Companies

London pub net closures at two per week, says CAMRA

13-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in London closed at a net rate of two per week in 2012, according to new research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Punch Taverns reports slowing decline in like-for-like sales

12-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the leased and tenanted pub company, has reported improving trends in the 12 weeks to 2 March, with a slowing of the decline in like-for-likes across its core estate from 5.2% in Q1 to 3.5% in the period.

Future Pub conference: young adults view pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated”

11-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Generation Y views pub brands as “bland” and “undifferentiated” compared to casual dining concepts, research from Marston’s has revealed.

Publican Awards 2013: winners crowned at glittering London ceremony

11-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Welsh brewer and pub company Brains were double award winners at the Publican Awards 2013 last night.

Luminar plans investment for Oceana brand transformation

08-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Luminar, the nightclub company, is to spend c£4m transforming its Oceana brand by giving it a third room featuring a “more sophisticated” music genre, chief executive Peter Marks has told M&C Report.

Stonegate plans Popworld brand rollout

08-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Stonegate Pub Company, the managed operator, plans to operate an estate of up to nine sites under its Popworld brand by the summer.

Shepherd Neame reports slight drop in pre-tax profits

07-Mar-2013 By Mark Wingett

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported a “solid performance” in the 26 weeks to 29 December 2012 despite a slight drop in pre-tax profit, with turnover up 2.6% to £69.2m.

Licensee slams Punch Taverns over Strongbow price rise

07-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Punch Taverns has come under fire from one of its licensees after it increased the price of Strongbow for his pub by the equivalent of 19p per pint (22p a pint including VAT).

JD Wetherspoon to roll out new customer feedback programme across pub estate

07-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon is to roll out its first full customer feedback programme across its pub estate.

Future Pub Conference: pub operators warned that future licensing policies could hamper expansion

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Pub operators have been warned that expanding their estates could be hampered by future licensing policies.

Future Pub conference: pubs with personality will win out

06-Mar-2013

Pubs can regain the upper hand in the wider industry if they focus on providing personality, Young’s commercial director Ed Turner told last week's Future Pub Conference.

BII urged to return to basic principles of standards and education

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The two leading trade associations representing licensees have called on the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) to go back to its founding principles of standards and education.

Punch Taverns licensee outraged over ongoing refurbishment problems

05-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A publican who was reimbursed for poor building work during a refurbishment is still outraged with the state of the work and blames pubco Punch Taverns for failing to manage the contractor.

Alcohol consumption per head falls again

04-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Alcohol consumption has fallen again with a 3.3% drop per head during 2012, new figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) show.

Horley Pubwatch to launch ping-pong project to help support local area

01-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Horley & District Pubwatch Scheme in Surrey is to launch a Pubwatch Ping Pong project next month to show how pubs and clubs can help to support their local area.

Greene King accelerates Local Hero pub agreements

01-Mar-2013 By Rob Willock

Greene King is letting its 17th Local Hero pub on 19 March following a refurbishment at The Queen Inn in Winchester, which will feature a microbrewery.

ALMR slams Lincolnshire PCC's plans to charge pubs and clubs for new CCTV system

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has hit out at proposals by Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to make pubs and clubs pay towards a new county-wide CCTV system.

Novus chief Steve Richards and Brewdog among Retailers' Retailer winners

28-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Steve Richards, who has overseen the impressive growth of Novus Leisure, has been singled out by his peers as the stand-out individual in the eating-out and drinking-out market.

Admiral Taverns reports "robust" performance

28-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Admiral Taverns, the tenanted pub group, has reported improving trends at its pubs in the year to 26 May 2012, a year in which it disposed of 259 sites for £48.8m and spent £8m on capex.

Spirit Pub Company trials new premium offer in London

28-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company is to trial the first site under a new ‘premium’ concept at the George in Haverstock Hill, north west London.

Punch Taverns licensees offered 30% Sky discount in Molson Coors deal

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Punch Taverns has teamed up with Molson Coors to offer a 30% discount on Sky Sports to its 4,500 pubs.

Greene King will "embrace" pubco-tenant regulation consultation

28-Feb-2013 By Rob Willock

Greene King will “embrace the consultation process” for statutory regulation of the pubco/tenant relationship, according to managing director Simon Longbottom, despite his reservations about the government’s abandonment of the self-regulation process.

Pub Market Report: Rising costs depress pub profits

28-Feb-2013

Pubs are struggling to convert sales growth into profit growth due to rising costs, according to the latest Pub Market Report survey from the PMA.

Hooters jukebox thieves perhaps not such boobs after all

27-Feb-2013

A jukebox music provider has wasted no time in suggesting that two dozy thieves in San Diego may not have made a costly error when stealing a jukebox from a Hooters bar instead of a cash machine.

BII: We have become 'complacent' and 'elitist' claims new chief executive

27-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII has become “complacent” and “elitist”, its new chief executive Tim Hulme has admitted.

