MA Leaders Club

Growing estate: the Six Bells in Madeley is Red Oak's third acquisition of the year

Red Oak Taverns hits 210 pubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Red Oak Taverns has secured its third acquisition of 2023 with the Six Bells in Madeley, near Telford in Shropshire.

Revolution trade: Rob Pitcher says temporary closures will allow staff to be on ‘brilliant form’

Revolution to expand ‘when time is right’

By Shwetali Sapte

Revolution Bars Group has a strong pipeline in place but remains focused on integrating Peach Pubs into the company in the short term, according to chief executive Rob Pitcher.

Business update: Oakman CEO Dermot King (left) and chairman Peter Borg-Neal (right) (image: Oakman Group)

Oakman eyes £5.3m shareholder raise

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator The Oakman Group is looking to raise £5.3m from shareholders, it revealed in a half year trading update to Sunday 1 January 2023.

Outside factor: pre-booked party revenue for Revolution Bars Group was disrupted by rail strikes

Revolution to make winter closures as lfls fall

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group has reported its like-for-like (lfl) sales fell by 9% for the Christmas period versus 2019 – the last time results were not affected by Covid – adding it will close sites on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Delighted: Nightcap CEO and co-founder Sarah Willingham

Nightcap reports record 60.9% revenue boost

By Gary Lloyd

Bar operator Nightcap has reported a record-breaking boost of 60.9% in its revenue and a 4.7% hike in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 1 January 2023.

Company growth: Blind Tiger Brew Co is the mobile event bar division of Blind Tiger Inns

Footfall steady for Blind Tiger Inns

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site pub operator Blind Tiger Inns has reported a steady trade despite the current challenges facing the sector.

What's in the news 9 December?

'Costs are through the roof'

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Newgate Pub & Bars boss Joe Smith to get his take on the industry's news.

Business plan: the Cat & Wickets Pub Company is looking to grow further next year (image: Getty/RapidEye)

Cricketing duo expand pub group

By Nikkie Thatcher

Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney have acquired the Griffin Inn, Swithland in Leicestershire, as the duo grow their pub business.

Firm growth: this is the fifth site for New Dawn Pubs, which is headed up by Mark Williams (l) and Mark Robson (r)

New Dawn opens 5th site

By Nikkie Thatcher

South east-based multiple operator New Dawn Pubs (NDP) is opening its fifth site, following a seven-figure investment into the property and its refurbishment.

Discounted drinks: the Commissioners Quay Inn is one of Inn Collection's sites offering half price hot drinks for over 65s

Inn Collection offering half price hot drinks

By Nikkie Thatcher

Amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, multiple operator The Inn Collection Group is inviting over 65s to use the pubs as a warm space alongside a special offer on hot drinks.

Magnificent seven: The Wordsworth Hotel becomes The Inn Collection Group’s seventh acquisition of 2022

Inn Collection Group reaches 7th heaven

By Gary Lloyd

Newcastle-based pubs with rooms operator The Inn Collection Group has taken over the Wordsworth Hotel – its seventh acquisition of the year.

All change: North has moved the production of its beers to brewery and taproom Springwell

North sells original brewery

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based brewer and bar group North has sold its original brewery to fellow West Yorkshire firm Tartarus Beers.

What's in the news 18 July?

‘We’re the good guys’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with North Brewing’s John Gyngell to get his take on the week that saw the Autumn Statement announced.

Results boost: Revolution Bar Group has published its 2022 financial year figures

Revolution reports revenue rise to £140.8m

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bar Group has reported revenue of £140.8m in its annual report for the 52 weeks ended 2 July – up from £39.4m in financial year (FY) 2021.

Great results: Nightcap chief executive Sarah Willingham (Credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap reports strong first full year of trading

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and Barrio Familia bars, has reported an increase from £6m revenue to £36m for its first full year of trading and gross profit of £28.6m up from £4.5m.

Sector overhaul: Loungers plans to open Brightside sites across A-road locations throughout the UK

New Loungers concept to reinvigorate roadside dining

By Gary Lloyd

Loungers, multiple operator of café-bar and restaurants brands Lounge and Cosy Club, is set to reinvigorate the spirit of the ’70s and ’80s in Britain with the launch of roadside dining concept Brightside.

