Companies

Alcohol sales fall but value remains flat as customers increasingly ‘trade up’

17-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Total alcohol sales fell by 3% in the last year but value remained flat as customers drank less but increasingly opted for premium products, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Luminar wins appeal against ASA ad decision

17-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Luminar Group has won its appeal against an Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruling which said one of its clubs wrongly targeted a 12-year-old with promotional alcohol offers.

Heineken sells 111 pubs to Admiral Taverns

16-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Heineken UK, owner of the leased pub operator Star Pubs & Bars, has agreed to sell 111 pubs to Admiral Taverns for an undisclosed sum.

Glasgow pub changes its name to Yesbar ahead of referendum

16-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

With just two days to go until the Scottish referendum, one publican couple are making it very clear which side they are on.

Five pubs win Sawday's hotel awards

16-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Five pubs with rooms have received special recognition in the first Sawday’s British Hotel Awards.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: Quiz raises £5,000 for Licensed Trade Charity

15-Sep-2014 By Mike Berry

Guests at last week’s Great British Pub Awards raised more than £5,000 for the Licensed Trade Charity’s (LTC) Support & Care service.

Breathalyser trial launches in pubs in North Leicestershire

15-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Breathalyser tests and alcohol calculators are being trialled in pubs in two Leicestershire towns as part of Alcohol Awareness Week (15 – 21 September).

Pub Awards 2014 winner and Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton says 'pubs offer opportunities that restaurants cannot'

12-Sep-2014 By Sophie McIntyre

Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton has claimed that the pub environment “provides chefs with opportunities that restaurants cannot offer” following his win at the Great British Pub Awards 2014.

Michelin-starred chef Dominic Chapman: 'brilliant rollercoaster' first month at pub venture

12-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Michelin-starred chef Dominic Chapman has described his first month in charge of his new pub venture as “brilliant rollercoaster”.

Great British Pub Award winners says tenants should not be afraid of working with pubcos

12-Sep-2014 By Sophie McIntyre

The overall winners of the Great British Pub of the Year have insisted you get out what you put in when it comes to working with pubcos.

JD Wetherspoon reports rise in like-for-like sales

12-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the year to 27 July, with profit before tax and exceptionals up 3.1% to £79.4m.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: Winners revealed

11-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

The Grafton in Kentish Town, London has been crowned the Sky Great British Pub of the Year 2014.

British Country Inns expects shareholder sell-off

11-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

British Country Inns (BCI) expects that “a large number” of its shareholders will look to sell up when its shares are placed on the on-line trading platform Asset Match, with a minority selling at a discount, chairman Martin Sherwood has said.

Great British Pub Awards 2014: tonight’s the night

11-Sep-2014 By James Evison

The national champions and supreme champion in the Great British Pub Awards 2014 will be crowned at a glittering sports themed awards ceremony in London tonight.

Kate Nicholls replaces David McHattie as ALMR chief executive

11-Sep-2014 By John Harrington and James Wallin

David McHattie has stepped down from his role as chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) with immediate effect.

CAMRA and BBPA produce conflicting data on UK brewery growth

11-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The booming British brewery sector, which is now at its healthiest since the 1940s, has been praised by two separate publications — even if they can’t quite agree on their figures.

CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2015 finalists announced

11-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale has announced its Top 16 pubs as the 2015 Good Beer Guide hits the shelves today.

Tenant accuses Punch of keeping him in the dark on takeover

10-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A tenant has hit out at Punch Taverns for selling the freehold of his pub to developers without informing him or giving him the opportunity to buy it.

Jägermeister targets pubs 'passing off'

10-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Mast-Jäegermeister UK has warned it will take legal action against pubs and clubs that repeatedly ‘pass off’ and ‘pour over’ as part of a fresh crackdown.

EPOS supplier Zonal expects turnover to top £50m

10-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Zonal, the electronic point of sale (EPOS) supplier to the hospitality and leisure sector, expects full-year turnover to grow from £41.3m to £52m in the year to 30 June 2014 as the group expands its operations and continues to innovate.

MOJO reveals plans to extend beyond northern heartland

10-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Three-strong bar group MOJO has announced plans to extend to at least 10 sites with its sights initially set on London.

Licensee successfully challenges smoking sign fine

09-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

A licensee has warned fellow publicans to make sure they know their rights after a council wrongly threatened him with a £200 fine for not displaying the correct ‘no smoking’ sign.

Line-up of chefs at Development Chef Club Food Forum revealed

08-Sep-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

The Development Chef Club Food Forum, sponsored by Farm Frites and run by the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title Restaurant magazine, has revealed its line-up of chefs.

Pub chefs highly innovative – but more local dishes needed, says Good Food Guide editor

08-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pub chefs are leading the way in menu innovation, but outlets should do more to embrace traditional local dishes and vegetarian options, Waitrose Good Food Guide editor Elizabeth Carter has claimed.

Norwich to continue voluntary breathalyser scheme 'indefinitely'

08-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Norwich Constabulary will continue to encourage pubs and clubs to breathalyse customers after receiving positive feedback from the trade and other police forces about its pilot scheme.

Old Blue Last operator expands

08-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The operator of three east London pubs and music venues including the well-known Old Blue Last in Shoreditch is to open a further two sites this year.

Marston's names two Tesco veterans as non-executive directors

05-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, has strengthened its board with the appointment of two non-executive directors with a background at supermarket group Tesco.

Punch restructure edges closer

05-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Punch Taverns’ restructure has edged closer after more creditors gave their backing to its proposals.

Spirit launches chef training scheme and plans to double number of apprentices

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Spirit Pub Company plans to double the number of its apprentices to more than 2,000, it has announced as it launches a new programme aimed at those looking for a career in the kitchen.

Licensee slams planned protest by ‘aggressive’ animal rights activists outside his pub

04-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

A pub owner has accused animal rights campaigners of "blackmail" after they announced plans for a protest against his use of foie gras.

Licensees criticise Greater Manchester alcohol strategy

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Operators in Greater Manchester have slammed a new alcohol strategy as a “short-term” solution that does not adequately address the needs of licensees.

Growth in drink sales outstrips food as Spirit reports positive results

04-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company has reported a 2.1% rise in like-for-like net sales in its managed arm for the 12 weeks to 16 August, with net income growth in the leased division accelerating to +4.8%.

Good Pub Guide 2015: Trade 'finally booming' after years of doom and gloom

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub visionaries that have adapted to changing pressures are to thank for the nationwide improvement from “decrepit boozers with dull beer” to thriving businesses with innovative ideas. That is the message of the Good Pub Guide 2015, which is out today.

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