Other operators

Pub industry has "open door" to supportive Chancellor, claim senior industry figures

08-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

The pub and beer industry now has an “open door” to a supportive Chancellor George Osborne, who was last week presented with a number of suggestions about how the Government can help the trade, according to senior industry figures. 

New sites for Fever Bars

05-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Fever Bars, the retro music-bar operator, has acquired a package of three sites from the troubled late-night bar operator Yellowhammer.

Harvester signs deal with MOTO

04-Apr-2013

Harvester, the Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chain, is teaming up with Moto Hospitality, Britain’s biggest motorway services operator, for the first trial in the UK of a franchised full service restaurant, which will opening at Moto’s Donington Park...

Booker expands Classic Drinks business to become a national wholesaler to the on-trade

04-Apr-2013

Booker is expanding its Classic Drinks business to become a national wholesaler to the on trade.

Community Pubs Month: Pubs minister Brandon Lewis calls on punters to back CAMRA List your Local campaign

04-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs minister Brandon Lewis is calling on communities to back the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) initiative and show support for their community pub.

Win £1,000 by voting for your best pub suppliers

04-Apr-2013 By Jo Bruce

The search is now on for the industry's best suppliers in the Publican's Choice Awards 2013.

Wacky Warehouse looks for children to test new play centre in Cardiff

03-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Spirit Pub Company-owned Wacky Warehouse is on the look-out for a playful child to test the company’s soft play centre.

HSE unveils ridiculous safety myths such as pub refusal to serve glasses with handles

03-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has unveiled some of the ridiculous safety myths used by operators during 2012-13.  

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain

02-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has been awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain Award (CWBOB) for the second time in three years.

First pub in Reading becomes asset of community value

02-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

The Retreat is the first pub in Reading to be made an ‘asset of community value’ (ACV), after Reading Borough Council accepted the bid put forward in December 2012. 

Comedy landlord to star in BBC TV show

02-Apr-2013 By Snifter

Eccentric pub landlord and modern artist Anthony Youel will appear on BBC3’s new comedy “Boom Town”.

Robinsons to use mystery visit results to train and develop licensees

28-Mar-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Cheshire brewers Robinsons plan to use the results of its Perfect Pubs scheme to train and develop its licensees.

Did you know your pub's been knocked down?

27-Mar-2013 By Snifter

One poor pub owner received a phone call recently that no doubt every licensee dreads - something along the lines of "did you know your pub's been knocked down?"

We Heart Lager: Don't miss out on a £5bn lager bonanza

26-Mar-2013

Readers can now download a PDF of March's We Heart Lager, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's new monthly coverage dedicated to the standard lager category.

Hospitality sector faces up to future skills shortages

26-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

People 1st, the skills organisation, has said that the hospitality sector will face significant pressures in the future as the skills gap grows.

The Big Interview: Paul Flaum, Whitbread Restaurants

26-Mar-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Paul Flaum, MD of Whitbread Restaurants, talks to Lesley Foottit about managing a company from the bottom up and why he is passionate about customers. 

Castle pub first in Wandsworth on community asset list

26-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A popular pub in Battersea, south London, that is now closed has become the first in the borough of Wandsworth to be registered as a community asset.

No weirdy beardies in my pub please

25-Mar-2013 By Snifter

Snifter's award for Grumpy Licensee of the Week goes to Jim Hardie of the Blue Bell in York.

Britain's highest pub losing thousands in trade after being snowed in

25-Mar-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Licensee Tracy Daly, who runs Britain’s highest pub, is losing thousands of pounds of trade, due to being snowed in since last Wednesday.

Star Pubs & Bars lessee celebrates 50 years in pub

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Star Pubs & Bars’ lessee, Max Houliston, celebrates 50 years as lessee of the Hole in the Wa’ in Dumfries this month.

Pub firm Antic Ltd collapsed owing £2.6m

22-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Antic Limited, the 14-strong trading division of south London pub operator Antic, collapsed owing £2.6m to creditors, including £1.7m to HMRC, a new report from its administrator shows.

Licensee celebrates half a century at Bucket of Blood in Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall

22-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Rick Shackelton, of the Bucket of Blood in Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall, will celebrate half a century behind the bar this month.

Barclays under fire from award-winning licensee after 24-hour loan refusal

21-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Barclays has insisted that it is “supporting and lending to the pub industry” after an award-winning licensee hit out at its refusal to offer him financial assistance.

Licensee "can't afford" to fight Premier League over new foreign football TV crackdown

21-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

A Manchester licensee admitted “it was not worth the risk” to contest the FA Premier League (FAPL) over foreign satellite football claims, in the first High Court case since the FAPL launched a renewed crackdown on pub football broadcasts.

