MA Leaders Club

What's in the news 7th July

Review of the Week

Three year anniversary since Independence Day!

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Anglian Country Inns boss James Nye to get his take on the week's news, from milestone anniversaries to machine learning!

High class: the renovated Harrogate Inn from The Inn Collection Group

A look at Inn Collection’s reopened Harrogate site

By Gary Lloyd

Newcastle-based pubs with rooms operator The Inn Collection Group has reopened the St George Hotel after a refurbishment under the new name of the Harrogate Inn. Here, we give you a look around the renovated site.

Estate expansion: Red Oak Taverns has completed six acquisitions this year (image: Getty/simarik)

Red Oak Taverns adds 2 pubs to growing estate

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Red Oak Taverns has exchanged contracts on the Croft in Wednesbury, West Midlands and the Bulls Head in Clipston, near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire from Everards.

Characterful site: Charlie Gilkes (left) says Inception group will open ‘a very original bar concept’

Inception Group takes Borough Yards site

By Gary Lloyd

Inception Group, which operates the Mr Fogg’s brand, has signed a lease at Borough Yards to open its 15th site – with the proposed concept to be announced later this year.

BrewDog background: there have been many acquisitions from the business since it started

BrewDog’s acquisition history

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser has taken a trip down memory lane to look at how BrewDog has become the global bar business it is today.

Company news: Ciara Allan (left) and Laura Lewis (right) have been appointed to Arc Inspirations' board

Arc makes two new board appointments

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based multiple operator Arc Inspirations has announced the appointments of a new chief financial officer (CFO) and a promotion to marketing director.

Company acquisition: 'These are long-established, well-run bars that fit well with our existing portfolio and our model of running multiple brands in clusters in London and around the country,' Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham says

Nightcap acquires Dirty Martini

By Nikkie Thatcher

Bar operator Nightcap has acquired the Dirty Martini chain of cocktail bars and Tuttons Brasserie in a £4.65m pre-pack deal.

Growth trajectory: The Alchemist reveals its future plans

The Alchemist eyes further UK growth

By Nikkie Thatcher

Creative cocktail bar and restaurant group The Alchemist is looking to expand its portfolio in the UK following its first international opening in Berlin, Germany.

Technological advances: Zonal's Glenn Tait highlights how AI can influence and aid businesses in the hospitality sector

MA LEADERS CLUB

AI’s role in hospitality

By Nikkie Thatcher

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be the next piece of technology to help operators grow their businesses, one expert has revealed.

Travel sites: the first in the roll out is at London Gatwick, which is due to open in December

BrewDog to open sites at travel hubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Craft brewer and operator BrewDog is set to roll out expansion plans at airport and railway stations across the UK.

Scene setting: (l-r) The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington quizzed Newcastle business bosses Malhotra Group chief operating office Atul Malhotra, NE1 chief executive Stephen Patterson, Vaulkhard Group director Ollie Vaulkhard

MA LEADERS CLUB

What operating in Newcastle is really like

By Nikkie Thatcher

Delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s MA Leaders Club heard from top operators on what Newcastle is like to operate in and how businesses are battling ongoing challenges.

MA Leaders Newcastle: the conference is underway as operators and experts share what it is like to trade in the city

MA Leaders Newcastle happening today

By Rebecca Weller

The MA Leaders Club meeting in Newcastle is underway with operators and experts revealing what it’s like to trade in the city alongside where the opportunities and challenges are.

How to survive in the pub trade

'Total war' - surviving 20 years in the trade

By Ed Bedington

Surviving 20 years in the pub trade without going backwards is no mean feat, but the founders of the Three Cheers Pub Co can look back with a real sense of achievement.

Multiple business: the Box joins Arc's Manahatta venue in Birmingham

Arc to open biggest Box site to date

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations is preparing to open its largest Box site in Brindleyplace, Birmingham next month (June).

Village people: the Urban Village Pubs team celebrates victory at the Publican Awards in March 2023

The three keys to Urban Village Pubs’ success

By Gary Lloyd

Making a community a stronger place is one of the reasons why Urban Village Pubs won Best Community Pub winner at the Publican Awards, according to the pubco’s co-founder Ian Grundy.

City certainty: Newcastle has a rich cultural history (image: Getty/ChrisHepburn)

MA LEADERS CLUB

What is Newcastle like to run pubs in?

By Nikkie Thatcher

With the next MA Leaders Club event set to hit the streets of Newcastle in under a month (Thursday 18 May), The Morning Advertiser has taken a look at the area in more detail and what it is like to trade in.

Oakman update: the group will have 40 sites by July 2023, including the recently opened Grand Junction in Buckingham

Oakman CEO demands VAT reform as sales rise

By Gary Lloyd

Oakman Group chief executive Peter Borg-Neal took a shot at the Government over sky-high tax as the business announced a rise in sales in a trading update for the first 38 weeks of its financial year (FY) 2022-23.

Excellent track record: Tarquin Williams (pictured) appointed as Oakman Group as CFO

Oakman Group appoints new CFO

By Rebecca Weller

Multiple operator Oakman Group has announced the appointment of Tarquin Williams as its chief financial officer (CFO).

City operation: Westside BID’s Mike Olley (far left), Bitters N’ Twisted’s Matt Scrivens (centre left) and Oval Real Estate’s Jo Salmon (centre right) lay out the Birmingham landscape

MA Leaders Club

What is Birmingham like to operate in?

By Nikkie Thatcher

New operators opening sites in Birmingham has helped it change and develop, delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s MA Leaders Club recently heard.

Half-year results: Nightcap is aware further rail strikes could impact the business

Rail strikes hit Nightcap but revenue up almost 50%

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap estimates 13 days of rail strikes has cost the business about £1.2m but like-for-like (lfl) revenue has risen by almost 50%, according to the company’s interim results for the 26-week period ended 1 January 2023.

Better outlook: Revolution Bars Group says its Peach Pubs arm is faring well

Revolution sales up after record-breaking Christmas

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group has reported an increase in total sales from £74.1m to £76m thanks to a bumper Christmas period that saw record breaking like-for-like (lfl) pre-booked party revenue, in the 26 weeks ended 31 December 2022.

Multifaceted venues: pubs “underestimating the opportunities” presented by M&A activity within the sector (Pictured: MA Leaders Birmingham)

MA Leaders Club

M&A opportunities ‘underestimated’

By Rebecca Weller

Firms are “underestimating the opportunities” presented by M&A activity within the sector as operators look to take on “smaller locations”, according to property experts.

Follow us

Property of the week

Pub Trade Guides

View more

Webinars

Upcoming editorial webinars

The Lock In Pub Podcast

Headlines