MA Leaders Club

MA Leaders Club

Full MA Leaders Club Leeds event agenda confirmed

09-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The recently rebranded MA Leaders Club will be hosting its first event, and the first face to face event for the club in a year and a half, later this year.

Nightcap secures new site while reporting ‘strong period of trading’

09-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the securing of a new venue in Bristol, alongside strong trading in an update.

Arc Inspirations expands with two new openings including first move into Birmingham

05-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Arc Inspirations, the 17-strong premium bar operator, is set to expand with two new openings – Box in Deansgate, Manchester and its first ever site in the Midlands with Manahatta, Birmingham.

MA's review of the week

‘Pingdemic’ staff shortages pose question over which pubs to ‘sacrifice’

23-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington and Liberation Group’s Jayson Perfect reflect on a week’s worth of pub sector headlines following ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July.

BrewDog’s online sales growth fails to offset bar closures

22-Jul-2021 By Dominic Allport

BrewDog has reported a pre-tax loss of £13.1m during 2020 despite achieving 10% revenue growth during 2020. The strong growth in online sales was not enough to offset the impact of bar closures.

Arc Inspirations’ trading tops pre-pandemic levels by 35%

22-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Bar operator Arc Inspirations has revealed that trading across its 17 sites has been 35% higher than the equivalent period in 2019 since indoor trading resumed on 17 May.

Loungers’ pre-‘Freedom Day’ sales 23.7% up versus 2019 levels

22-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

According to its latest financial update, café bar operator Loungers revealed that sales across its estate of 175 venues were up by 23.7% in the nine weeks from 17 May to 18 July 2021 versus the same period in 2019.

MA’s review of the week

Unlocked US states suggest spike as UK restrictions ease won’t be ‘exponential’

16-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington reflects on another week’s worth of headlines with hospitality investor and Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh.

MA'S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘I’d love to see the media brought into the Covid-19 public inquiry’

09-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Rekom UK’s Peter Marks to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Fuller’s ‘perfectly placed’ to benefit from return to normal life

09-Jul-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Fuller’s has hailed a resilient performance after seeing its revenues fall by 77% in a year dominated by lockdowns, according to reports by MCA Insight.

Inception Group: isolating staff is 'number one concern'

07-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Recovery for Inception Group’s central London sites will not be “an overnight big bang,” according to the group’s co-founder.

Reopened Revolution Bars trading at 86% of 2019 levels during roadmap

05-Jul-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group’s 66 sites have traded at almost 90% of 2019 levels since resuming indoor trade, according to an update ahead of the operator’s year end date on 3 July.

MA's Review of the Week

‘Staying open is a challenge’

02-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

This week’s headlines highlight the ongoing staffing challenges faced by the sector alongside closures of venues due to self-isolation. The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington also caught up with Alastair Scott, managing director of Catton Hospitality...

City Pub Group nears 2019 trading levels

28-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The City Pub Group has reported trading levels at 90% of 2019 levels since pubs opened after the third lockdown.

Exclusive

Wells & Co claimed almost £4m in furlough support

28-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Bedfordshire-based operator and brewer Wells & Co received £3.9m in furlough money across its UK and France portfolio, it has revealed.

Rileys Sports Bars reports above expected trading

18-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Thirteen-strong multiple operator Rileys Sports Bars has announced growth of 9% compared to 2019 across its estate for the three weeks since reopening on Monday 17 May.

Indoor reopening helps Loungers to 26.6% sales boost

17-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Nationwide café bar operator Loungers has reported that like-for-like sales during the four weeks from Monday 17 May were up 26.6% versus to the same period in 2019.

BrewDog and pub partners pledge 15% carbon cut in the next year

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Independent brewer and bar operator BrewDog has joined forces with hospitality businesses including Brewhouse & Kitchen, Urban Village Pubs and Pub Love to work towards a carbon neutral on-trade.

Drake & Morgan CVA approved

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

London-based cocktail bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan’s creditors have approved a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) – with 90% voting in favour of proposals.

Nightcap trading ‘significantly ahead’ of expectations

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

The firm behind London Cocktail Club and the Adventure Bar Group has revealed post-lockdown revenues almost matched the figures recorded during equivalent weeks in 2019.

Big Interview

The fun of expanding: ‘It's our duty to take what we love and give it to more people'

08-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite leading the Adventure Bar Group into uncharted territory – in every sense – during a transformative pandemic year, co-founder Tobias Jackson explains that with new owner Nightcap eyeing nationwide expansion it’s far from journey’s end.

‘Crucial’ that Gov bases decisions on science, not media speculation, says Hawthorn boss

03-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Giving an update on the pub company’s performance, Hawthorn CEO Mark Davies has stressed the importance of an “evidence-based approach” to the lifting of pandemic restrictions on Monday 21 June.

Oakman poised to ‘continue growth’ despite £13.9m loss in 2020

27-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

While the Oakman Group reported an EBITDA loss for 2020 of £2.6m and a total loss of £13.9m, its executive chairman believes the operator is ‘very well placed to take advantage of the strong consumer demand’.

Big interview

Secrets behind the success of North Bar/North Brewing Co

14-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of North Bar/North Brewing Co’s recent win at the 2021 Publican Awards, The Morning Advertiser caught up (virtually of course) with head of retail Fiona Potts just before the company opened its latest venue for outdoor trading.

