Alice Bowyer appointed Liberation director of food & drink
Liberation Group has announced Alice Bowyer is set to move into the newly created role of director of food & drink.
Managed Groups
Loungers backer Canaccord votes in favour of £350.5m sale
A major backer of Loungers has issued a letter of intent to vote in favour of the group’s acquisition offer from Fortress Investment Group subsidiary CF Exedra Bidco (Bidco).
‘Excellent progress’ for Loungers as revenue and EBITDA grows
Loungers CEO Nick Collins has claimed the business has enjoyed “excellent progress” as revenue rose by 19.2% and adjusted EBITDA climbed 25.0%, in its latest results.
Loungers to be acquired by Fortress for £350.5m
Loungers will be acquired by Fortress Investment Group – which owns Punch Pubs – for a cash offer of about £350.5m.
M&B posts ‘very strong profit recovery’
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has announced it has had a “very strong profit recovery” in its full year results ended 28 September 2024.
Loungers opens fourth Brightside site
Loungers has announced the opening of its fourth road-side dining venue.
Churchill Arms: Christmas arrives at 'magical event'
Christmas has officially begun at one of Fuller’s “most recognisable” London pubs, famed for its festive décor.
JDW switches from Spanish to Italian lager
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it will be changing its core draught beer range.
Budget to cost Young’s £11m
The Government’s Budget will mean significant cost hikes for Young’s in the near term, the London-based business has stated in its interim results.
Brewhouse & Kitchen to launch Craft House concept
Brewhouse & Kitchen (B&K) is to launch a new concept called Craft House, which will be rolled out to four of its existing high street locations over the next six months, with the potential for further conversions.
Fuller's reports 5.4% uptick in lfl sales, Xmas bookings up 15%
Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) has reported a 5.4% uplift in like-for-like (lfl) sales with Christmas bookings up by 15%.
M&B highlights reasons for dynamic pricing
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has outlined why it introduced a £2 surcharge on drinks after 10pm at one of its London sites.
New JDW hotel to open this month
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is set to open a new hotel at the end of this month following a £2.8m redevelopment project.
BrewDog new CRO ‘super excited’ to join business
Scottish craft brewer and operator BrewDog has appointed a new chief retail officer, a global role that will oversee the company’s retail offering.
JDW lfl sales up 5.9%, Martin warns of price increases
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has reported a 5.9% uptick in like-for-like (lfl) sales but warned price increases are on the horizon following the Budget.
Valiant Pub Company acquires 70th site
Valiant Pub Company has acquired the Elephant & Castle pub in Shropshire, taking its total number of sites to 70.
JDW confirms closure of Edinburgh 'institution'
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has confirmed a “beloved institution” in Edinburgh will close next month despite a petition to save the site.
Breal Capital and Calveton acquire TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays UK has been acquired by Breal Capital and Calveton UK following the completion of a successful sale process through acquisition vehicle Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group Limited.
MY PUB
MY PUB: The Punch Bowl, Mayfair, London
Whether you want to enjoy drinks in the cosy bar or enjoy some great food when you’re in London’s Mayfair, the Punch Bowl will suit everyone perfectly.
Amber Taverns acquired by Epiris
Amber Taverns, which operates 178 freehold wet-led pubs, has been acquired by Epiris – the owner of The Big Table that counts Bella Italia and Las Iguanas among its brands.
Wet weather dampens drinks sales
Widespread wet weather has pushed drinks sales in pubs back into negative year-on-year numbers, CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker has revealed.
JDW sales up 5.7% to £2bn in FY24
Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) saw total sales soar to £2bn in the FY24, an increase of 5.7% compared with the previous 12 months.
NWTC to close three sites as part of restructuring plans
New World Trading Company (NWTC) has today (Thursday 3 October) revealed plans to restructure its business and close three sites to focus on its Botanist-branded sites.
