Companies

Investor Luke Johnson acquires stake in InnBrighton

02-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Serial sector investor Luke Johnson’s vehicle Risk Capital Partners has invested in InnBrighton, the Brighton-based pub company, which has been renamed the Laine Pub Company, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has...

Imbiba raises £6m for fledgling concepts

02-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Imbiba Partnership, the investment vehicle led by John Connell, has completed its latest round of fundraising, raising £6m to invest across its two concepts Darwin & Wallace and Camm & Hooper.

M&B appoint former Marston's man as new retail director for Harvester

02-Jul-2014 By Mark Wingett

David Hoyland, who was at Marston’s for over 14 years, has joined Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), as retail director for its Harvester brand.

Marston's tries to sell pub with vacant possession despite tenancy until 2016

02-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A tenant has complained about Marston’s tactics in trying to sell his pub from under him – which included offering vacant possession despite his tenancy running until June 2016.

Pop-up pub pioneers say concept could be rolled out nationally

02-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A pop-up pub set up by drinkers in a village without a local has been so successful they have suggested rolling out the concept nationally.

Student buys two of Manchester’s top bars in his first business venture

01-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

A 22-year-old entrepreneur has bought Taps Restaurant & Bar and Epernay Champagne bar in Manchester for a ‘six-figure sum’.

London's 'smallest old pub' celebrates every landlord since 1678 with roll of honour

01-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

The latest in a long line of licensees at ‘London’s oldest small pub’ is celebrating a decade at the tiny watering hole.

Joule’s launches craft beer format

01-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Joule’s, the Shropshire brewer and pub operator, is developing a new craft beer bar concept that it wants to roll out into five sites initially.

Punch tenants still worried about their pubs' futures

01-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch tenants are still concerned about the future of their pubs, despite bondholders last week voting in favour of the pubco’s restructuring proposals.

Wetherspoon's first pub in Republic of Ireland won't serve Guinness

30-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

JD Wetherspoon is to open its first pub in the Republic of Ireland – but has admitted it will not be serving the nation’s most popular drink, Guinness.

My Pub

My Pub - The Ring O' Bells

27-Jun-2014 By Alison Baker

From a picnic lawn to farmers’ markets, Trust Inns lessee Ian Wade tells Alison Baker how he has transformed his Cheshire pub, the Ring O’ Bells in Christleton, into a family-friendly haven

Punch Taverns restructure plans backed by majority of bondholders

27-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Punch Taverns has agreed its latest restructuring deal with its biggest group of bondholders.

Devon publican boosts business by introducing Bitcoin

27-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Devon publican has boosted his business by accepting payments by Bitcoin - a cheaper alternative to credit card.

Beds & Bars eyes rollout for cider bar format

26-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Beds & Bars, the bars-meets-hostels operator, could roll out its Tree House cider bar format to other sites and possibly to standalone units in the future.

What now for self-regulation of the pub sector?

26-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

In introducing its plans for a pubco statutory code the Government insisted self-regulation had failed. However, with legislation still a distant target how does this ‘discredited’ system fill the gap and will it still have a role to play alongside  a...

Innsatiable appetite for courting controversy

25-Jun-2014 By Mike Berry

Innsatiable — the controversial “free bar” based in Farnham, Surrey that first came to our attention in summer 2012 — is back in the headlines.

Thwaites secures new brewery site

25-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Daniel Thwaites, the Lancashire brewer and pub operator, saw profits before tax and exceptionals grow from £6m to £7.8m in the year to 31 March following the culmination of a three-year restructure process at the company, and said it expects to complete...

From Red Lion to Lion Rouge – Yorkshire pubs change names for Tour de France

24-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs in one Yorkshire town have given themselves a Gallic makeover to celebrate the Tour fde France racing through its streets on 5 July.

Statutory code plans 'will increase risk for landlords', says McMullen MD

24-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

The managing director of McMullen’s has criticised the Government’s statutory code plans for “interfering” in the pubco/tenant relationship and heaping further burden on landlords.

Licensee accuses NUS of double standards over student pub crawl campaign

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The licensee of a university bar has criticised the National Union of Students for launching a crackdown on students drinking in pubs while offering them a 10% discount on supermarket booze.

Community pub campaigners call for ACV protection to last 10 months

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Plunkett Foundation has called for changes to Asset of Community Value (ACV) listings, including extending the protected period from six to 10 months.

Pub chef triumphs in British BBQ Battle

23-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Shepherd Neame development chef Carol Haime picked up first prize in the pub/bar category at this year’s British BBQ Battle.

Luminar announces its ’national champions’

23-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Nightclub operator Luminar handed out awards to staff members at its annual conference.

Remaining Orchid sites placed in administration

20-Jun-2014 By Mark Wingett

The remaining 49 Orchid Pub Company sites that were not part of the package acquired by Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) have been officially placed in administration with Ernst & Young.

