Other operators

Kent pub puts 'up' its Xmas tree, literally

10-Dec-2012

The Royal Hotel in Sheerness, Kent, has literally turned Christmas on its head this year by putting its tree on the ceiling.

Pub operators join forces to launch work placement initiative

10-Dec-2012 By M&C Report

Pub and bar operators across the country have launched a new initiative aimed at creating 15,000 work placements for young people in a drive to showcase the career options that are available throughout the industry.

Pub is the Hub launches new fund to help pubs diversify

06-Dec-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Pub is the Hub has announced the launch of the New Community Services Fund to help UK pubs to diversify into new services for their own communities.

Bids submitted for Drake & Morgan sale

05-Dec-2012 By M&C Report

A mixture of private equity groups and trade buyers are believed to have shown an interest in Drake & Morgan, the highly-regarded bar-restaurant operator.

Eclectic to launch cocktail bar chain

05-Dec-2012 By M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed operator, is developing a third strand to its operations with plans for a new cocktail bar brand called Dirty Blonde.

Publicans reminded to follow employment laws at all times

05-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees are being warned to make sure they comply with employment laws before sacking a member of staff, or face losing an unfair dismissal case.

Pub visits increase in the six months to October

03-Dec-2012 By Mark Wingett

The frequency of visits to pubs whether for a drink or a meal climbed slightly to 4.7 times (spring 4.6 times) in the six months to October, making up 23% of the going out market, according to the latest Taste of the Nation survey by Deloitte.

BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) reveals new chief executive

29-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has recruited a new chief executive to take over from Peter Thomas, who will stand down at the end of March next year.

Pub trade associations welcome new apprenticeships review

28-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Pub trade associations have welcomed the publication of a new report which calls on the Government to improve the quality of apprenticeships and make them more focused on the needs of employers.

Swindon Pubwatch scheme sees 58% reduction in drink-related crime

28-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The introduction of a Night Safe programme in Swindon has led to a 58% reduction in drink-related crime in October compared with the same period last year.

The Big Interview: Tim Burrows, BII director of education and training

27-Nov-2012

He likes to have a laugh, but that didn’t stop Tim Burrows from plunging into the doom and gloom of the pub industry. Phil Mellows meets the new man brightening things up at the BII

Flooded pubs fear Xmas closure as adverse weather hits UK

26-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun & Adam Pescod

The adverse weather conditions of the past week have hit pubs hard, with some fearing they will not be up and running in time for Christmas.

North London licensee convicted for using domestic Sky card to show football in pub

26-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A north London licensee has been convicted and ordered to pay over £8,000 for illegally using a domestic Sky card to show live football in his pub.

National Pubwatch founder Malcolm Eidmans dies

26-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

One of the founders of National Pubwatch (NPW) Malcolm Eidmans died over the weekend, after a period of illness.

Pub visits fall but customer spend per visit on the rise

26-Nov-2012 By Mark Wingett

The rising cost of visiting pubs and restaurants means people are spending more per visit, but going out less, according to new research.

Fuller's reports 4% half-year pre-tax profit increase

23-Nov-2012

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, saw revenues grow 8% to £137.9m and adjusted pre-tax profit increase 4% to £17.1m in the 26 weeks to 29 September, a period it described as an “extraordinary six months”, and revealed that it has spent...

Licensees in North East support minimum unit pricing for alcohol

23-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets is the key reason for the declining trade in pubs a survey by Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, has stated.

Pubs Advisory Service 'undermined' by lack of pubco support

22-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Pubs Advisory Service (PAS) has written to the business secretary, Vince Cable, claiming that the organisation is being “undermined” by the reluctance of pubcos to promote the service.

Oceana Kingston has licence revoked

21-Nov-2012

Luminar, the nightclub operator, has said it will consider its options for its Oceana club in Kingston after the decision to revoke its licence following a fatal stabbing inside.

North Wales pub opens shop to serve local community

20-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A pub in North Wales has opened a village shop to serve the community, with the help of Pub is the Hub.

Cheap alcohol and promotions encourage binge drinking, says Alcohol Concern research

20-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Low-cost alcohol and the way it is promoted encourages young people to binge drink, according to a new study from health campaign groups Alcohol Concern and Balance.

The Big Interview: Alistair Arkley

19-Nov-2012 By Phil Mellows

As the sun sinks over the plains of the Serengeti the last light of the day glitters in the golden dust, stirred into the cooling air by the hooves of 10,000 wildebeest. In the distance the breeze shudders the canvas walls of a lonely tent. Inside, Alistair...