Pubco debate moves to Madison Square Garden

26-Feb-2013 By Robert Sayles

“Ladies and Gentlemen. Good evening and welcome to Madison Square Garden. Tonight, we are pleased to present a world heavyweight title fight for your entertainment.

The Big Interview: Chris Maclean, the Railway Hotel

26-Feb-2013 By Phil Mellows

But when he leaves the pub for the vicarage will his testicles go with him? The big question goes unanswered as Phil Mellows has an audience with publican-turned-cleric Chris Maclean.

Horsemeat scandal: fears recede as consumer and chef confidence in pubs remains

26-Feb-2013 By Lesley Foottit

The horsemeat scandal has not affected chef and consumer confidence as much as has been feared.

Horsemeat scandal: Whitbread calls for tougher supply chain regime

26-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Whitbread has said that a wholesale change is required to the way the supply chain is regulated and a tougher regime needs to be put in place on the back of the horsemeat scandal.

Horsemeat scandal: Wetherspoon's tests give meals the all-clear

25-Feb-2013

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has issued a statement confirming that tests have shown no traces of horse DNA in its meals.

Spirit Leased licensees get access to managed trainers

25-Feb-2013

Spirit Leased licensees are being given access to the company’s managed trainers to improve the retail offer in their sports and community pubs.

Ex-M&B chair John Lovering backs new Fireside Pubs & Restaurants group

25-Feb-2013 By Mark Wingett

John Lovering, the former chairman of Laurel Pub Company and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), is backing a new food-led pub group called Fireside Pubs & Restaurants, which plans to expand to around 20 sites across the South of England over the next...

Licensee wins High Court appeal over pub closing hours

22-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A publican has won his appeal at the High Court after a licensing sub-committee and magistrate failed to give reasons for reducing the premises hours.

Maclay to sell Thistle Pub Company

22-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Thistle Pub Company III, the operator of seven freehold pubs in Scotland and managed by Maclay Inns, has been put up for sale.

Pub operator slams Wiltshire Council after coffee sign found in breach of planning laws

22-Feb-2013

A multiple pub operator has slammed Wiltshire Council after he was found guilty of breaching planning regulations by displaying an advertisement without its consent.

Pubs with alarm systems advised to check phone bills for premium rate charges

22-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Licensees with fire and security-alarm systems have been advised to check their phone bills in case they are being charged premium rates.

Star Pubs & Bars to roll out new mystery visitor programme

21-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Star Pubs & Bars is rolling out a new mystery visitor programme to help its lessees ensure their retails standards are of the highest quality.

Former Great British Pub Awards winner faces losing pub over coal mine plans

21-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

An award-winning Northumberland licensee has made an impassioned plea for urgent help to fellow publicans as local councillors consider plans for an opencast coal mine four miles from her pub.

The life of a mother and licensee

20-Feb-2013 By Mahdis Neghabian

I often thought what effect having a baby would have on my career in the hospitality industry. As I just recently gave birth I'm on a journey of finding out.

Croydon pubs and clubs targeted as part of alcohol crackdown

20-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Croydon Council has launched a 12-week consultation on changes to its licensing policy, which includes proposals to introduce cumulative impact zones in 17 wards.

Marston’s creates new division to handle pub disposals

20-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Marston’s has created a new operating division to handle the disposal of circa 400 pubs that have been identified for sale.

Admiral Taverns licensees given accreditation boost

19-Feb-2013

Admiral Taverns has teamed up with Red Lion Training to enable prospective licensees to sit the BIIAB Award for Personal Licence Holders (APLH) exam at the pub company’s regional open days.

BII announces semi-finalists for Licensee of the Year Award

19-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Twelve licensees from across the UK have progressed to the semi-finals of the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year Award.

Whiting & Hammond appoints executive chef

19-Feb-2013 By Lesley Foottit

South-east operator Whiting & Hammond has taken on an executive chef to streamline the food operation.

The Big Interview: Claude Bosi

19-Feb-2013 By Lesley Foottit

There is rather a lot going on when I arrive at Claude Bosi’s two-Michelin-starred Hibiscus restaurant in Mayfair, central London.

New Heritage Lottery Fund to put pubs under the spotlight

19-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs could benefit from a new funding programme aimed at helping people across the UK explore, conserve and share the history and character of their local area.

BII defends itself against accusations over pubs advisory service

19-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The BII has hit out at accusations it was responsible for the delay in the setting up a pubs advisory service accusing the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) of blocking the move.

TCG rewards top pub performers

18-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Managed pub operator TCG has recognised 17 individuals working in its pubs and bars as well as operations and head office teams, at its annual Awards, held earlier this week in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Horsemeat scandal: Brakes confirmed as supplier of Whitbread contaminated meat lasagne

15-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Brakes, the major pub food supplier, is recalling a Brakes brand lasagne following news that traces of horsemeat DNA were found in products it supplied to Whitbread.