MA Leaders Club

Amber Taverns in £80m management buyout

30-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Amber Taverns, the fast-growing operator of wet-led community pubs, has changed hands as part of an £80m management buyout.

Luminar sites net big investments

29-May-2014 By John Harrington

About half of Luminar’s 53-strong estate is scheduled to have received significant investment by the end of the current financial year, with c.£5m earmarked for major work at 15 sites during 2014/2015.

Stonegate to host nationwide charity pub tour

09-May-2014

Stonegate Pub Company will launch Britain’s Biggest Pub Tour next week.

Pieminister unveils plans for 'franchise' in pubs

09-May-2014 By James Wallin

Pieminister is seeking pubs to take up a brand licence to sell its pies.

McMullen invests in major refurb programme

02-May-2014 By Ruth Williams

McMullen, the Hertford-based brewer and pub company, has invested £240,000 renovating five of its pubs as part of its on-going investment plans across its estate.

Liberis offers £30m lending in return for share of future card payments

24-Apr-2014

Alternative finance provider Liberis is allocating £30m of new lending via business cash advances (BCAs) for the hospitality sector.

Orchid to expand All Inns concept after successful first year

11-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Orchid Group has revealed plans to open 26 new All Inns after seeing a 23% rise in like-for-like sales in its first conversions to the brand.

Stonegate prices £400m of bonds

10-Apr-2014 By Mark Wingett

Stonegate Pub Company, the TDR Capital-backed group, has completed the successful pricing of £400m senior secured notes due in 2019, after announcing the bond offer last week.

City Pub Company snaps up another two sites

03-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

City Pub Company has continued its expansion with the acquisition of a flagship Brighton pub for £4.5m and the leasehold of a west London site.

Craft Beer Co secures West End site

28-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Craft Beer Co, the craft beer pub operator led by Martin Hayes, is to launch a flagship site in London’s West End, after securing its first site with Punch Taverns, Rudy’s Revenge in Covent Garden.

The Big Interview: Mark Derry, Brasserie Bar Co

21-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

Mark Derry talks to Mark Wingett about Brasserie Bar Co’s concerted push into the pub sector with the White Brasserie Company

Orchid 'in IPO talks with advisors'

13-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

Deutsche Bank is understood to be conducting a beauty parade of potential advisors to a possible initial public offering (IPO) of Orchid Group, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learned.

Stonegate names Simon Longbottom as new chief executive

10-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate Pub Company has announced that Simon Longbottom, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, is to replace Toby Smith as chief executive of the managed operator.

Loungers' Alex Reilley wins top prize at Retailers' Retailer of the Year Awards

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Alex Reilley, who has overseen the impressive growth of Loungers, has been singled out by his peers as the stand-out individual in the eating-out and drinking-out market.

Maclay Inns develops BBQ pub concept

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Maclay Inns, the Scottish pub and bar operator, is to launch a new pub concept featuring barbecue food and craft beer.

Stonegate chief Toby Smith to leave

04-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate, the managed operator, has announced that chief executive Toby Smith is to leave the company as soon as a suitable successor can be appointed.

New World Trading Co set to add five sites

03-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

New World Trading Company, the Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts-led pub group, is on target to add five more sites to its estate this year.

Batemans creates ‘manchise’ deal

03-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Batemans, the Lincolnshire-based brewer and pub operator, has developed a management/tenancy hybrid agreement for future pub acquisitions, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learned.

McMullen seeks entrepreneurs to run pub - without investing any capital

26-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Hertford-based family brewer is on the hunt for enthusiastic entrepreneurs to run one of its pubs with a difference - they do not need to invest any capital, pay rent, utilities or rates.

Missoula ‘bias’ in Stonegate site conversions

26-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate’s conversions of its Living Room sites will have a “bias” towards Missoula, the group’s new US-inspired venture, according to chief executive Toby Smith.

Stonegate alters serve policy after customer downs 26 shots

24-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pub operator Stonegate has instructed barstaff across its 625-strong estate to be “vigilant” after a customer at one of its pubs reportedly downed 26 shots in just 10 minutes.

Stonegate's Common Room concept set to grow

18-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate, the managed operator, expects to have another dozen sites converted to its evolved student-bar concept Common Room by the end of summer, after sales grew 60% at the first outlet to operate under the format, chief executive Toby Smith has told...

Stonegate offers employees generous discounts with new reward card

17-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate, the managed pub operator, is offering every member of staff 25% off all purchases at the company’s venues under a new employee reward card introduced this month.

TCG recognises top employees in awards

07-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Managed pub operator TCG recognised its top performing employees in its 2013 awards ceremony held earlier this week at the Belfry in Warwickshire.

Charles Wells reports a year of 'steady progress'

24-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Charles Wells has reported a year of “steady progress” as it grew pre-tax profits from £6.5m to £6.7m and reduced net debt by £18.8m to £44.7m, due to the sale of its distribution depot and its Kestrel Super Strength brand.

Luminar announces new chairman

14-Jan-2014

Luminar, the nightclub operator led by Peter Marks, has announced that Alex Geffert is to step down as chairman on 16 January and will be replaced by Bob Brannan, former group managing director of Whyte & Mackay and William Grant Distillers and former...

