Other operators

Fuller's reports like-for-like sales rise

Fuller's reports like-for-like sales rise

By Mark Wingett

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has this morning reported a 3.9% rise in like-for-like sales across its managed pubs and hotels division for the 26 weeks to 1 October 2011.

Admiral launches 'right to buy' option

Admiral launches 'right to buy' option

By Gurjit Degun

Admiral Taverns has introduced a right-to-buy option for selected tenants who will have the opportunity to purchase the freehold of their pub from three years into a lease.

PASS could be 'pointless'

PASS could be 'pointless'

By Gurjit Degun

If the Home Office does not do more to force licensees and doorstaff to accept the Proof-of-Age Standards Scheme (PASS) accredited cards, then PASS is “pointless”.

Bolton Pubwatch goes digital

Bolton Pubwatch goes digital

By Adam Pescod

Bolton’s Pubwatch scheme has become the UK’s first to adopt a digital-only approach to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in pubs and clubs.

BIS: CAMRA accuses Government of weak reforms

BIS: CAMRA accuses Government of weak reforms

By Michelle Perrett

The Government response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report will not be enough to avert the “disaster” facing thousands of British pubs, claims consumer group CAMRA.

BIS: ALMR

BIS: ALMR "deeply disappointed"

By Gurjit Degun

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has expressed “deep disappointment” at the news that the Government has decided not to regulate the behaviour of the major pub companies.

Vituperate At Will

Vituperate At Will

Last night, I ended up asking somebody to leave the pub because one too many expletives had passed their lips. Now, I’m no prude, am prone to the occasional profanity myself, and rarely only ask people to stop swearing at the bar if I feel it is offending...

Airing views on conditions

Airing views on conditions

By Peter Coulson

My recent article about minor variations provoked a strong reaction among readers who have suffered their own problems and knock-backs when they have tried to make a small change to their premises licence.

I leave you with 10 industry plus points

I leave you with 10 industry plus points

By The PMA Team

This is my last leader after 10 years on the magazine and much has changed in the pub sector in my time here. I thought I’d offer up 10 positives about the industry.

Legislation may not reduce the level of damage by squatters

Pubs in squatters warning

By Gurjit Degun

Pub owners are being warned of an increase in squatters targeting empty commercial property after the Government introduced legislation making it illegal to squat in residential buildings.

Peter Coulson: In-pub breathalyser machines are a complicated issue

Is it just a load of hot air?

By Peter Coulson

I recognise the wariness and scepticism of licensees when faced with a new breathalyser machine being marketed to pubs. They might think ‘what’s the come-back on me if I install one of these and something goes wrong?’

Good news for pubs over AWP tax ruling

Good news for pubs over AWP tax ruling

By John Harrington

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has suffered a serious set back in its attempt to reclaim VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines that have been issued to pub operators and licensees.

Innuendo: it’s the bedrock of beer

Innuendo: it’s the bedrock of beer

By Mark Daniels

Hands up if you’ve ever bought an alcoholic product on the assumption that it’s going to give you an almighty erection?

Sheffield’s art-inspired bar

Sheffield’s art-inspired bar

Thornbridge, the Derbyshire-based brewer and pub operator, has opened its first city-centre bar, named Dada, in Sheffield.

Whiting & Hammond’s seventh site

Whiting & Hammond’s seventh site

Whiting & Hammond, the award-winning south-east multiple led by co-founder Brian Whiting, has secured its seventh site, historic 18th-century Stanmer House in Brighton.

Responsibility deal condemned

Responsibility deal condemned

By Adam Pescod

The Government’s responsibility deal will fail because it creates a fundamental conflict of interest within the drinks industry, according to public health campaigners and an influential committee of MPs.

Charity: MA250 members are leading innovation

Multi-sites prove pubs are alive and kicking

By The PMA Team

This magazine has been charting the rise of the multi-site operators for a while now, through our MA250 programme, adding around 50 companies a year to the membership.

Restaurant Group refinances on sales uplift

Restaurant Group refinances on sales uplift

By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The Restaurant Group (TRG), owner of the Brunning & Price pub chain, Frankie and Benny’s and Chiquito brands, has completed a refinancing exercise that has given the business a new five-year, £140m bank facility.

AB-InBev UK Q3 volumes rise 0.8%

AB-InBev UK Q3 volumes rise 0.8%

By John Harrington, M&C Report

AB-InBev, the international brewer, has cited “poor summer weather” for a modest 0.8% rise in own-beer volumes in the UK in Q3 2011.

Living Rooms: They’re the new Smoking Rooms

Living Rooms: They’re the new Smoking Rooms

By Mark Daniels

So David Cameron has announced that he supports the smoking ban and thinks that it has worked — cue every smoking zealot spouting figures to the contrary, and everybody else telling them to shut up and get on with it.

