Companies

Home Office wants all pubs to accept new proof of age card

11-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A Home Office minister has said he wants a “100%” of pubs and clubs to accept the newly re-launched PASS proof of age card.

Pub opens at top of 150ft high crane

11-Jun-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Whyte & Mackay is tapping into the ‘Clydebuilt’ roots of its Scotch whisky brand by opening a pub with a difference – on top of the historic 150ft Titan Crane in Glasgow.

Robinsons to trial flexible tenancy agreements

11-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Robinsons, the Cheshire-based brewer and pub operator, is to introduce a more flexible tenancy agreement this year, which it hopes to roll out across most of its estate, joint managing director William Robinson has said.

Lake District pub damaged by fire will re-open, Robinsons confirms

10-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Lake District pub that was damaged by a fire last week will re-open for trading, its owners Robinsons Brewery have confirmed.

Home Office campaign against domestic abuse launches in pubs

10-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A new Government campaign against domestic abuse has been launched in pubs and bars across the country ahead of the start of the World Cup on Thursday (12 June).

Gosport Pubwatch bans Mayor and Mayoress from its pubs

10-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Mayor and Mayoress of a Hampshire town have been banned from its pubs just hours after being elected following reports they were drunk and disorderly and threatened to close premises down.

Hawthorn Leisure could grow to 2,000 pubs

09-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Up to 2,000 existing pubs could fit the criteria for Hawthorn Leisure, which has no cap on its expansion ambitions, according Noah Bulkin of the company’s joint backer May Capital.

ALMR launches 'positive' new look

09-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The Association of Multiple Licensed Retailers has launched a rebrand which it claims reflects a “modern, vibrant” sector.

Pub chef wins Tilda Chef of the Year award

09-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Head chef Ian Simpson from the Grove in Ealing, West London, has been crowned Tilda Chef of the Year 2014.

ALMR member donations fund LTC autism school kitchen

09-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Donations from last year’s ALMR Christmas Lunch have gone towards building a new kitchen at the Licensed Trade Charity’s school for children with autism.

Community shop opened in Tim Henman’s local pub

09-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

An Oxfordshire pub has used a £5,000 award prize to set up a community shop.

Fuller's former brewing manager joins InnBrighton as guest brewer

09-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Brewing luminary Derek Prentice is back in charge of the tanks for the first time since retiring in January, as guest brewer at InnBrighton’s Laine Brewery.

Pub celebrates D-Day anniversary with fake bomb raid

09-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A pub hosted a D-Day commemoration with a difference – complete with air shelter, fake bomb raid and a week in Normandy as first prize in a fancy dress contest.

Tenant fails in bid to seek debt waiver from Punch

09-Jun-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A tenant who pleaded with Punch Taverns for a debt waiver has failed in his bid and will be evicted today.

Evan-Evans launches London brewing and pub venture

06-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Evan-Evans, the Welsh brewer and pub operator, has launched a new brewing and pub operating venture targeted at the London and south east market.

City Pub Co EBITDA nears £1m in 'transformational' year

06-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

City Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)-backed operator, has reported EBITDA of £912,166 in a “transformational” year to 29 December.

Fuller's reports healthy profit boost

06-Jun-2014 By Mark Wingett

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 10% rise in adjusted pre-tax profits to £34.1m in the year to 29 March, driven by its managed estate, which saw like-for-like growth of an “industry leading” 8.3%.

Punch Taverns unveils its 250th pub refurb of the year

05-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Punch Taverns is celebrating its 250th pub upgrade of the financial year.

Shepherd Neame restructure approved after threat of injunction withdrawn

05-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Shepherd Neame shareholders have voted to approve the brewer’s restructure plans – despite legal threats from within the family.

Licensees set to commemorate D-Day anniversary

05-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Publicans are offering a range of special menus and entertainment to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Greene King criticised over 'rushed' Hawthorn Leisure deal

05-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The deal to sell 275 Greene King (GK) pubs to Hawthorn Leisure has been criticised as secretive and rushed.

Punch offers licensees fruit machine reports

05-Jun-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has launched a facility that will allow licensees to see how much profit they are making from fruit machines in their pubs.

Amber outlines acquisition spend

05-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Amber Taverns is due to spend between £6m and £7m per year over the next four years on expansion following the pubco’s £80m sale to funds backed by BlueBay Asset Management and MxP Partners, the company's managing director James Baer has told the...

Hawthorn Leisure buys 88 R&L pubs

04-Jun-2014 By Mark Wingett

Hawthorn Leisure, the group set up with the acquisition of 275 pubs from Greene King, has announced the acquisition of 88 tenanted and leased pubs from R&L, the pub portfolio formerly part of property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz’s property empire in a...

JD Wetherspoon lands at Heathrow Terminal 2

04-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

JD Wetherspoon today opens the doors to its pub at Heathrow’s Terminal 2.

