in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

C&C buys US cider brand for €20m

09-Nov-2011

C&C Group, the Dublin-based producer of Magners, has bought America’s second biggest cider brand Hornsby’s from E&J Gallo for a deal worth up to €20m.

Four more join ALMR

08-Nov-2011

Liverpool-based pub and bar operators Central Bars, Baa Bar, Pax Leisure and Ice Bars are the latest to join the Association for Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

British Pub Week toasts success

08-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

Licensees across the country raised a glass to the Great British pub as customers flocked in to celebrate British Pub Week.

Lincs pub found with majority of underage customers

08-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A Lincolnshire pub has been served with a closure notice for failing a test purchase operation and having a majority of underage customers.

Pub gaming is under control

07-Nov-2011 By Peter Coulson

Whatever claims politicians make about the removal of red tape, those in the licensed trade know only too well that nothing actually gets any better.

Tragedy raises review queries

07-Nov-2011

The tragic events at Lava & Ignite in Nottingham, that saw a student crushed to death, hit the headlines for obvious reasons, but the aftermath raises a couple of questions for me.

Eclectic eyes expansion on sales boost

07-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed bar group, continues to eye expansion as it reports increased sales and EBITDA in the year to 30 June 2011.

New cider house for London

07-Nov-2011

The team behind well-known London pub the Euston Tap at Euston station, which specialises in unusual and niche beers, are to open a dedicated cider pub opposite.

Pubs could act as tourist offices

07-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

More pubs could soon provide tourist information as part of their offering if a pilot scheme in a West Sussex pub is successful.

Carbon Trust offers free energy advice for licensees

04-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

Pubs could save up to 20% on energy costs with an investment of just £2,000 — that’s according to the Carbon Trust, which has launched a new free independent advice service aimed at helping businesses improve their energy efficiency.

Time for change: an open letter to Bob Ivell

03-Nov-2011 By The PMA Team

Dear Bob, I trust you’re well. Welcome back to the pub trade. You will have noticed that right now our industry’s collective voice is as fragmented as ever. I know there have been a few distractions at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), Bob, but things...

GMB to survey pubs to fight hike in rent

03-Nov-2011 By Ewan Turney

The GMB is to undertake a survey of pub rents in the East Midlands area in a bid to fight a proposed 60% rent hike at a Punch pub.

Bars could close if PPL fees increase

03-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Late-night pubs, bars and clubs that host DJ nights and discos will be forced out of business if proposed changes to the way music royalties are paid are pushed through — that’s the clear message from a host of operators who laid bare the shocking extent...

ALMR opposes blanket ban on restrictive covenants

02-Nov-2011 By John Harrinton, M&C Report

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has urged action on the use of restrictive covenants on pub sales, but fell short of calling for a blanket ban.

BII hunts for licensee of the year

02-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is welcoming entries for its Licensee of the Year Award, which has now entered its 27th year.

The below-cost sales minefield

01-Nov-2011 By Peter Coulson

It does not surprise me that the Government is having some difficulty in resolving the issues involved in supermarket low-cost sales (Cheap booze ban: work continues — the PMA, 20 October).

Are you a lamb to the slaughter?

01-Nov-2011 By Robert Sayles

Neil Robertson recently stated that the prospect of naive new tenants entering the trade was a major source of concern. With this in mind I’ve devised a questionnaire so that those thinking about entering the trade can gauge whether or not they fully...

CAMRA urges restrictive covenants ban

31-Oct-2011

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on the Government to ban the practice of selling pubs with restrictive covenants that force change of use.

Dukedom goes into administration

31-Oct-2011

Dukedom, the Redcar-based pub and bar operator, has been placed into administration.

Hall & Woodhouse posts drop in profit

31-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Hall & Woodhouse, the Dorset brewer and pub operator, has reported a fall in pre-tax profit for the 52 weeks to 29 January 2011, as it incurred significant start-up costs for a flagship site in Bath and started the development of its new brewery.

BISC's pubco report: the trade's view part II

31-Oct-2011

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...

Tim Martin takes £19k pay cut

28-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett

Tim Martin, chairman of managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW), took a £19,000 pay cut in 2011, according to the company’s annual report.

BISC’s pubco report: the trade’s view

28-Oct-2011

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...

Shepherd Neame appoints new finance director

28-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has appointed Mark Rider, former head of finance, food at Sainsbury’s, as its new finance and IT director.

Shoreditch pub to put clocks forward at weekend

28-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

Whilst the rest of the country prepares to put its clocks back this weekend, an East London pub will be bucking the trend by putting its own clocks forward an hour.

The thicket that is gambling law

27-Oct-2011 By Peter Coulson

Some of you may not agree, but I have a great deal of sympathy for local authority licensing officers. With their councils strapped for cash and looking to cut services, they still have to cope with a multitude of licensing problems, not just to do with...

Shining light on the best in a changing industry

27-Oct-2011 By The PMA Team

It has always been the way. At any given moment in any given market there are winners and losers. No matter how dire the market conditions are, somebody — invariably quite a few people — will be prospering.

Pub trade counts £7m cost of rate appeals

27-Oct-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Almost 7,500 pubs are still waiting to appeal their 2010 business rates, costing the industry an estimated £7m each year.

My Pub: A shining pub star

26-Oct-2011

The chance to acquire the freehold of their leased pub, Ye Old Sun Inn, at Colton, in North Yorkshire, enabled Ashley and Kelly McCarthy to turn a successful business into a stunning one. Tony Halstead reports.

BBPA and VisitEngland link-up on access needs for pubs

26-Oct-2011

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has teamed up with VisitEngland, the national tourist board, to help more pubs cater for visitors with access needs.

Morgenrot appoints Carl Plath as new MD

26-Oct-2011

Wine and beer importer, the Morgenrot Group, has appointed Carl Plath as its new managing director after the sad death of the much loved and respected Ray Flynn last month.

Hull pub under fire for breathalyser machine

26-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Humberside licensee has installed a breathalyser in his pub to try and curb the problem of drink driving he says is blighting his local community.

An Ever So Sensible revamp

25-Oct-2011

The Horse & Groom in Lincoln is set to receive a £250,000 overhaul as part of plans unveiled by new operators the Ever So Sensible group.

Minor variations, major grief

24-Oct-2011 By Peter Coulson

I am continuing to receive reports from licensees in many parts of the country about the refusal of minor variations to their premises licences.

Aston Manor reports dip in profit

24-Oct-2011

Birmingham-based cider maker Aston Manor Brewery saw a slight dip in pre-tax profits in 2010, despite turnover rising 49.8% to £79.25m.

Pub hosts faced ruin after loan fraud

24-Oct-2011

Two hosts faced bankruptcy and were forced to live in a friend’s spare room for three months after being caught in the clutches of a multi-million pound fraudster.

Don’t roll over, fight for what you believe

21-Oct-2011

Following the recent highly publicised partial success in the European Court of Justice by Hampshire licensee Karen Murphy and the Premier League on the issue of satellite screenings of football, should we all not be thinking now is the time to stand...

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