MA Leaders Club

OBE honour ‘recognises work of many people’ says Beds & Bars founder

19-Jun-2017 By Claire Churchard

The Queen unveiled her birthday honours list at the weekend with the news that she has awarded Beds & Bars CEO and founder Keith Knowles an OBE for services to the community and charity.

MA500: we aren't saying don't drink, it's pubs having something for everyone

09-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

With Millennials drinking less than any other age group, Club Soda co-founder Laura Willoughby demonstrated to delegates how adding to their drinks offer can pay dividends.

MA500: Licensing Act changes - what are the odds?

09-Jun-2017 By Claire Churchard

The House of Lords select committee laid out its proposals for a “major overhaul” of the Licensing Act 2003 in early April. 

MA500: top tips on holding live music events

09-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Music maestro Ethan Allen gave delegates at last month (May)'s MA500 meeting in Liverpool, his top tips on how best to use live music in their venues:

MA500: hitting the Mersey

09-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The latest MA500 business club saw the sights and sites of Liverpool and heard from operators inside and outside of the trade before pounding the streets for a study tour.

Be At One appoints head of marketing to drive innovation

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Sophie Evans has been appointed head of marketing at cocktail bar operator Be At One.

£420,000 investment for Alchemist sites

26-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Alchemist has said it will temporarily close two of its sites in June as part of a full refurbishment.

Provenance Inns co-founder quits as director

25-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

There will be “no changes to current or future projects” from Provenance Inns, despite the co-founder resigning as managing director.

Wadworth targets 65 managed sites after £6.5m investment

24-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Wadworth is looking to take its managed estate to 65 sites in the years ahead, The Morning Advertiser (MA) understands.

Licensing authorities and publicans to job swap for National Licensing Week

23-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

National Licensing Week will take place in mid June and see job swaps across the industry, the Institute of Licensing has confirmed.

Turnover of largest pub groups continues to outpace inflation

23-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The average turnover of the 50 biggest pub companies in the UK is continuing to outpace inflation.

Redcomb to open pop-up site on ‘floating park’

22-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A pop-up site from Redcomb Pubs will open at London’s ‘Floating Pocket Park’ on the Paddington Basin section of the Grand Union Canal this summer.

Pete Brown: craft beer will drive alcohol-free category

18-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

The alcohol-free beer category will become as attractive to drinkers as the regular alcohol categories soon, according to award-winning beer writer Pete Brown.

What the Millennials say about pubs

18-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Drinks offers, atmosphere, ‘shareability’ and the entertainment available in the pub play a big part in where Millennials choose to spend time in the on-trade.

Pubcos included on LSE list of firms with ‘high-growth potential’

15-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Four pub operators have been included on the London Stock Exchange’s ‘1,000 Companies To Inspire Britain’, an annual celebration of the country’s most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

Three Cheers takes on eighth site and plans £2m refit

12-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Three Cheers Pub Company has announced that it has grown its portfolio by acquiring the Bedford in Balham, south London, taking its total number of sites up to eight.

MA500 Liverpool thrilling study tour announced

11-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The next MA500 meeting is taking place next week (Thursday 18 May) in Liverpool and the study tour venues have now been revealed.

Red Mist Leisure reveals breakfast offer at new site

08-May-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Red Mist Leisure is launching a weekend breakfast offer at its newly opened 500-year-old Red Lion in Odiham, Hampshire. 

Exciting line-up for Liverpool MA500 unveiled

08-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A rundown of what to expect at the upcoming MA500 business club meeting on 18 May at the Camp and Furnace in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle has been announced.

National Trust reveals it owns more pubs than BrewDog

02-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The National Trust has revealed that it owns 39 pubs in the UK, meaning it owns more pubs than New World Trading Company, BrewDog and Be At One.

Carrwood Catering closes Kelsall site

20-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Carrwood Catering has closed the doors at its Lord Binning pub in Kelsall, Cheshire, after six years running the site.

Cirrus Inns receives almost £12m backing from Metro Bank

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Cirrus Inns has received £11.67m in funding from Metro Bank meaning the multi-site operator can acquire more venues.

Suck it up: Oakman Inns set to permanently ban straws

20-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Oakman Inns is launching its own permanent “ban the straw” campaign on Earth Day (22 April) declaring “straws suck”.

Brakspear chief pulls pints for Sue Ryder charity

19-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Going back to his bartending roots, Brakspear’s chief executive pulled pints to help the company raise £51,000 for a chosen charity.

MA500 Member Profile: Andrew Stones on why Liverpool is a good bet

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

After its inception in 1998, Be At One now has more than 30 bars across the country. After opening its Liverpool site just six months ago, operations director Andrew Stones outlines why operators should consider the thriving city and what it has to offer...

Music in pubs: playing to win

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Music maestro Ethan Allen will be giving delegates the benefits of his expertise in helping pubs tap into live music at the next MA500 meeting on 18 May in Liverpool. He shares some of his top tips ahead of the event. Nikkie Sutton reports. 