Former Yummy Pub Co manager jailed for £19,000 theft

10-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Yummy Pub Co has said its trust was betrayed in one of the “most shocking ways” as its former general manager Aron Sheridan was sentenced to eight months in jail for the theft of £19,000 from the Grove Ferry Inn, near Canterbury in Kent.

Loungers promotes current finance director Nick Collins to chief operating officer

09-Jan-2014 By Mark Wingett

Loungers, the Piper-backed cafe bar operator, has promoted current finance director Nick Collins to chief operating officer (COO) to support its push through the 50-site barrier and beyond to its 2017 target of 90 sites.

BrewDog fundraising drive secures almost 10,000 investors

03-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Almost 10,000 people invested in the latest £4.25m fundraising drive from BrewDog, the company has said.

TCG reports strong Christmas trading

02-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Turnover for TCG, the managed operator, grew 7% over the Christmas and New Year period, the company has said.Food sales grew 10% across the business, according to chief operating officer Nigel Wright.

Statutory Code: JW Lees claims mandatory free of tie option would be 'disastrous'

20-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The introduction of a mandatory guest beer option for pub tenants could be “disastrous” and “endanger the viability” of mid-sized brewers while reducing choice behind the bar, JW Lees has told the Government.

Family brewer McMullen welcomes new members to 25 Year Club

18-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

McMullen, the family brewer based in Hertford, has welcomed seven new members to its 25 Year Club, bringing the total experience of all the club’s members to 1,141 years.

Spirit and Stonegate shortlisted in HR Distinction Awards

18-Dec-2013

Spirit Pub Company and Stonegate Pub Company have been shortlisted in the HR Distinction Awards in the Distinction in People Development category.

Intertain looking to be more 'aspirational'

16-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Intertain, the Walkabout bar operator, is looking to re-position its venues to be more “aspirational”.

Camerons acquires Head of Steam group

05-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Camerons Brewery, the Hartlepool-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired the seven-strong Head of Steam group, as it looks to triple its now c75-strong estate over the next three years.

Multiple operator hits out at ‘crazy’ business rates system after 15K hike

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A multiple operator has accused the business rates system of being “flawed” and “crazy” after facing a hike of almost £15,000 a year in business rates at just one site.

InnBrighton develops new business model

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

InnBrighton has developed a new business model that it has begun to use while expanding into London boroughs with a similar demographic to Brighton.

MA300: 'Outside industries are causing pubs to fail'

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

Pub failure is due to "outside industries raping the industry for revenue" and a range of "challenges" rather than the offer not being right, according to InnBrighton.

The Big Interview: Clive Watson, City Pub Company

03-Dec-2013 By Mike Berry

Entrepreneur Clive Watson has an enviable record of founding and selling pubcos – and his latest venture, City Pub Company, is shaping up very well so far. Mike Berry finds out what fuels Watson’s vision.

MA300: Branded managed operators 'perform stronger in recession'

02-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

Branded managed houses and pub chains will see more success than tenancies and freetraders during economic uncertainty because consumers feel more confident in the consistency of their offer, according to a pub industry veteran.

MA300: Nostalgia Inns signs deal with AGA

02-Dec-2013 By Mike Berry

Nostalgia Inns, the Midlands-based operator of country pubs, is undertaking a partnership with oven maker AGA to offer customers the “next generation carveries” from early next year.

Batemans eyes managed growth

28-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Batemans plans to grow its managed pub estate from three to 15 sites via acquisitions, focusing on a new ‘Beer & Bean’ concept.

Luminar lodges appeal against ASA decision

25-Nov-2013 By Lewis Brown

A nightclub and bar company has lodged an appeal against an Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruling which said one of its clubs wrongly targeted a 12-year-old with promotional alcohol offers.

City Pub Company aims for seven new sites after £10m fundraising drive

21-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

City Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)-funded pub operator, expects turnover to reach £7m in 2013 and is targeting seven acquisitions under its new £10m fundraising drive, co-founder Clive Watson has said.

Stonegate Pub Company buys 78 Bramwell sites

15-Nov-2013 By Mark Wingett

Stonegate Pub Company, the TDR Capital-backed group, has completed the acquisition of 78 sites from the administrators of Bramwell Pub Company.

M&B signs pub technology deal with Zonal

11-Nov-2013 By Mike Berry

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has signed a deal with Zonal to supply its pubs and restaurants with its hospitality technology solutions.

The Big Interview: Rufus Hall, Orchid

07-Nov-2013 By Rob Willock

Orchid boss Rufus Hall is on a charm offensive as he tells Rob Willock the story of the group’s rise and rise from the ashes of a pre-pack to a successful estate of 250 pubs that are positively blooming.

Eclectic buys Pitcher & Piano Manchester for Lola Lo

04-Nov-2013 By Mark Wingett

Eclectic Clubs & Bars has secured the former Pitcher & Piano site in Manchester’s Deansgate for conversion to an evolved version of its Lola Lo brand that will be the first to serve food.

Bramwell faces uncertain future as Stonegate eyes core estate

30-Oct-2013 By Mark Wingett

Bramwell Pub Company, the c180-strong managed operator, is in talks to sell the better performing parts of its estate to rival operator Stonegate Pub Company, a little more than a year after undergoing a financial restructure and appointing a new management...

Liberation’s new pubs performing well

29-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

The six-strong group of pubs that Liberation Group, the Jersey-based pub and drinks business, acquired back in June are delivering ahead of forecast after a period of bedding in, according to chief executive Mark Crowther.