Companies

Brakspear Pub Company takes on first apprentice chef

18-Mar-2014 By Lesley Foottit

South-east pub operator and brewer Brakspear has appointed its first chef apprentice.

Former Great British Pub Awards finalist to begin £230k refurb

17-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Bridgewater in Darwen, which was named Best Managed House in the North-West in the Great British Pub Awards 2013, has closed temporarily for a top-to-toe refurbishment which will create two new jobs.

JD Wetherspoon like-for-like sales rise 5.2%

14-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.2% rise in like-for-like sales in the 26 weeks to 26 January, with profits before tax and exceptionals up 8.5% to £37.8m.

Spirit Leased sees four-fold rise in applicants

14-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Spirit Pub Company’s leased division has claimed its “flexible and innovative” approach to leasehold agreements and its commitment to on-site training has resulted in a four-fold increase in licensee applications in the first three months of 2014.

BBPA urges publicans to respond to World Cup licensing hours consultation

13-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging publicans to respond to the Home Office’s consultation to decide whether to relax licensing hours during England matches in the World Cup 2014.

ETM Group's chef burger competition open for entries

13-Mar-2014 By Lesley Foottit

London pub company ETM Group has opened entries for its second annual Slider Decider competition.

Orchid 'in IPO talks with advisors'

13-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

Deutsche Bank is understood to be conducting a beauty parade of potential advisors to a possible initial public offering (IPO) of Orchid Group, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learned.

Al Murray to judge McCoy’s ‘Put Your Pub on a Plane to Rio’ competition

13-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

Al Murray, the Pub Landlord, has been announced as one of the celebrity judges in McCoy’s ‘Put Your Pub on a Plane to Rio’ competition — offering the winners the chance to watch this summer’s World Cup in a pub near Copacabana beach.

Amber Taverns recruits Roslyns to audit stock

12-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Pub operator Amber Taverns has appointed Roslyns to supply stock taking services across its 92 strong estate.

BII launches pilot pub schemes for jobseekers

12-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is set to launch two pilot schemes aimed at getting young jobseekers into work.

Staffordshire licensee's fury over water bill refund policy

12-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A Staffordshire licensee who has been overpaying on his water bill for 20 years has spoken of his fury after being told he will only receive a refund for one year’s worth of payments.

Bristol pub launches 'Bring Your Own' movie night

11-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Bristol pub is giving film fans the opportunity to watch their favourite movie on the big screen with the launch of a ‘Bring Your Own’ night.

Spirit seeks 'mini directors' for Fayre & Square brand

11-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company is seeking 10 children to act as “mini directors” for its Fayre & Square brand.

Enterprise strikes e-cigarette supply deal for its tenants

11-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Enterprise Inns has signed a new supply deal for its tenants with an electronic cigarette brand as managed pub operators continue to turn their backs on the tobacco alternative.

Pubs become more web savvy but resistance remains

11-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Pub operators are becoming increasingly web savvy but are “resistant” to new payment method technology, according to new research.

Damages awarded after Enterprise breaches code of practice in latest PICAS case

11-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Enterprise Inns was found to have committed technical breaches of its code of practice in the latest case to reach the Pubs Independent Conciliation & Arbitration Service (PICA-Service).

Iona lines up franchise deal

10-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Iona Pub Partnership, the tenanted arm of Scottish leisure operator G1 Group, is putting together a franchise model for part of its estate in a bid to “be more creative” in the way it operates its sites.

barbox.com to be replaced by individual supplier websites

10-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

iTradeNetwork, the owners and operators of online ordering website barbox.com, has closed the service, replacing it with individual supplier websites that it claims will provide customers with “an improved and more tailored ordering experience”.

Charnwood and Robinsons apprentices cater No. 10 National Apprenticeship Week reception

10-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Hospitality apprentices from Charnwood Training Group and Robinsons Brewery had the honour of catering and serving for a special reception at No. 10 Downing Street in support of National Apprenticeship Week.

Award-winning chef opens Berkshire pub

10-Mar-2014 By Lesley Foottit

Publican’s Morning Advertiser award winner Justin Brown is opening a Berkshire pub this week.

Stonegate names Simon Longbottom as new chief executive

10-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate Pub Company has announced that Simon Longbottom, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners, is to replace Toby Smith as chief executive of the managed operator.

Experienced licensee to purchase lease of the Alma in Newington Green

07-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

An experienced publican, who has operated pubs in north London for 40 years, is to purchase the Enterprise Inns lease of the Alma in Newington Green, after running the pub on a tenancy-at-will agreement since December.

Cumbrian pub is runner-up in Britain’s Friendliest Business competition

07-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Cumbrian pub has finished runner-up in a national competition to find the UK’s friendliest business after judges praised its strong community ethos.

Pub companies embrace apprenticeships

07-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

The 10 largest managed pub operators expect to employ over 9,000 apprentices during 2014, more than twice as many as last year, new figures show.

96% of pubs raise money for charity, new study reveals

06-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Almost all UK pubs raise money for charity, according to new research conducted by RPBI on behalf of PubAid.