Laine Pub Company buys New Pub Company in deal worth almost £4m

10-Apr-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Laine Pub Company, the Brighton and London-based group, has acquired the New Pub Company from founder Peter Linacre in a deal thought to be worth just under £4m, The Morning Advertiser's sister title MCA has learnt.

ACI raises more than £20,000 for local charities

10-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has accomplished a year-long goal after deciding to “do something special” during its 20th birthday year - raise £20,000 for local charities across its seven outlets in Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

Brexit: employers concerned as future of EU workers remains unclear

29-Mar-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Article 50 will be triggered today and the official countdown to Britain leaving the EU will begin in earnest, but the detail that is worrying most who work in the pub trade is the crisis in waiting around the residency and working rights of foreign employees...

Opinion

'We must do everything to get people back into our pubs', says Cornerstone Inns managing director

20-Mar-2017 By Damon Horrill

Damon Horrill, managing director, Cornerstone Inns has said "we must do everything to get people back into our pubs".

How the record-breaking New World Trading Company was built

17-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) swept the board at this year’s Publican Awards, winning an unprecedented six awards. But how did the pub company get so far in such a short space of time?

Be At One talks multiple city sites as it opens second Leeds pub

16-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Cocktail bar operator Be At One has acquired a second site in Leeds increasing its total number of sites to 32.

BrewDog admits talks to sell almost a third of business

16-Mar-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog has admitted it is considering the timescale for a potential initial public offering (IPO) and has been in discussion with investors about selling almost a third of the company.

Future looks bright as pub closures slow

10-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

For so long in the industry we have been told pubs are closing at an alarming rate. Yes, closures are continuing but the rate is slowing and multiple operators are spotting opportunities to open more sites.

Seafood Pub Company acquires first Yorkshire site

28-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Award-winning group Seafood Pub Company has announced the purchase of its first site in Yorkshire.

MA500

Look to Dubai for inspiration says brand expert

28-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Operators need to look further afield than the UK, creative expert and founder of Keane Brands Aidan Keane told delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s MA500 event in Birmingham earlier this month (16 February).

Dark Star to open fifth site

28-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Brewer and pub operator Dark Star Brewing Co will open its fifth site in Crawley, West Sussex.

New pub entries on Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies list

27-Feb-2017 By Claire Churchard

Pub employers have made a strong showing in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies To Work For 2017 list, with several new entries from the industry.

NWTC plans to roll out six sites a year

17-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) boss Chris Hill told The Morning Advertiser he wants to open six new sites a year.

MA500

Pub food can survive the Brexit storm

17-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Food-led pubs are in the best position to weather the storm of Brexit-induced price rises and reduced consumer confidence caused by political instability.

MA500

Pubs with rooms are 'not like Fawlty Towers now'

16-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Visitor numbers across Britain are expected to rise further as the weaker pound makes it more attractive to foreigners and Brits alike, according to Dominic Worrall, owner of the Bull in Ditchling, East Sussex.

'Much to be proud of' in Birmingham pub property market

14-Feb-2017 By Paul Davey

Ahead of the MA500 arriving in Birmingham this Thursday (16 February), the managing director of Davey Co, Paul Davey, takes a look at the pub property market in the city.

MA500 thrilling study tour unveiled

03-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The MA500 is coming to Birmingham and has arranged a fantastic study tour of some of the city centre’s most interesting and exciting venues to follow the day’s riveting line-up.

BrewDog and Cloudwater collaborate on new Vermont IPA

02-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

BrewDog has collaborated with acclaimed Manchester brewery Cloudwater on a new beer.

NWTC boss “aware of risks of expansion” following £23m NatWest backing

02-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

New World Trading Company (NWTC) chief executive Chris Hill has said he is aware of the risks of expansion after announcing NatWest are investing £23m into the pub group.

New World Trading Company to launch new concept

27-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

New World Trading Company (NWTC) is to launch a new concept in Birmingham this year. 

"We want to be a proper regional brewer with a tied estate" - Mark Crowther on his Butcombe plans

24-Jan-2017 By Phil Mellows

The realisation of refinancing has given Butcombe Brewery the chance to expand and chief executive of parent company Liberation Group, Mark Crowther, is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

Revealed: exciting line-up for Birmingham MA500

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A rundown of what to expect at the upcoming MA500 event in Birmingham on 16 February has been revealed.

Music in pubs is a "humungous matter" says branding expert

16-Jan-2017 By Aidan Keane

Aidan Keane of Keane Brands, which designs restaurants, bars and clubs, gives us his opinion on the need for music.

Ainsty Inns' owner reveals why he swapped the motor trade for the pub industry

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Former motor industry man Antony Pratt decided to swap the car keys for pub keys and really moved up a gear when his Ainsty Inns business expanded.