Stonegate takes 2024 investment past the £100m mark
New openings and a multitude of revamps by Stonegate Group has seen the pubco invest more than £100m into its 4,500-site estate during 2024.
Stonegate Group
Stonegate opens Rita’s Beerhall and Ballroom
Stonegate opened the new cocktail beerhall themed site in Leeds on Friday 6 December.
Stonegate’s new formats ‘driven by listening to teams & guests’
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has invested £150,000 into two new pub formats within its managed estate.
City pub reveals 'biggest free pint giveaway yet'
Stonegate has unveiled plans to give away 3,000 pints of Guinness next month to celebrate the opening of a new sports pub.
Stonegate announces new appointments
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has revealed two new ‘significant’ appointments.
Stonegate invests millions into estate as guests look for new experiences
Following news Stonegate pumped another six figure sum into rebranding and refreshing its estate last week, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has looked back at the investments made over the past year.
Pubs 'don't have anymore to give' - McDowall
Stonegate boss David McDowall has added his voice to the calls for rates relief ahead of the Government’s budget next week.
Stonegate invests £1m into new concept
Stonegate Group has invested a six-figure sum into a new concept launching in Leeds city centre.
Stonegate rebrands pubs to Social Pub & Kitchen estate
Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pubco, has launched a new brand to customers through its pub estate called Social Pub & Kitchen.
BIG INTERVIEW
BIG INTERVIEW: Getting to know ‘the real David’ at Stonegate
Stonegate CEO and former BrewDog COO David McDowall truly is a working-class lad done good.
Stonegate ready to spend and evolve pub and guest experience
Stonegate CEO David McDowall said the pubco will invest £150m into its pubs in the next year as the business bids to “evolve and elevate the pub and guest experience”.
Stonegate puts 20-strong portfolio up for sale
Stonegate has placed a portfolio of 20 free-of-tie sites on the market with a combined asking price of almost £19m.
Stonegate MiXR app hits 1m downloads
Stonegate’s MiXR app has hit 1m downloads and seen £1.8m in points redeemed since it was launched just nine months ago.
Stonegate agrees debt refinancing deal
Stonegate Group has announced the agreement of its debt refinancing requirements with a £250m shareholder contribution from TDR Capital following positive discussions with bondholders.
Be At One Liverpool launches after £800k investment
Cocktail bar brand Be At One is set to open its second Liverpool location, following an £800,000 cash injection.
Stonegate ploughs more than £2.6m into 4 site transformations
Stonegate Group has announced the opening of Slug & Lettuce in Albert Square, Manchester as part of the company’s recent £2.6m investment in four of its sites.
Stonegate’s ‘kids eat for £1’ scheme returns
Following a successful Easter campaign, Stonegate’s Group’s Pub and Dining sites, ‘Kids Eat for £1’ initiative has been re-introduced.
David McDowall: ‘Craft Union is a jewel in the Stonegate crown’
Stonegate has seen early signs that its data-led strategy is working, as the pub group undertakes proactive management of its estate.
‘Very strong’ first half of year for Stonegate
Stonegate Group, Britain’s largest pubco, has reported a “very strong” first half of its financial year that has given the business “real confidence” for the future.
Ex-Stonegate boss Baker joins Market Taverns
Former Stonegate commercial director Suzanne Baker has been appointed as non-executive director of Market Taverns.
Stonegate seeing ‘material improvements in profitability’
Stonegate has reported a “highly respectable performance”, with positive like-for-like growth, most notably in Craft Union, its fast-growing operator managed business.
Stonegate brings back 'Kids Eat for £1' deal
Stonegate Group, Britain’s largest pubco, has announced the relaunch of its ‘Kids Eat for £1’ initiative this Easter.
Stonegate reveals operating board changes
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has announced appointments to its operating board after new hires and promotions.
Helen Charlesworth ‘stepping down one of the hardest things I’ve done’
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has announced Helen Charlesworth has decided to step down as managing director for its managed business.
Slug & Lettuce’s £650k investment into second new concept site
Stonegate Group’s managed cocktail bar division Slug & Lettuce has announced its second new look venue is set to open after a £650,000 transformation.
Toy cheer from Craft Union
Community focused pub group Craft Union is celebrating another year of charity success having brought joy to children and their families last December.
Fears Stonegate sites at risk as TDR looks to refinance £2.5bn debt
More than 650 Stonegate pubs could be put at risk as its parent company seeks to refinance £2.5bn worth of debt, though the firm claims it is “well-placed” to deliver on its long-term objectives.