CAMRA aims to put 300 pubs on list to prove they are a community asset

21-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is working to put 300 pubs on a special list to prove that they are a community asset.

Pubs at risk from ‘firestorm of greed’ by London landowners

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs are under threat from the “firestorm of greed unleashed by landowners in London”, Lewisham councillor Liam Curran has said.

Fuzzy Ed Funhouses set for revamp

20-Mar-2013

Orchid Group, the managed pub operator, is to update the facilities at its 52 Fuzzy Ed’s Funhouses.

Royal parks, London landmarks and pubs to create an "urban hop farm"

19-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

The Natural History Museum, Battersea Power Station and St James’ Park are among the famous locations growing hops for a new London beer.

National Pubwatch awards licensees and police for outstanding contributions

19-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Three licensees were awarded Outstanding Contribution Awards at the National Pubwatch (NPW) Conference last week.

Pubs in Peterborough to see cumulative impact policy

18-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in parts of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, could see the council introduce a policy that restricts the growth of licensed premises.

Mice-infested Portsmouth pub's licensees fined more than £8.5k

18-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees at the Dolphin in Portsmouth were ordered to pay more than £8,500 between them after admitting running a mouse-infested pub.

Publican Awards 2013: Prince Charles congratulates Pub is the Hub chief John Longden after award

15-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Prince Charles has penned a special message of congratulations to Pub is the Hub chief executive John Longden after his recognition at the Publican Awards.

The luck of the Irish... and Scottish

15-Mar-2013

A Scottish pub will be hoping the luck of the Irish is with it when it attempts to break two UK records to mark this year’s St Patrick’s Day.

Carvery Heaven opens sixth site

15-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Carvery Heaven, the Midlands-based pub carvery operator, has opened its sixth site after taking a lease with Star Pubs & Bars on the Ashfields Hotel at Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

BII annual lunch guests to get iPads

15-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Guests attending the BII Luncheon will be served up with iPads which will allow them access to a wide range of information during the annual event.

Madness singer Suggs "devastated" at the closure of Camden pub Crown and Goose

14-Mar-2013

Madness singer Suggs says he is "devastated" over the closure of famous Camden pub the Crown & Goose.

Former SSP brands director Wayne Chapman joins Ribble Valley Inns

14-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Former SSP brands director Wayne Chapman has been appointed chief executive of the four-strong Ribble Valley Inns, the food-led pub business owned by the Northcote Group.

Torquay licensees slam local council's 600% fee increase for outdoor seating

14-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs in Torquay are fearing for their future as some venues on the Devon town’s waterfront face staggering rises of up to 600% in the cost of outdoor seating.

Bowmark backs buyout of Drake & Morgan

14-Mar-2013 By Mark Wingett

Bowmark Capital, the private equity backer of Las Iguanas, the Latin American restaurant chain, is understood to have entered exclusive talks to acquire Drake & Morgan, the highly-regarded, bar-restaurant operator.

Pop diva Tina Turner creates inconvenient distraction

13-Mar-2013

A serious lesson in how to manage flashpoints in licensed premises was dealt a minor blow by the one and only Tina Turner yesterday.

New research reveals Pubwatch schemes are key to fight against alcohol-related crime

13-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubwatch schemes play a crucial part in helping to tackle alcohol-related violence and creating safer local drinking environments, according to new research

London pub net closures at two per week, says CAMRA

13-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in London closed at a net rate of two per week in 2012, according to new research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Future Pub conference: young adults view pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated”

11-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Generation Y views pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated” compared to casual dining concepts, research from Marston’s has revealed.

Publican Awards 2013: winners crowned at glittering London ceremony

11-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Welsh brewer and pub company Brains were double award winners at the Publican Awards 2013 last night.

Shepherd Neame reports slight drop in pre-tax profits

07-Mar-2013 By Mark Wingett

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported a “solid performance” in the 26 weeks to 29 December 2012 despite a slight drop in pre-tax profit, with turnover up 2.6% to £69.2m.

Future Pub Conference: pub operators warned that future licensing policies could hamper expansion

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pub operators have been warned that expanding their estates could be hampered by future licensing policies.

Future Pub conference: pubs with personality will win out

06-Mar-2013

Pubs can regain the upper hand in the wider industry if they focus on providing personality, Young’s commercial director Ed Turner told last week's Future Pub Conference.

BII urged to return to basic principles of standards and education

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The two leading trade associations representing licensees have called on the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) to go back to its founding principles of standards and education.

Alcohol consumption per head falls again

04-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Alcohol consumption has fallen again with a 3.3% drop per head during 2012, new figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) show.

Horley Pubwatch to launch ping-pong project to help support local area

01-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Horley & District Pubwatch Scheme in Surrey is to launch a Pubwatch Ping Pong project next month to show how pubs and clubs can help to support their local area.