Companies

Pub is the Hub founder John Longden gets OBE recognition in New Year's Honours List

31-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Pub is the Hub founder John Longden has become an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list.

Industry urged to ‘Register. Swab. Save a life’

24-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Members of the industry are being urged to ‘Register. Swab. Save a life’ to help save the life of a child with Leukaemia.

Multiple operator fears bankrupty from paying back-dated gas bills

24-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A multiple operator said he fears he will become bankrupt after he has received more than £60,000 worth of backdated bills from British Gas.

Top operations managers announced at ALMR awards ceremony

23-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Will Fotheringham of JD Wetherspoon and Barrie Robinson of Greene King Pub Partners have been named Area Manager and Business Development Manager of the Year respectively in the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) Operations Managers Awards,...

Lancashire pub manager fears trade drop after log fire ban

20-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Lancashire pub manager said he fears a drop in trade after he has been ordered to stop lighting traditional log fires in his pub.

Orchid secures Gold from Investors in People

20-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Orchid Group has achieved the Gold level of accreditation from Investors in People, less than six months after joining the ranks at Bronze level.

Statutory Code: JW Lees claims mandatory free of tie option would be 'disastrous'

20-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The introduction of a mandatory guest beer option for pub tenants could be “disastrous” and “endanger the viability” of mid-sized brewers while reducing choice behind the bar, JW Lees has told the Government.

Coldplay and other music stars perform at Bristol pub

19-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

It’s not everyday you get superstar acts like Coldplay, Lewis Watson and Conor Maynard show up at your local pub.

Norwich bars welcome voluntary breathalyser scheme

19-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Bars and clubs in Norwich have broadly welcomed a police initiative calling for venues to use breathalysers before allowing customers to enter their premises.

Statutory code: Punch predicts 415 job losses at contractors and suppliers

19-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns says 415 jobs could go among its external contractors and suppliers if the Government introduces its proposed statutory code as planned.

Pub sales at railway stations outperform the high street

19-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Retail sales at Britain’s biggest and busiest railway stations continue to significantly outperform the high street, aided by an increase in sales across food retailers, pubs and bars, latest figures from Network Rail show.

Family brewer McMullen welcomes new members to 25 Year Club

18-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

McMullen, the family brewer based in Hertford, has welcomed seven new members to its 25 Year Club, bringing the total experience of all the club’s members to 1,141 years.

Spirit and Stonegate shortlisted in HR Distinction Awards

18-Dec-2013

Spirit Pub Company and Stonegate Pub Company have been shortlisted in the HR Distinction Awards in the Distinction in People Development category.

Statutory Code: Enterprise Inns criticises CAMRA interference

18-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Enterprise Inns has criticised the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for interfering in the contractual relationship between pubco and tenant in its submission to the Government on the statutory code.

JD Wetherspoon signs deal for second pub in Republic of Ireland

17-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon has exchanged contracts to purchase its second pub in the Republic of Ireland, as it looks to open up to 20 sites in the country over the next five to 10 years.

Statutory Code: Admiral Taverns claims costs would 'fundamentally compromise' financial position

17-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The cost burden of the proposed statutory pubco regulation could “fundamentally compromise” Admiral Taverns’ financial position, the company has warned the Government.

Licensee hits out at 'dirty tricks' of nearby pub

17-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Middlesex licensee has hit out at the “dirty tricks” of a nearby pub that has been distributing its marketing material inside his pub.

Punch Taverns writes to Prime Minister refuting Mulholland beer price allegations

17-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns has written to Prime Minister David Cameron refuting accusations made against the company by MP Greg Mulholland during Question Time in the House of Commons last week.

Intertain looking to be more 'aspirational'

16-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Intertain, the Walkabout bar operator, is looking to re-position its venues to be more “aspirational”.

Nottinghamshire licensee sees 60% business rate cut after pub becomes restaurant

16-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Nottinghamshire licensee has succeeded in slashing his business rates by 60% after his pub was reclassified as a restaurant.

Future High Streets Forum extended to pub sector

13-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The national Future High Streets Forum is to be extended to include the pub sector with the appointment of Spirit chief executive Mike Tye and British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds.

Eighth case heard by PICA-Service

13-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The eighth PICA-Service hearing took place at the Sheffield Cathedral Conference Centre on Friday, 22 November, 2013.

Doncaster licensee succeeds in changing council email policy

13-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A South Yorkshire licensee has forced a local authority to change its policy regarding emails being used as evidence in licensing hearings, after he criticised that his privacy had been “compromised”.

Operators warned to 'up their game with technology'

12-Dec-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Pub and restaurant operators must embrace new technologies in order to be successful in 2014.

Gunmakers owner to expand to second pub in south-west London

12-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

The landlord of the Gunmakers in London is to open a second venue a free-of-tie leased pub in West Brompton.