CAMRA says Government is failing to act on pub protection

03-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

Campaign for Real Ale members have accused Brandon Lewis MP of failing to act on protecting pubs.

Punch agrees to sell five pubs for £9.7m

03-Jun-2014 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has agreed to sell five freehold pubs in central London to Manica Properties Ltd, an Isle of Man-based company, for £9.7m.

Stonegate-operated package sold in £28m deal

03-Jun-2014 By Mark Wingett

OLIM Property, the property investment company led by former Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Matthew Oakeshott, has acquired 15 freehold pubs let to Stonegate Pub Company for £28.3m.

Vince Cable: Why we are acting on pubcos

03-Jun-2014 By Vince Cable

Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, talks about the reasoning behind the Government’s intervention in the pub sector, the consultation process, new policy and its proposed benefits.

Pub chef reaches Craft Guild of Chef’s Graduate Awards 2014 semi-final

02-Jun-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Matthew Ramsdale from the Lime Kiln in Owestry, Shropshire, is one of 20 chefs competing in the competition on 11 June.

Out-of-home alcohol spend falls 9.8% over three years

02-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The public is spending more on alcohol for drinking at home but significantly less at pubs and bars, new figures show.

Charity sets up fake pub to teach teens about responsible drinking

02-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A charity has set up its own dry pub, in a bid to teach teenagers how to stay safe on a night out.

Shepherd Neame facing family revolt over restructure

30-May-2014 By James Wallin

Stuart Neame has accused the board of directors at his family firm of lying to shareholders over plans to simplify its capital structure.

Sawday pub awards winners 2014 announced

30-May-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A total of 15 pubs have received special recognition in Sawday’s Special Places Pubs and Inns of England & Wales Guide.  

Amber Taverns in £80m management buyout

30-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Amber Taverns, the fast-growing operator of wet-led community pubs, has changed hands as part of an £80m management buyout.

Publican demands debt waiver for Punch tenants

29-May-2014 By James Wallin

A publican facing eviction has asked Punch Taverns to offer him and other struggling licensees the same debt waiver the company requested from noteholders.

Enterprise Community Heroes scheme scoops award

29-May-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Enterprise Inns has scooped a prestigious national accolade for the work it does to recognise and reward publicans who have gone the extra mile to benefit the local community.

M&B in exclusive talks to buy 175 Orchid pubs

29-May-2014 By James Wallin

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has confirmed that it has in exclusive talks to buy the majority of the Orchid estate – with the rest to be placed in administration.

Luminar sites net big investments

29-May-2014 By John Harrington

About half of Luminar’s 53-strong estate is scheduled to have received significant investment by the end of the current financial year, with c.£5m earmarked for major work at 15 sites during 2014/2015.

PMA survey reveals pensions timebomb for publicans

28-May-2014 By Mike Berry

Licensees are sitting on a potential pensions timebomb, with the majority not making any provision for their retirement, according to new PMA reader research.

Fuller’s launch new chef scholarship

28-May-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

London brewer and pub company Fuller, Smith & Turner have added to their training programme for chefs by launching a new three stage Chef Scholarship.

Polling station pubs attract new customers

28-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs hosting polling stations can attract new business and win back locals, according to licensees who combined the bar and the ballot box last week.

Home Office launches crackdown on student pub crawls

28-May-2014 By James Wallin

Universities will have to prove they are discouraging their students from taking part in pub crawls, under a pilot scheme launched today.

Licensee loses change of use application for second time

28-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Norfolk landlady has lost a second application for her pub to change use, after the local council insisted the business could still be viable.

Campaigners celebrate success in community asset bid for Brighton pub

28-May-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A campaign group hoping to save a Victorian pub has won the right to have it listed as an asset of community value (ACV).

Pesto aims to pass 100 site threshold

28-May-2014 By John Harrington

North-west-based pub and restaurant chain Pesto could expand beyond 100 sites, owner Neil Gatt has said.

Where Eagles Dare (Part 2)

27-May-2014 By Robert Sayles

The Colonel looked at the dejected faces around the table. “Gentlemen, we have to be realistic. It’s been almost four months and we’ve heard nothing. I think we have to conclude the mission has been compromised. We need to close this thing down and move...

'Tube map' for pubs is proving a winner

27-May-2014 By James Wallin

A company is putting pubs on the map with its range of tube-style guides to local boozers.

Punch proposes debt-for-equity swap

27-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has this morning published details of revised restructuring terms, which differ in a number of ways from the terms of the restructuring launched by the company in January, including a debt for equity swap that would see bondholders take...

Drinkaware looking to force pubs to remove its name from irresponsible ads

27-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Drinkaware is seeking legal advice on forcing pubs that promote irresponsible drinking to remove any mention of the organisation in their marketing material.