MA Leaders Club

Amber expands with two new sites

24-Oct-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Amber Taverns, the Preston-based operator of wet-led freehold pubs, has taken its estate to the 70 mark with the purchase of a further two sites in the north-east.

Tavistock’s new gastropub franchise

24-Oct-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Tavistock Leisure, the Sunderland-based bar, restaurant and hotel operator, has unveiled plans to rollout a chain of gastropubs and restaurants via a “franchise-style” scheme.

No Saints reveals plans to launch 15 sites

10-Oct-2011

No Saints, the bar and restaurant group run by former Luminar chief executive Stephen Thomas, revealed plans to open at least 15 sites.

Novus aiming to double its estate

03-Oct-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Novus, the privately-owned bar and club group, plans to double its 53-strong estate in the next four years and may roll out its newly-acquired Balls Brothers brand further, according to chief executive Steve Richards.

Third site for Cheshire Cat

23-Sep-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars, the pub company headed by trade veterans Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin, has opened its third site and is eyeing another three.

Novus appoints Gala Coral founder John Kelly as chairman

20-Sep-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Premium bar operator Novus Leisure has named Gala Coral founder John Kelly as its new non-executive chairman.

Excellence prevails, in spite of the economy

15-Sep-2011 By The PMA Team

Adversity often brings out the best in people. This has more than been revealed in this year’s Great British Pub Awards (GBPA).

Bar Sport concept revived

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

Pub entrepreneur Scott Murray has relaunched his Bar Sport concept and unveiled grand plans to open in every UK town and city via franchise agreements.

Luminar moves to boost clubs’ trade

09-Sep-2011 By The PMA Team

Troubled nightclub company Luminar is understood to have placed 15 nightclubs in a stand-alone “entrepreneurial” division headed by Tony Gorbert.

October is Proud of Ale month at TCG pubs

07-Sep-2011

Managed pub group TCG is to run a Proud of Our Ale event at 65 of its pubs during the month of October.

Banks grant Luminar further extension

25-Aug-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The banking group behind Luminar has agreed to a three-month extension to the covenant waiver it arranged with the nightclub operator in May.

New funding and 19th site for loungers

11-Aug-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Loungers, the privately-owned group behind the Lounge and Cosy Club concepts, has revealed it has secured an additional £1m funding for expansion...

G1 to run four Festival sites

08-Aug-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Scottish pub operator G1 Group has announced a new venture with troubled bar and hotel company Festival Group, which entered into pre-pack...

Dowell steps down at Intertain

08-Aug-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Mike Dowell, one of the founders of Walkabout operator Intertain, which emerged from Regent Inns in 2009, has left the company.

JW Lees wins live-in manager appeal

29-Jul-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Manchester brewery JW Lees has won a landmark employment tribunal case over paying live-in managers for their off-duty time, which could have been a...

Amber estate grows to 69

28-Jul-2011 By John Harrington

Amber Taverns, the northern England-based pub operator, has brought its estate to 69 sites with the purchase of three ex-pubco pubs for £505,000.

Lessee criticises Wadworth chief

22-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Wadworth lessee has told the company's executives to "take a look at themselves" instead of blaming a fall in profits on their tenants. John...

McMullen grows grill chain

14-Jul-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Hertfordshire-based brewer and pub operator McMullen has revealed plans to convert three more managed outlets to its Chicken & Grill concept this...

Wadworth dismay as profits tumble

01-Jul-2011 By John Harrington

Wadworth, the Wiltshire brewer and pub operator, criticised the ability and attitude of some of its tenants as it reported "disappointing" results...

Luminar sells Preston site freehold

27-Jun-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Nightclub operator Luminar Leisure has sold the freehold of a 1.13-acre site, featuring a former Odeon cinema and a Lava & Ignite club, in...

Stonegate-Town & City merger confirmed

23-Jun-2011 By The PMA Team

TDR Capital, the private equity firm, has confirmed the merger of Stonegate Pub Company and Town & City Pub Company, as revealed by the...

Millstone is top JW Lees tenanted pub

15-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Manchester licensee has credited "good standards" after he was named Tenant of the Year at JW Lees' Pub of the Year awards on 7 June. Gerard Ford,...

Loungers' turnover boost

09-Jun-2011 By Mark Wingett

Loungers, the privately-owned group behind the Lounge and Cosy Club concepts, has reported a 55% growth in turnover for the 12 months to 30 April,...

Borel: VAT cut for pubs by 2014

19-May-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The UK hospitality industry could have a targeted VAT cut by April 2014, according to the influential French lobbyist Jacques Borel.

Luminar posts £1.1m loss

12-May-2011 By Ewan Turney

Britain's largest nightclub group, Luminar, has announced a loss before tax of £1.1m for the year ending on 26 February against a profit of £5.5m...