Nightclub visits continue to fall while spending increases in pubs

12-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Britain may be falling out of love with nightclubs but continues to up its spending on eating out at pubs, according to the latest study into leisure-spending habits.

Punch backs new charity website and helpline

11-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Punch Taverns is the first company to promote the new Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) website and helpline to its staff and licensees.

Floods could result in pub business failures

11-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs damaged by last week’s tidal surge are likely to face business failure due to the impact on Christmas trade, and insurance brokers may soon stop providing flood cover.

Oakman Inns ups menu autonomy for chefs

10-Dec-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Food-led pub group Oakman Inns is changing its group menu policy to deliver better results.

Wetherspoon scoops best loo awards

10-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

It’s official, Wetherspoon has the best pub loos in the UK.

JD Wetherspoon to open 900th site

10-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

JD Wetherspoon, the managed operator, has bought a pub in the area of London where chairman Tim Martin opened his first Wetherspoons pub in 1979 and at the same time announced it will open its 900th site next week in Lancashire.

Inventive founders join with TV chef Simon Rimmer to launch new venture

10-Dec-2013

Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod, founders of Inventive Leisure, have teamed up with high-profile chef Simon Rimmer to launch a new venture called the Flying Pig & Lobster.

CAMRA reveals Pub Design Award winners

10-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has unveiled the winners of the Pub Design Awards 2013, with pubs as diverse as a bar made from shipping containers and a railway platform conversion achieving accolades.

Wadworth licensees given top accolades at annual awards

10-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Wadworth chairman Charles Bartholomew has emphasised the importance of understanding the customer in his opening remarks at the pub company’s recent awards.

Punch Taverns launches latest proposals for debt restructure

09-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has this morning set out its latest proposals for restructuring its debt securitisations, and said it will launch its final proposal by 15 January.

Autumn Statement: Industry responses to pub-friendly measures

05-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub industry has responded to Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement, in which he has promised to ease the burden of business rates and extend small business rate relief.

Autumn statement: Chancellor offers business rates help for pubs

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Chancellor George Osborne has promised pubs with a rateable value of under £50,000 a rebate of £1,000 over the next two years.

Camerons acquires Head of Steam group

05-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Camerons Brewery, the Hartlepool-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired the seven-strong Head of Steam group, as it looks to triple its now c75-strong estate over the next three years.

Multiple operator hits out at ‘crazy’ business rates system after 15K hike

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A multiple operator has accused the business rates system of being “flawed” and “crazy” after facing a hike of almost £15,000 a year in business rates at just one site.

Worcestershire pub landlady puts tents in garden for customers

04-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A pub landlady in Worcestershire has gone above and beyond the call of duty for her customers this Christmas - by offering free overnight accommodation in the back garden to keep them safe.

InnBrighton develops new business model

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

InnBrighton has developed a new business model that it has begun to use while expanding into London boroughs with a similar demographic to Brighton.

Pub trade triumphs at Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards

04-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub trade triumphed at the Hospitality Guild Apprenticeship Awards yesterday, with several pub companies and employees scooping up awards.

M&B to 'push the envelope' with Harvester brand

04-Dec-2013 By Mark Wingett

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) says it is ready to push the envelope when it comes to the development of Harvester.

MA300: 'Outside industries are causing pubs to fail'

04-Dec-2013 By Jessica Mason

Pub failure is due to "outside industries raping the industry for revenue" and a range of "challenges" rather than the offer not being right, according to InnBrighton.

Derbyshire couple celebrate 25 years at pub

04-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

A couple are celebrating after 25 years at the helm of the Miners Arms in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Chester Pubwatch introduces minimum alcohol pricing

04-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Chester Pubwatch has introduced a minimum alcohol price condition for all its members, ruling that any licensed premises that charges less than £1.50 for an alcoholic drink will lose its accreditation.

Oakman Inns & Restaurants raises £5.5m for further expansion

03-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Oakman Inns & Restaurants, the Peter Borg-Neal-led group, has raised £5.5m for further expansion and announced the appointment of Joseph Evans, currently financial controller of Whitbread Hotel and Restaurant Division, as its new finance director.

The Big Interview: Clive Watson, City Pub Company

03-Dec-2013 By Mike Berry

Entrepreneur Clive Watson has an enviable record of founding and selling pubcos – and his latest venture, City Pub Company, is shaping up very well so far. Mike Berry finds out what fuels Watson’s vision.

Greene King reports like-for-like sales up 3.5%

03-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 3.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the 24 weeks to 13 October and said it’s planning a further 90 acquisitions for its managed retail estate over the next 18 months.

Pub community in Glasgow praised after helicopter crash

02-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Pub trade leaders in Scotland have praised the "spirit" of the community after a helicopter crashed into a much-loved Glasgow pub, killing at least nine people.