MA Leaders Club

MA 500

MA500 Member Profile: Martin Hilton — Managing Director of Purecraft Bar & Kitchen, Birmingham

13-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Martin Hilton is only a third of the driving force behind the Purecraft Bar & Kitchen concept. Along with Michelin-star chef Andreas Antona and Purity Brewing Company managing director Paul Halsey, this tremendous trio have taken over Birmingham by...

MA500

Bitters N' Twisted's Matt Scriven: 'I wanted to put Birmingham on the map'

08-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser gets top tips from an existing licensee. After opening its first site in 2006, Bitters N’ Twisted now consists of multiple sites punctuated across Birmingham and beyond. 

MA500

BII Licensee of the Year: "Birmingham is a vibrant city, has plenty of culture and the people are friendly"

08-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser looks at why operators should consider opening a site in this thriving city.

Property

Redcomb adds Potters Bar pub to fast-growing estate

24-Nov-2016 By James Evison

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs has added a further site to its fast-growing portfolio of outlets having only acquired its previous site in October.

MA500

A year in the life of MA500 members

23-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The national living wage, the EU referendum and 'beertails' topped the agenda this year at MA500 meetings. Here, The Morning Advertiser reflects on the fast-changing landscape of the UK on-trade, as experienced by those who attended the gatherings....

MA500

New Botanist to open in Didsbury, Manchester

18-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The New World Trading Company (NWTC) has announced a new Botanist site in Didsbury, Greater Manchester. 

Beer

City Pub Co supports Redemption Brewery for Small Business Saturday

17-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The City Pub Company is getting behind Small Business Saturday by supporting a local north London-based brewery.

MA500

Northern Powerhouse: how the top operators roll

11-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton & Liam Coleman

The latest MA500 event took place in the booming Yorkshire city of Leeds in September. Members heard from experts in the field of design, employee engagement and social media, as well as fellow top operators. 

Beer

BrewDog outlines brewery and HQ plans

03-Nov-2016 By Beer

Plans for the expansion of the current BrewDog brewery facilities and head office operations have been outlined by the Scottish company.

MA500

New World Trading Company's York site set to create 60 jobs

03-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The New World Trading Company's new site in York is set to create up to 60 jobs as it opens its doors this November.

MA500

Oakman Inns growth continues

07-Oct-2016 By James Evison

Multiple operator and Publican Awards winner Oakman Inns has continued its strong sales performance and growth of its Enterprise Inns managed site partnership.

Charity

Oakman Inns raises £20k for Italian earthquake appeal

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Midlands and southern-based multiple operator Oakman Inns has raised more than £20k for charity following the Italian earthquake last month.

Craft beer

Craft Beer Co's 'Craft 100' festival returns

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

One of London's biggest pub beer festivals Craft100 has returned for a second year at The Craft Beer Co's Clapham site.

Leeds

Why should operators consider Leeds?

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Co-founder of Arc Inspirations, Martin Wolstencroft will be speaking to delegates about Leeds at this month's MA500 meeting and advising them on the city.

Employment

Employment expert Katrina Fox gives tips on how to get and retain staff

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Employment expert Katrina Fox will be advising delegates at the next MA500 meeting this month (September) on how to attract and retain staff. Ahead of the event, Fox reveals some of her top tips. Nikkie Sutton reports.

Apprenticeship Levy

Pub boss calls for rethink on apprenticeship plans

08-Sep-2016 By Ed Bedington

The government’s plans to impose an apprenticeship levy could put the brakes on the ability of the industry to train efficiently, a leading pub operator has warned.

Openings

Pint Shop set to open new site in Oxford

24-Aug-2016 By James Evison

Cambridge beer house Pint Shop is set to open its second site in Oxford next month (September) following extensive work to the venue.

The Craft Beer Co

Craft Beer Co secures another London site

21-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

London-based pubco the Craft Beer Co has secured a new site in the city’s Limehouse.

Interior Design

Five important things to consider when refurbishing your pub

02-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

The design of a pub is a method in which the business can draw customers in: its location, indoor and outdoor space, as well as décor, can all contribute to that important first impression. 

MA500

Leeds is "an amazing, vibrant and metropolitan city"

26-Jul-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Operators explain why Leeds is ideal for the next MA500 club meeting.

city news

Oakman Inns reports growth - but issues Brexit warning

05-Jul-2016 By James Evison

Publican Award winner Oakman Inns reports like for like growth in Q1 of 5.1% - but issues Brexit warning as well.

City news

City Digest: Touchwood, City Pub Co and Charles Wells

05-Jul-2016 By James Wallin

This week's city digest includes new sites for Touchwood and City Pub Co, Pantry plans for Charles Wells and Deliveroo expansion.

City News

Butcombe Brewery plans to reach 100 sites

05-Jul-2016 By James Wallin

Butcombe Brewery has announced plans to grow by up to 100 sites over the next five years as its parent company edges closer to securing new backers.

City news

Former Geronimo MD launches pub company

30-Jun-2016 By James Wallin

Former Geronimo Inns managing director Ed Turner is launching a new pub company and has secured his first site, with Star Pubs & Bars, MCA has learnt.

Video: watch the highlights from the latest PMA500 in Soho

14-Jun-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators at the latest PMA500 in Soho heard from industry experts about the potential impact of Britain leaving the European Union on the sector, how pubs can do more to tap in the lucrative family market and how can manage high rents in competitive...