Company growth: North is now at 10 sites including its taproom (pictured) on Sovereign Street in Leeds (image: John Slemensek Bokehgo)

North to open 10th site

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based business North Bar/North Brewing Co is set to open its 10th venue, which is located in Manchester.

Cash investment: Peach Pubs founder Lee Cash (centre) with Cat & Wickets team Harry Gurney (left) and Stuart Broad

Peach Pubs founder invests in cricketers’ pubco

By Gary Lloyd

Founder of Peach Pubs, Lee Cash, has invested in The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, which was established by cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad – who plan to have two sites open in April 2023 and five by 2025.

What's in the news 21 October

‘The more you give back, the more they support you’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with award winning operator Adrian Emmett of The Lion Treorchy to hear his take on the week's news which has seen yet another Prime Minister brought step down.

New position: Paul Pavli has joined Our Yummy Collection

Yummy adds ex-Punch MD to management team

By Nikkie Thatcher

Our Yummy Collection has announced the appointment of Paul Pavli – former managing director of Punch Pubs and sector adviser – as a non-executive director as the business eyes growth.

Annual results: James Nye says inflationary pressures have been passed on to customers

Anglian Country Inns posts revenue boost

By Gary Lloyd

Revenue at Anglian Country Inns increased to £14.3m (£5.4m: 2021) which represented a 20% increase in like-for-likes on 2019, according to its annual report for the 52 weeks ended 3 April 2022.

Positive return: CEO Rob Pitcher has called for ‘an immediate 50% business rates cut for all businesses, no matter of size’

Revolution turns £26m profit loss into £2m gain

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group has return to profitability having turned a £26.3m loss before tax in 2021 into a positive £2.1m gain, according to its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 2 July 2022.

Revolution Bars Group acquires Peach Pub Company

Peach Pubs sold to Revolution

By Nikkie Thatcher

Revolution Bars Group has acquired The Peach Pub Company for a consideration of £16.5m in a bid to accelerate and diversify Revolution’s growth strategy.

Feeling Bullish: the acquisition of the Bull in Beaumaris and Townhouse brings The Inn Collection Group's total number of sites to 32

Inn Collection Group completes on Welsh sequel

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple pubs with rooms operator The Inn Collection Group has taken a second site in Wales after completing on the purchase of the Bull in Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey.

Strong statistics: Loungers CEO Nick Collins (left) and founder chairman Alex Reilley

Loungers reports 17% lfl growth, will open 30 sites

By Gary Lloyd

Bar group Loungers has credited its brands’ “relevance and resilience” for a 17% growth in like-for-like (lfl) sales versus 2019 in a trading update for the 24 weeks ended 2 October 2022.

Purchase agreed: the Wiremill, near Lingfield in Surrey has been sold the Hall & Woodhouse

Yummy rebrands and sells 'iconic' site

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Yummy Pubs has sold lakeside site the Wiremill, near Lingfield in Surrey to brewer and pub company Hall & Woodhouse for an undisclosed sum.

A success born in the pandemic: Nightcap co-founder and chief executive Sarah Willingham (credit: Nicky Johnston)

big interview

BIG INTERVIEW: There’s always time for a Nightcap

By Gary Lloyd

While most businesses hit the wall during the pandemic, Sarah Willingham saw there was a pent-up demand for socialising in hospitality together with a power shift towards tenants from landlords and decided to form Nightcap to get the party started.

Five alive: the Bristol opening for Tonight Josephine brings its site total to five

Not Tonight Josephine, it’s Tonight Sophie

By Gary Lloyd

A new Tonight Josephine bar that opened on Friday 30 September has been renamed Tonight Sophie after a social media competition to rebrand the bar in the name of a woman was won by resident Sophie Turner.

The right partner: co-founder and chief executive Mark Grunnell now operates 208 sites

Opinion

Why finding the right funding partner is essential

By Mark Grunnell, co-founder and CEO of Red Oak Taverns

I launched Red Oak Taverns 11 years ago with my co-founder, Aaron Brown and, since then, we’ve grown our portfolio to 208 pubs.

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