Best Bar None looks to appoint new national director

19-Nov-2012

Best Bar None (BBN), the award scheme that encourages responsible alcohol retailing across the UK’s pubs and bars, is seeking somebody to fill the new role of national director.

CAMRA urges planning law changes to stop pub supermarket conversions

19-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to change planning laws after it published new research showing that over 200 pubs across Britain have been converted into supermarket convenience stores since January 2010.

Star Pubs and Bars unveils winning licensees at first ever Star Awards

16-Nov-2012

Star Pubs & Bars (formerly Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company) has unveiled its top performing lessees with the announcement of the winners of its first ever Star Awards.

WaverleyTBS was owed £26.5m by trade debtors

16-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock and John Harrington

WaverleyTBS was owed £26.5m by trade debtors at the time of its collapse last month, of which it is estimated that only £15m will be paid.

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company rebrands and offers new support for tenants

15-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC) has been renamed Star Pubs & Bars and has launched a new three-year agreement that offers low-cost entry to the trade

Small wet-led outlets suffer as costs of running a pub increase

15-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock & Adam Pescod

Total operating costs of running tenanted and leased pubs increased significantly last year — with smaller, wet-led pubs bearing the brunt, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA’s) latest Running a Pub benchmarking survey of companies...

Paddington licensee 'may have to sell lease of pub' to pay British Gas energy bill

14-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Paddington licensee fears he may have to sell the lease of his pub in order to pay a £19,000 energy bill from British Gas.

Business secretary rejects claims that BIS officials acted inappropriately over pubco-tenant deal

13-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Business secretary Vince Cable has rejected claims that officials in the Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) department acted inappropriately over the pubco-tenant self-regulation deal.

Eclectic sees rise in full-year earnings

13-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed bar group, has reported an increase in full-year earnings and said that it had secured additional banking facilities for both the refit of existing sites and for new acquisitions.

Better training for checkout clerks could benefit pub industry

13-Nov-2012 By Mark Daniels

A survey has revealed that pre-loading is a false economy, stating that those who choose to consume heavily discounted booze at home before heading out are likely to drink twice as much than if they just made a beeline to the town centre for the evening.

Pubs saved from an average 11% rise in business rates, show VOA stats

13-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs have been saved from an average 11% rise in business rates payments, following the Government’s announcement to push back revaluations by two years.

Queen's Head in Chesham named Fuller's Pub of the Year

13-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has named the Queen’s Head in Chesham, Buckinghamshire as its Pub of the Year.

Kurnia Group exits retailing with sale of Cloud Bar in Lincoln

12-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Kurnia Group has sold its last remaining outlet, the Cloud Bar, marking the end of the Lincolnshire-based group’s retailing business, which is led by operator Michael Kheng.

Waverley TBS collapsed leaving £64.5m in debts

12-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

Waverley TBS collapsed leaving £64.5m in debts to unsecured creditors, with seven drinks companies owed seven-figure sums, a new report shows.

Industry given 23 November deadline to prove self-regulation deal on pubco-tenant relationship is working

08-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The industry has until the 23 November to assure the Government that the self-regulation deal on the pubco-tenant relationship is working.

CAMRA reveals National Pub Design Awards winners

08-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Four pubs have been crowned winners Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Pub Design Awards.

Publican pushes staff to serve take-home alcohol to compete with supermarkets

07-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Tony Brookes, of the eight-strong Head of Steam, has renewed his Stuff the Supermarkets campaign by encouraging his staff to sell take-home alcohol in the run up to Christmas.

Newman Arms in Fitzrovia sees fewer thefts after employing doorman

07-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The licensee of the Newman Arms in Fitzrovia, London, has seen incidents of theft all but eradicated at her pub after taking on a doorman last month.

GRS Pubs bullish despite banking covenant breaches

07-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

GRS Pubs, the c.200-strong pub group formerly owned by London Town, has given assurances that it’s business as usual despite news that the company breached banking covenants on its £33.2m loan facility.

BII launches search for Licensee of the Year 2013

06-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Entries are being taken for the BII Licensee of Year Award 2013, which is open to all licensees across the UK.

The Big Interview: Bill Butler, Security Industry Authority

06-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

It is easy to have respect for somebody who has faced Lord Justice Leveson and come out the other side with their reputation intact. However, it is something else entirely to be called to the Leveson Inquiry with less than a week’s notice, only to find...

Mark Daniels: The birth of the £6 pint…

06-Nov-2012 By Mark Daniels

So last week, following a concerted effort by many publicans, industry personnel and beer lovers to generate a near religious movement on sites such as Twitter that saw an e-petition receive over 100’000 digital signatures, MPs finally had a debate about...

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