Tenant Track results show tenant-pubco relations on the up

06-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Tenants have reported a significant improvement in their relationships with their pub companies over the past year, according to new research.

Loungers' Alex Reilley wins top prize at Retailers' Retailer of the Year Awards

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Alex Reilley, who has overseen the impressive growth of Loungers, has been singled out by his peers as the stand-out individual in the eating-out and drinking-out market.

Greene King and Stonegate make apprenticeship commitments

05-Mar-2014 By Ruth Eilis

Greene King and Stonegate have announced UK-wide apprenticeship schemes to boost the skills profiles of their employees as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Sheps growth accelerates across estate

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, saw growth accelerate across its tenanted and managed pubs, its hotels and core brands in the 26 weeks ended 28 December, with managed like-for-likes up 7.5% in the period.

Maclay Inns develops BBQ pub concept

05-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Maclay Inns, the Scottish pub and bar operator, is to launch a new pub concept featuring barbecue food and craft beer.

Stonegate chief Toby Smith to leave

04-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate, the managed operator, has announced that chief executive Toby Smith is to leave the company as soon as a suitable successor can be appointed.

New World Trading Co set to add five sites

03-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

New World Trading Company, the Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts-led pub group, is on target to add five more sites to its estate this year.

Batemans creates ‘manchise’ deal

03-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Batemans, the Lincolnshire-based brewer and pub operator, has developed a management/tenancy hybrid agreement for future pub acquisitions, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report has learned.

London breweries compete to create beer for top chef

03-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

London breweries are fighting it out to become a ‘house’ beer for Michelin-starred restaurant Le Gavroche.

Mitchells & Butlers pledges 1,000 new apprenticeships over next two years

03-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Mitchells & Butlers, the managed pub operator, has pledged it will recruit 1,000 new skills-based apprentices over the next two years, to work across its market-leading brands, including All Bar One, Browns, Harvester, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery...

Net pub closures reach 28 per week

03-Mar-2014 By Mark Wingett

The number of net pub closures in the UK has risen from 26 to 28 per week, with leased and tenanted pubs accounting for 16 of those closures, according to figures from the latest CGA-CAMRA Pub Tracker.

Punch demands Cable meeting after 'gone bust' gaffe

03-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns chief Stephen Billingham has written to Vince Cable demanding a meeting after the business secretary’s gaffe last week.

Admiral's licensee training secures BII accreditation

28-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A business-builder programme run by Admiral Taverns for its pub estate has been recognised by a BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) good practice scheme.

Punch warns on debt default again

28-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has stated that it would default on its debt payments within 30 days of the 15 April covenant testing date if it fails to achieve its restructuring plan, and warned of the “material negative impact on the business” if its plan is not approved...

Pub Market Report: Sales grow; profits flatline

27-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Last year’s good summer helped boost pub sales, but increases to business running costs continue to hold back profit growth, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s annual Pub Market Report survey has found.

My message to the new Enterprise chief

27-Feb-2014 By Phil Dixon

After more than 20 years as chief executive, Ted Tuppen left Enterprise Inns this month. The question everyone is now asking is: what will happen now Simon Townsend has taken over? Pub trade consultant Phil Dixon offers his 10 suggestions.

McMullen seeks entrepreneurs to run pub - without investing any capital

26-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Hertford-based family brewer is on the hunt for enthusiastic entrepreneurs to run one of its pubs with a difference - they do not need to invest any capital, pay rent, utilities or rates.

Enterprise tenants' fury over lease changes post rent review

26-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Two Enterprise Inns tenants have spoken out after the pub company demanded they agree to significant changes in their leases as a condition for implementing a rent reduction.

HMRC demands return of pubs’ machine tax rebates

26-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub operators will shortly receive demands to pay back the “several hundred million pounds” collectively owed in “overpaid” tax rebates in 30 days, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

Philip Lay to leave Brains

26-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

SA Brain has announced that retail director Philip Lay is to leave the business at the end of March, after 12 years with the company.

Missoula ‘bias’ in Stonegate site conversions

26-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Stonegate’s conversions of its Living Room sites will have a “bias” towards Missoula, the group’s new US-inspired venture, according to chief executive Toby Smith.

Brighton licensees' group offers help after underage selling sting

26-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The Brighton & Hove Licensees Association (BHLA) has called on Sussex Police to reveal the names of pubs and clubs caught selling alcohol to Under 18s so it can offer assistance.

Young's pub Horts scoops Bristol tourism award

25-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The Oscars may be around the corner but a Bristol-based pub is already celebrating after scooping a regional ‘pub of the year’ award.

Pubco founders 'disregard plight of tenants' says Tim Martin

24-Feb-2014 By Rob Willock

The founders of the big tenanted pubcos remain less concerned about the plight of pub tenants than about their own financial wellbeing, according to Tim Martin.

Stonegate alters serve policy after customer downs 26 shots

24-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pub operator Stonegate has instructed barstaff across its 625-strong estate to be “vigilant” after a customer at one of its pubs reportedly downed 26 shots in just 10 minutes.