MA Leaders Club

Furlough: 'great for employees, disastrous for employers’

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Nightclubs have been left out of much of the Government support after being closed for almost 18 months.

MA Leaders Club

Coronavirus pandemic ‘sped up recruitment challenge’

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recruitment was already challenging due to factors such as Brexit, but the coronavirus crisis has escalated matters further according to one operator.

MA Leaders Club

Customer confidence slowly increasing as restriction lift

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumer optimism around the pub sector is increasing as lockdown begins to ease, a leading data expert has revealed.

'Change in emphasis' to boost City Pub Group expansion

13-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

City Pub Group’s executive chairman, Clive Watson, explains that the operator’s definition of ‘high quality’ pub opportunities has changed slightly as the Group emerges from lockdown.

Nightcap raises £10m through share placing

12-May-2021 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Nightcap has raised £10m through a share placing in order to further its investment strategy and to roll out its recent acquisition of Adventure Bar Group (ABG).

Brewhouse & Kitchen expand into accommodation

11-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

A leading national operator has taken its first steps into providing an accommodation offer with the launch of a new site.

City Pub Group ‘significantly improved over the past year’ despite 57% revenue drop

11-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite pandemic restrictions hitting its revenue for £34.2m in the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020, City Pub Group is in an ‘excellent position’ as the country reopens according to its executive chairman.

Adventure Bar acquired by Nightcap

04-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recently formed hospitality group Nightcap has completed its second purchase by acquiring the owner of brands including Blame Gloria and Tonight Josephine, Adventure Bar Group.

St Austell reopens managed pubs

30-Apr-2021 By MCA Insight

St Austell Brewery reopened 18 of its managed houses for outdoor service on 29 April, having made significant investments in its al fresco spaces.

Peach Pubs on the acquisition hunt after record-breaking reopening sales

27-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Peach has seen record-breaking sales figures since reopening for outside trading this month (April) and is looking to add a number of new sites to its existing portfolio over the next nine months.

‘Number one priority is to restore the business’

26-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Sharing a heartland with Covid-19’s ‘Kent variant’ has seen the vast majority of Shepherd Neame’s 300-odd sites shuttered for more than five months. As such, CEO Jonathan Neame is looking forward to what he believes will be a ‘very good summer’.

Adnams records £3.7m operating loss during pandemic year

23-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Suffolk-based Adnams became the latest pub operator to post a pandemic loss during 2020, revealing that a swing of more than £4m landed it in the red.

Reopened Oakman pub takings up more than 50% on pre-pandemic sales

22-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Hertfordshire-based multiple operator Oakman Group has revealed that sales during its first week of post-lockdown trade trump equivalent 2019 takings.

More than £10m swing sees Shepherd Neame record half-year loss

21-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based family brewer and pub operator, Shepherd Neame, has revealed an underlying operating loss of £3.6m during the six months to 26 December 2020.

Hawthorn eyes expansion to ‘at least double its estate’

15-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of its announcement to float on the stock market, Hawthorn has also revealed it is looking to significantly expand its portfolio.

Hawthorn set to float on stock market as standalone business

14-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

NewRiver-owned pub group Hawthorn has announced plans to list on the stock market as a standalone quoted business.

Revolution: ‘Bring our ‘national day of freedom forward'

13-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group chief executive, Rob Pitcher, has implored the Prime Minister to ‘follow the data, not dates’ and lift legal limits on social contact before Monday 21 June.

MA500

MA500 May 2021 agenda unveiled

12-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The next MA500 conference is set to take place on Thursday 13 May and we can now reveal the topics we will cover at the online event.

The MA’s review of the week

Prime Minister still ‘a bit silent’ on pub trading from 21 June

09-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke with Laine Pub Company boss Gavin George to discuss the most recent on-trade news.

MA's Review of the Week

'Sustainability more important than ever'

01-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke with Darwin and Wallace boss Mel Marriott on the headlines of this week

RedCat’s 42 pub package from Stonegate ‘first step to differentiated pub company’

31-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The confirmation of investment vehicle RedCat’s acquisition of 42 pubs from Stonegate Pub Company for an undisclosed sum gets Rooney Anand’s venture off to 'an excellent start', he said.

Fuller’s seeks funds after Covid cash burn hits £5m per month

31-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Fuller, Smith & Turner hopes to weather the ongoing Covid crisis by raising funds from the sale of Class A and Class B shares.

Drake & Morgan sees profits dip in run up to lockdown

29-Mar-2021 By Andrew Don, MCA

Drake & Morgan is hoping to rebuild the London-based bar and restaurant group with the easing of Covid-related restrictions, according to reports by MCA Insight.

MA's review of the week

Pubs will exit pandemic as a ‘more loved’ sector than we closed as

26-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Heydon Mizon, joint managing director at McMullen, to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Customers not reluctant to return to Jersey pub ‘at all’

15-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite cold weather deterring a number of pub goers from making use of outdoor areas, the Trinity Arms in Jersey has made a positive start to post-lockdown trading, according to general manager Patrycja Bosak.

MA’s Review of the Week

‘Tsunami of other problems’ not factored into speed of lockdown exit

12-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Rockpoint Leisure CEO and chair of the Institute of Licensing and National Licensing Forum, Dan Davies, to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.