Georgel: pubcos must empower BDMs

Georgel: pubcos must empower BDMs

By Ewan Turney

It is puzzling the industry does not spend more time focusing on the role of the Business Development Manager — that’s the view of Admiral Taverns boss Kevin Georgel.

A third Cosy Club opened

A third Cosy Club opened

Loungers, the privately-owned group led by Alex Reilley, has opened its third site under its Cosy Club brand in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Four more join ALMR

Four more join ALMR

Liverpool-based pub and bar operators Central Bars, Baa Bar, Pax Leisure and Ice Bars are the latest to join the Association for Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

British Pub Week toasts success

British Pub Week toasts success

By Adam Pescod

Licensees across the country raised a glass to the Great British pub as customers flocked in to celebrate British Pub Week.

Coulson: it is inidcative of the current system of law-making that we can leave nothing alone

Pub gaming is under control

By Peter Coulson

Whatever claims politicians make about the removal of red tape, those in the licensed trade know only too well that nothing actually gets any better.

Coulson: clarification needed on the circumstances an expedited review can be used by police

Tragedy raises review queries

The tragic events at Lava & Ignite in Nottingham, that saw a student crushed to death, hit the headlines for obvious reasons, but the aftermath raises a couple of questions for me.

Eclectic eyes expansion on sales boost

Eclectic eyes expansion on sales boost

By John Harrington, M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed bar group, continues to eye expansion as it reports increased sales and EBITDA in the year to 30 June 2011.

New cider house for London

New cider house for London

The team behind well-known London pub the Euston Tap at Euston station, which specialises in unusual and niche beers, are to open a dedicated cider pub opposite.

Pubs could act as tourist offices

Pubs could act as tourist offices

By Adam Pescod

More pubs could soon provide tourist information as part of their offering if a pilot scheme in a West Sussex pub is successful.

Carbon Trust offers free energy advice for licensees

Carbon Trust offers free energy advice for licensees

By Adam Pescod

Pubs could save up to 20% on energy costs with an investment of just £2,000 — that’s according to the Carbon Trust, which has launched a new free independent advice service aimed at helping businesses improve their energy efficiency.

Time for change: an open letter to Bob Ivell

Time for change: an open letter to Bob Ivell

By The PMA Team

Dear Bob, I trust you’re well. Welcome back to the pub trade. You will have noticed that right now our industry’s collective voice is as fragmented as ever. I know there have been a few distractions at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), Bob, but things...

Bars could close if PPL fees increase

Bars could close if PPL fees increase

By Gurjit Degun

Late-night pubs, bars and clubs that host DJ nights and discos will be forced out of business if proposed changes to the way music royalties are paid are pushed through — that’s the clear message from a host of operators who laid bare the shocking extent...

ALMR opposes blanket ban on restrictive covenants

ALMR opposes blanket ban on restrictive covenants

By John Harrinton, M&C Report

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has urged action on the use of restrictive covenants on pub sales, but fell short of calling for a blanket ban.

BII hunts for licensee of the year

BII hunts for licensee of the year

By Adam Pescod

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is welcoming entries for its Licensee of the Year Award, which has now entered its 27th year.

The below-cost sales minefield

The below-cost sales minefield

By Peter Coulson

It does not surprise me that the Government is having some difficulty in resolving the issues involved in supermarket low-cost sales (Cheap booze ban: work continues — the PMA, 20 October).

Are you a lamb to the slaughter?

Are you a lamb to the slaughter?

By Robert Sayles

Neil Robertson recently stated that the prospect of naive new tenants entering the trade was a major source of concern. With this in mind I’ve devised a questionnaire so that those thinking about entering the trade can gauge whether or not they fully...

CAMRA urges restrictive covenants ban

CAMRA urges restrictive covenants ban

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on the Government to ban the practice of selling pubs with restrictive covenants that force change of use.

Hall & Woodhouse posts drop in profit

Hall & Woodhouse posts drop in profit

By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Hall & Woodhouse, the Dorset brewer and pub operator, has reported a fall in pre-tax profit for the 52 weeks to 29 January 2011, as it incurred significant start-up costs for a flagship site in Bath and started the development of its new brewery.

BISC's pubco report: the trade's view part II

BISC's pubco report: the trade's view part II

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...

Tim Martin takes £19k pay cut

Tim Martin takes £19k pay cut

By Mark Wingett

Tim Martin, chairman of managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW), took a £19,000 pay cut in 2011, according to the company’s annual report.

BISC’s pubco report: the trade’s view

BISC’s pubco report: the trade’s view

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...

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