Luminar slammed over 60p promo

03-May-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Luminar Leisure has come under fire for an irresponsible promotion that claims to "specialise" in getting its customers drunk. A flyer for Liquid...

Graham Jones named new COO at Stonegate

13-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Graham Jones, former operations director with Barracuda, has been appointed chief operating officer at Stonegate Pub Company.

Maclay Inns to expand this year

01-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Maclay Inns, the Scottish pub operator, plans to add two or three sites to its estate in the coming year after reporting a 26% rise in operating...

Foster's to sponsor Intertain comedy venues

31-Mar-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Heineken UK's beer brand Foster's is to become title sponsor of stand-up comedy at bar operator Intertain's nine Highlight comedy venues. From 22...

Peach buys 14th pub and eyes expansion

30-Mar-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Peach Pub Company has bought its 14th site — a pub previously been run by high-profile chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Luminar sales down 18.6%

15-Mar-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Luminar, the embattled nightclub group, has this morning reported same outlet sales down 18.6% for the year to 26 February 2011, driven by a...

Loungers continues expansion drive

14-Mar-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Loungers, the Bristol-based pub and bar group, has opened its 17th site and confirmed it has a further seven openings in the pipeline. The group,...

JW Lees introduces 10-point tenants' pledge

08-Mar-2011 By Hamish Champ

JW Lees, the Manchester-based brewer, has created a 10-point pledge to its tenants after a survey highlighted several areas for improvement. The...

JW Lees launches 10-point tenants' pledge

08-Mar-2011 By Ewan Turney

JW Lees has launched a 10-point pledge to help bolster its relationship with its tenants and bring about a "cultural shift" at the company. An...

BrewDog reports record sales and further expansion

16-Feb-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer, has reported a record rise in sales of its craft beers and plans to open four new bars. The group also reported that...

McMullen in £1m revamp at pub

02-Feb-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The Hertford-based family brewer McMullen has spent £1m revamping Grade II-listed pub the Nag's Head, in Bishop's Stortford. McMullen, which owns...

Stonegate unveils Irish theme bar chain

31-Jan-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

The Stonegate Pub Company - which was formed with the purchase of 333 Mitchells & Butlers pubs last year - has revealed that its first brand...

Stonegate rebrands O'Neill's as Molloy's

31-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Managed operator Stonegate Pub Company is to convert nine O'Neill's pubs into its first major bar brand, another Irish-themed concept called...

TDR Capital denies interest in TCG estate

27-Jan-2011 By The PMA Team

TDR Capital, the owner of 333-strong Stonegate Pub Company, has denied rumours that it is looking to acquire TCG.

UCL to rollout boutique hotels at expense of pubs

21-Jan-2011 By Ewan Turney

MA 250 member Urban & Country Leisure plans to invest £20m over the next three years to rollout its Lazy Cow boutique hotel concept.

Stonegate Pub Co merger talks 'progressing well'

21-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

Merger talks between representatives of Stonegate Pub Company and Town & City Pub Company (T&CPC) could be successfully concluded within a...

Advanced bookings boost Novus Leisure

17-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

Pre-booked festive parties helped Novus Leisure, the privately backed bar operator, grow like-for-like sales over the Christmas period by nearly...

Chameleon reports profits boost

14-Jan-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

Multiple operator Chameleon Pub Company has celebrated 10 years in business by unveiling a boost in year-on-year profits. The company, which runs...

ALMR promotes Kate Nicholls to strategic affairs director

07-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has appointed Kate Nicholls to the positions of strategic affairs director and the...

Profits boost for Charles Wells

07-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

Bedford-based Charles Wells has reported annual operating profits up nearly eight per cent for 2010, the last full year the group benefitted from its...

Charles Wells profits up 7.9% to £11m

07-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Charles Wells saw year-on-year operating profit rise 7.9% to £11m in the year to September 2010, aided by growing sales at its new and re-opened...

Giles Thorley to steer clear of pubs at TDR Capital

05-Jan-2011 By Hamish Champ

Former Punch Taverns boss Giles Thorley said today his new role at TDR Capital, the private equity firm that bought more than 300 pubs from Mitchells...

Loungers expansion fuels sales uplift

05-Jan-2011 By Ewan Turney

Multi-site operator Loungers has reported a 70% uplift in net turnover to £12m for 2010 after opening five new venues. The Bristol-based business...

Luminar on firmer footing after refinancing

09-Dec-2010 By Chris Druce, M&C Report

Embattled nightclub operator has completed a refinancing exercise, granting its management team more time to turn around the business. Luminar's...

Tom McMullen: Hitting supermarkets with a 'responsibility tax' will level the playing field

06-Dec-2010 By Hamish Champ

No sooner had McMullen, the Hertford-based family brewer, welcomed another member of the McMullen clan to its ranks than he goes and comes up with a...