Sunshine boosts drinks sales after two weeks of downturns
September sunshine has boosted drinks sales for the on-trade after two weeks of negative numbers.
M&B posts 5.2% lfl sales boost for 51-week period
Pubs, bars and restaurants operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% in its current financial year to date with all brands in growth.
Drinks sales continue downward spiral
Drinks sales have continued a downward trend with a second week of year-on-year declines, new data has revealed.
Managed groups see second month of below-inflation growth
Hospitality groups saw a second successive month of below-inflation growth in August, the latest data from CGA by NIQ has revealed.
Turnover up 16.2% at Arc Inspirations
Leeds-based multiple operator, Arc Inspirations, has reported a 16.2% increase in turnover for the year to March 2024.
Joseph Holt reports 'steadily improving trading'
Joseph Holt has reported £73.5m in turnover for the year ended 31 December 2023, up from £70.2m in 2022.
JDW cutting prices to mark Tax Equality Day
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced plans to cut its prices next week to highlight the benefits of a VAT reduction for the hospitality industry.
JDW to open Waterloo station pub next week
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will open a new pub on Tuesday (3 September) at London Waterloo Station.
M&B ‘well positioned to grow profitability’
Pubs, bars and restaurants operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) reported a rise in sales, in a recent trading update.
Analysis: JDW's performance so far in 2024
After pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) posted “record results” earlier this month, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has taken a look back at the firm’s performance so far this year.
JDW ‘total sales at record levels with fewer pubs’
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has reported record results in its pre-close trading update for the 10 weeks to 7 July 2024.
M&B reopens trio of pubs after six-figure refurbs
Mitchell’s & Butlers (M&B) has reopened three historic London pubs following an “extensive” six-figure renovation project.
BIG INTERVIEW
The Big Interview with Tim Martin: ‘Surviving for another 30 years would be a hell of a challenge’
“Listen more, don’t be so obnoxious you big git, and there’s no need to drink four pints of Abbot every single night.”
M&B lfl sales up 7% and buys Pesto Restaurants
Mitchells & Butlers has claimed to be outperforming the market in like-for-like (lfl) sales and expects its annual results to be at the top end of its forecasts.
JDW disposed of 18 sites in year-to-date
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) opened two pubs and sold or surrendered to the landlord 18 sites in the year-to-date, it revealed in a trading update.
JDW to invest £5m into opening first Newcastle hotel
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it will invest £5m into redeveloping one if its sites in Newcastle and open its first hotel in the city.
JDW to open site near BrewDog’s huge Waterloo pub
Managed pubs operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is to open a new pub near BrewDog’s huge London site at The Sidings, Waterloo station.
JDW ‘has potential for 1,000 sites’
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) identified the possibility of increasing its estate by just under a quarter (23%), in its latest trading update.
First holiday park pub opening for JDW
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will open its first pub at a holiday park on Friday (8 March).
JDW pushing prices up by an average of 3%
Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has increased its prices by up to 3.95%, due to the rising costs many operators are battling.
Oldest JD Wetherspoon pub to hit market
The oldest standing pub in JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) estate is set to hit the market, the pubco has confirmed.
JDW reports 10.1% growth
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced financial growth in its trading update for the six months ending 28 January 2024.
7.7% sales upswing for M&B
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like sales growth of 7.7%, according to a trading update for the 15 weeks to 13 January 2024.
JD Wetherspoon credited as a UK Top Employer
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has been recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2024.
JDW to operate at Haven holiday parks
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has signed an exclusive agreement with UK holiday park operator, Haven, meaning it can operate at its parks.
JDW sets new Euston Station pub opening date
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is to open its new pub near Euston Station on Tuesday 9 January, which will create 55 new jobs.
M&B defends pub's decision to not serve child apple juice in wine glass
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has defended one of its sites after the operator declined to serve a child apple juice in a Champagne flute on New Year's Eve, though others felt the pub had “got it wrong on this occasion”.