The Big Interview
'I've got a ridiculous addiction to pubs' - Stonegate's Payne takes a look back
After more than 50 years in the pub trade, Stonegate founder and chairman Ian Payne is hanging up his bar blade. The MA met up with him to chat over 50 amazing years in the trade.
Stonegate CEO Ian Payne to retire
Stonegate chairman and founder Ian Payne MBE has decided to retire at the end of January 2024 and step down from his role with the group after 13 years.
Slug & Lettuce reveals ‘transformational’ new look and plans for more
Slug & Lettuce, the managed cocktail bar division of Stonegate Group, has reopened its flagship venue in Deansgate following a £680,000 investment.
Stonegate receives backlash for dynamic pricing move
Stonegate Group has received backlash following its announcement to introduce dynamic beer pricing.
Stick or twist: Will Stonegate's dynamic pricing gamble pay off?
Stonegate’s decision to run dynamic pricing in some "select pubs" in its managed estate has opened up quite an interesting can of worms.
Stonegate launches dynamic pricing
The UK’s largest pub group has launched a new system of dynamic pricing, which could see prices increase in some pubs during busier periods.
Stonegate 'to axe up to 260 jobs'
Pub company Stonegate is set to enter into a consultation process that could make up to 260 roles redundant, as it restructures its central functions and operations management team.
‘Stand-out’ performance from Craft Union arm of Stonegate
Craft Union, Stonegate Group’s operator-led pub model has delivered a “stand-out” performance as like-for-like (lfl) sales rose by 14.7% for the 28-week period to 9 April 2022.
Be At One staff trek across London for charity walk
Staff from Stonegate Group’s late-night bar brand Be At One have taken part in a 26-mile walk taking in as many sites as possible on a ‘bar-a-thon’.
McDowall 'I'm in my dream job'
For some of us, we’re lucky enough to enjoy our jobs, but for Stonegate boss David McDowall, he’s delighted to find himself doing the job he’d always wanted!
Stonegate promotes Melissa Wisdom to chief commercial officer
The Stonegate Group has announced the appointment of Melissa Wisdom as the company’s chief commercial officers.
Stonegate raises £250k for MND Association
The UK’s biggest pub company, Stonegate Group, has raised £250,000 for its corporate charities, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and MND Scotland.
Ex-football star Bridge opens sports bar Clubhouse 5
Stonegate officially launched its state-of-the-art sports bar Clubhouse 5 on Wednesday (17 May) with former football star Wayne Bridge meeting customers on the night.
Baker to step down as commercial director at Stonegate
Stonegate Group commercial director Suzanne Baker has announced she will step down from her role to take a seat on the board as a non-executive director.
Record GBPA winner moves to Stonegate’s Clubhouse 5 site
Multi-award-winning pub operator Paul Eastwood – whose Famous Three Kings site has scooped Best Pub to Watch Sport at the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) an incredible FIVE times – has taken over new site Clubhouse 5.
Craft Union to continue growth after reaching 500 pubs
Craft Union is planning to expand its estate further as it marks a milestone opening in its portfolio.
Stonegate reverses decision on glassware charges
Leading pubco Stonegate has announced a reversal in its decision to charge operators for glassware after operators reacted angrily to the move.
Stonegate doubles revenue to £1.6bn in ‘creditable performance’
Stonegate has recorded a “creditable performance” but has not ruled out further site disposals, according to its 2022 financial year results ended 25 September 2022.
Stonegate operators feel 'second-class' after glassware charges introduced
Stonegate operators have been left feeling like “second-class citizens” after the pubco introduced an “extra cost” for branded glassware across its leased and tenanted sites.
Stonegate launches Pub Hub as part of £10m investment
Stonegate Pub Partners has unveiled a new platform for licensees that offers ideas and advice on how to increase sales, cut operating costs and a run a successful business.
Stonegate looking to sell 1,000 pubs to pay off debt
Stonegate Group is looking to sell off around 1,000 of its pubs in order to pay down some of its £2.6bn debt pile, according to a report by Bloomberg.
BrewDog’s McDowall replacing Stonegate’s Longbottom
Stonegate Group chief executive officer Simon Longbottom is stepping down from the role at the country's biggest pub company and is set to be replaced by BrewDog’s David McDowall in February 2023.
Stonegate raises more than 13k for charity
Pubco Stonegate Group has raised more than £13,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association through its Tour de Stonegate 2022 virtual cycling fundraising drive.