City news

New World Trading Co acquired by private equity firm

09-Jun-2016 By MCA

Graphite Capital, the private equity backer of Hawksmoor and Corbin & King, has acquired the fast-growing pub and restaurant business New World Trading Company (NWTC), in a £50m deal, MCA understands.

Innovation

BII's Anthony Pender: Why I opened a pub without a bar

02-Jun-2016 By Anthony Pender

Co-owner of Yummy Pub Co and BII Chairman Anthony Pender talks about the need for constant innovation in the pub sector.

Pubs minister: system for calculating business rates 'unlikely' to change

27-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Pubs minister Marcus Jones has said that the current system for calculating pub business rates is unlikely to change ahead of next year’s revaluation.

The Big Interview: Oakman Inns founder Peter Borg-Neal

23-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Peter Borg-Neal is different to many pubco chief executives, having worked in just about every role in the business. Oli Gross finds out more about him.

Europe: the debate so far

20-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators will have the chance to make known their views on Britain’s potential exit from the European Union at next week’s PMA500 event, where Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Kate Nicholls will chair a debate on Brexit. In...

Brexit might not led to less red tape for trade, licensing expert warns

19-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Leading licensing solicitor Robert Sutherland has warned that leaving the European Union might not cut down on the amount of red tape and bureaucracy facing the UK pub sector.

People Development

NWTC launches Tribes employee engagement initiative

13-May-2016 By James Wallin

The New World Trading Company is launching an innovative employee initiative which sees staff across the UK split into six ‘tribes’ competing against each other.

Research

Take our Pub Market Report survey and win tickets to Great British Pub Awards

09-May-2016 By Mike Berry

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) has teamed up with sister title MCA to quiz readers on the challenges and opportunities facing the pub sector for its annual Pub Market Report.

Top tips for cutting energy bills in your pub

06-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Energy costs are a growing concern for pub operators. According to Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood, one of the questions the pubco is most regularly asked is how tenants can cut their energy costs and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says...

Those pesky kids: how pubs can improve their offer for families

06-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

At the next PMA500 business club, Carrie Longton, co-founder of Mumsnet, now the biggest network for parents in the UK, will be speaking to operators about how they can improve their offer for families.

Tipping: industry welcomes Government crackdown on 'unfair' practices

03-May-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The hospitality industry has largely welcomed Government plans to crack down on unfair tipping practices.

Living Ventures' Tim Bacon passes away

03-May-2016 By MCA

Manchester hospitality legend passes away following a long battle with cancer.

Legislation

Exclusive: Pubs Code Adjudicator reaches out to campaigners

03-May-2016 By James Evison

Meetings planned by the new Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) Paul Newby to include those who have campaigned against his employment - but they have denied his request.

Behind the scenes at BrewDog

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

BrewDog’s meteoritic success story has captured the beer industry – and the public’s – attention. Love them or hate them, the self-styled punk brewers rise to the top has been hard to ignore since it launched nine years ago in rural Scotland by co-founders...

Two new sites for Great British Pub award winners

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Great British Pub award winners Maggie and Andrew Dunkin have taken on a further two sites in Nottingham in partnership with Punch.

Amber Taverns secure Kettering site

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Wet-led pub operator Amber Taverns has taken on closed freehold pub the Watercress Harry in Kettering, Northamptonshire in an off-the-market deal conducted by property specialists Davey Co.

Record year for Craft Beer Co

21-Apr-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Six-strong bar group the Craft Beer Co has reported a record year, with turnover up 16.8%.

PMA500

'Soho has a long, vibrant history': Q&A with Inception Group's Charlie Gilkes

07-Apr-2016 By PMA

Inception Group director and co-founder Charlie Gilkes will be speaking at the next PMA500 event on the benefits of operating in Soho, creating memorable experiences for guests and how to stand out in a competitive market.

PMA500

Soho: The lowdown on the latest PMA500 club

07-Apr-2016 By PMA

The upcoming PMA500 business club meeting will take place in central London - here's a lowdown on Soho's scene.

Advice

How to deal with the National Living Wage

29-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

Comment and advice from licensees, multiple operators and pubcos on how best to deal with the National Living Wage.

Legislation

Top tips for licensees on dealing with the National Living Wage

29-Mar-2016 By PMA

How to deal with the introduction of the National Living Wage and make it work successfully for your business.

Flair of smaller pub operators leaves big boys trailing

10-Mar-2016 By Ed Bedington

Is big no longer beautiful? According to a recent bit of research by financial boffins, it’s the medium-to-smaller size operators that are really motoring, while larger counterparts are left lurching in their wake.

Events

Exciting new trade show - The Bar & Pub Show - launches

02-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

A new event dedicated to the bar and pub sector will run alongside this year's Restaurant Show at Olympia bringing together the best suppliers in the business with top operators that are transforming the UK’s on-trade.

city news

Shepherd Neame sales up 2.7% in tenanted and 6.5% in managed estates

02-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Shepherd Neame has announced like-for-like sales in its managed estate up 6.5% for the half year to 26 December with tenanted like-for-like EBITDAR up 2.7%.

Revolution Bars reports sales up 2.7%

01-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Revolution Bars has reported like-for-like sales up 2.7% for the six months to 31 December.