Chef Focus

Chef Focus - Local Hero

19-Jun-2014 By Pubfood

Pubfood talks to Jim Hayward group development chef for pubco www.idealcollection.co.uk, which operates seven sites in the south-east

Enterprise Inns director admits pubco needs to change

19-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Enterprise Inns needs to undergo “cultural change” in the way it treats its tenants, the company’s commercial director Ed Cottrell has admitted.

BrewDog secures Clapham and Brighton sites

19-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, has confirmed that it has secured its fourth site in London, in Clapham, and also its first on the south coast in Brighton.

Fuller's ponders expansion of craft cider and pizza concept The Stable

19-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Fuller’s sees “considerable potential” for expansion of The Stable, the craft cider and pizza restaurant business in which it owns a 51% stake, in the south of England.

David Cameron 'delighted' at rise of community-owned pubs

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

David Cameron has welcomed the growth of community pubs and backed a project to bring a Bristol local back to life.

Hospitality sector sees growth slow to 0.2% in May

18-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Like-for-like sales growth across 28 leading managed pub and restaurant groups slowed to just 0.2% in May.

Licensees 'outraged' after Britvic ups the price of Pepsi syrup

18-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensees have expressed their anger over a “surprise” increase in the cost of Pepsi, after claiming that Britvic has almost halved the size of boxes of syrup without proportionally adjusting its prices.

Loungers' Cosy Club could exceed 70 sites

18-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Loungers, the Piper-backed cafe bar operator, sees scope to grow to at least 70 Cosy Club sites alongside a minimum of 350 for its primary growth concept Lounge.

BII Licensee of the Year says Britain will never adapt to 'cafe culture'

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Twenty-four hour licensing was a worthwhile but ultimately flawed experiment, according to one of the first licensees in Wales to open around the clock.

Publican criticises BT over new charge for Phone Book business listings

18-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A west London licensee has accused BT of ‘sharp practice’ after it told him he would have to opt out of a classified Phone Book listing or face a £120 annual charge.

Former Admiral boss says pub sector is entering a 'new cycle'

17-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Senior pub company figure Jonathan Paveley said he expected to see a ‘hybrid’ of managed and tenanted pub models to emerge.

CAMRA launches search for Britain's most historic clubs

17-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched its search for Britain’s best historic clubs.

Guide to traditional pub etiquette published

17-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A lighthearted and non-politically correct instruction guide on how to behave in pubs has been published.

Entries sought for Enterprise Community Heroes awards

17-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Enterprise pubs are being urged to apply for up to £10,000 to invest in a project for their community.

Pub chef makes final of Craft Guild of Chef Graduate Awards

16-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

A pub/restaurant chef has been selected as one of ten finalists in the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards 2014.

Pub chefs to compete in this year’s British BBQ Battle final

16-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Two pub chefs have made the final of this year’s British BBQ Battle which takes place at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire on 18 June (tomorrow).

BBPA outlines proposals to help small businesses

16-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has proposed amending the definition of small businesses and introducing new rules that force councils to “be more transparent” in regards to business rate relief.

Analyst predicts rise of 'new regionals' in pub sector

16-Jun-2014 By Ruth Williams

The number of pubs owned by microbreweries could grow from 1% of the market to 10% over the next decade, with financial buyers also busy in the sector, according to Nigel Parson, independent analyst from Dryburgh Research.

Mitchells & Butlers buys 173 Orchid pubs

16-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has announced that it has acquired the majority of Orchid’s estate, consisting of 173 sites, in addition to Orchid’s head office, for £266m.

Feather’s Inn crowned Marston’s Pub of the Year

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Staffordshire pub recognised for its close community ties has been awarded Pub of the Year by Marston’s.

BrewDog continues bar expansion with opening of fourth Scottish bar

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

BrewDog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, is to open its fourth bar in Scotland this Saturday (14 June).

Admiral Taverns to offer free Coral World Cup football bets

12-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Admiral Taverns has teamed up with bookmaker Coral to offer both licensees and pubgoers free World Cup bets.

Pubs to host National Piña Colada Day parties

12-Jun-2014 By Jessica Mason

Coconut rum brand Malibu has named the 10th July “National Piña Colada Day” to help boost sales of the Piña Colada cocktail in pubs and bars this summer.

Fake alcohol seized and 96 arrests made following international raids

11-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A co-ordinated operation against international gangs producing and selling counterfeit food and alcohol has resulted in nearly 100 arrests, the Government has revealed.

Punch re-launches tenants training programme

11-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns has re-launched its tenants training programme, after claiming new licensees often “underestimate” the expertise they need to run a successful pub.

London operators hit out at TFL policy on Tubes during World Cup

11-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub trade has hit out at Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to not extend Tube opening times in the capital on the days of the World Cup’s later matches.