Companies

The luck (or cheek) of the Irish...?

23-Jan-2013

Snifter has always assumed that ‘drink-driving’ was just one of those laws which couldn’t be touched - but try telling that to his friends in Ireland.

Spirit scraps Original Pub Company brand amid organisational shake-up

23-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company has made a number of significant changes to its operating structure, including the scrapping of its 64-strong Original Pub Company (OPC) brand, as it looks to energise its whole business for the next stage of its development and move...

Pubs see slow trading and delayed deliveries during snow

23-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun & Adam Pescod

Snowfall throughout the country resulted in a dramatic drop in trade for some operators, and left pubs waiting days for deliveries.

The Big Interview: Brenhan Magee, Broadway Bar & Grill

22-Jan-2013 By Jessica Harvey

Brenhan Magee is known for hosting hedonistic nights in WC1. But now he has given west London’s Fulham Road a touch of his signature style — this time in the form of a bar, restaurant and private members’ club with roof terraces.

Enterprise Inns announces drinks price increases of up to 3.5%

22-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Enterprise Inns has informed its lessees that it will be increasing its drinks prices by between 3% and 3.5% from 4 February.

Marston's reports 1.2% rise in like-for-like sales

22-Jan-2013 By Mark Wingett

Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 1.2% rise in like-for-like sales in its managed arm in the 16 weeks to 19 January, including growth of 5.8% over the festive period (three weeks to 5 January) and +10% on Christmas Day.

Spirit Pub Company to undertake new franchise trial

22-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company is to embark on another round of franchise trials, after reporting “encouraging” results from its first eight, chief executive Mike Tye has told M&C Report.

Phene Arms, Chelsea, saved from closure

22-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

An historic pub in Chelsea, west London, has been saved from closure by the Planning Inspectorate after the owner sought planning permission to turn the site into housing.

First Pub is the Hub heritage project launched

22-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Midsomer Murders and Game of Thrones actor, Owen Teale, launched the first pub heritage project at the Prince of Wales, Kenfig near Bridgend for his childhood friend and current landlord, Gareth Maund.

National Pubwatch conference will unveil exclusive research on the effectiveness of pubwatches

21-Jan-2013

The annual conference for National Pubwatch will see the unveiling of exclusive research showing the full impact that pubwatches have on the local area.

Pub cleaner retires after 41 years

18-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Sheila Nicholson, cleaner at the Red Lion in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has polished the pub’s bar for the last time, retiring after 41 years.

Coca-Cola Enterprises teams up with CPL Training to run two online training courses

18-Jan-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Coca-Cola Enterprises has teamed up with CPL Training to run two online training courses.

Pesto eyes 10 more sites after funding boost

18-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Lord Peter Daresbury, the former head of pubs group Greenalls and ex-La Tasca finance director Martin Evans, have taken minor equity stakes in and joined the board of Pesto, the north west-based pub and restaurant chain owned by La Tasca founder Neil...

Pub consultant backs larger penalty fines for underage sales

18-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

A pub trade consultant believes the problem of underage drinking in the UK could be solved by instant fines of up to £700 for bar staff who serve under-18s.

Exclusive: BBPA launches judicial review against Cambridge planning policy for pubs

17-Jan-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) will be taking Cambridge City Council’s supplementary planning policy for pubs to a judicial review.

Be At One secures new banking facility and sites

17-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Be At One, the cocktail bar chain, has agreed a new £4m banking facility and secured three new sites, including its first outside the capital, M&C Report understands.

Hydes agrees £9.5m refinancing deal

17-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Hydes, the Manchester brewer and pub operator, has agreed a new £9.5m refinancing deal and secured more favourable terms as part of a financial restructure that saw the company exit its ‘cap and collar’ hedging arrangement.

Pubs provide hub for commuters following Vauxhall helicopter crash

16-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs in Vauxhall have had stranded commuters through their doors following this morning’s helicopter crash which has so far seen two people killed and others injured.

Spirit reports 2.3% rise in like-for-like sales

15-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company has reported a 2.3% rise in like-for-like sales in its managed division in the 20 weeks to 5 January - with festive like-for-likes at +5% - and says it has converted eight leased sites to franchise, with five adopting the John Barras...

Brewdog eyes partnership for London Farringdon opening

15-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Brewdog, the Scottish brewer and pub operator, has submitted a licence application for a new site in London’s Farringdon in what appears to be a partnership venture with Danish brewer Mikkeller.

Camerons on camera

11-Jan-2013

It all got a bit “‘Allo Vera!” down at Camerons over the festive period as filming for the popular ITV drama Vera took place at the brewery across three consecutive days.

Former BII Licensee of the Year set for "fresh challenge" after leaving his Berkshire pub

10-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Former BII Licensee of the Year Phil Davison said it was time for a fresh challenge after leaving the pub he has run for more than 16 years.

Cumbria PCC says pubs serving underage drinkers should face 72-hour closure "shock tactic"

10-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pubs and clubs caught serving alcohol to underage drinkers should automatically be closed for 72 hours upon first offence as a “shock tactic”.

Who's for a game of Bagatelle?

09-Jan-2013

On a recent retail inspection of a number of pubs within the newly-Cerberus-backed Admiral Taverns estate, Snifter was introduced to the traditional pub game, Bagatelle at the Olde Cottage Inn in Chester.

Charles Wells looks to continue pub acquisitions

09-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Charles Wells, the Bedford-based brewer and pub operator, hopes to continue acquisitions at a similar rate this year and has bought its ninth pub in France, chairman Paul Wells has told M&C Report.

Pub dedicates room to much-loved pooch

08-Jan-2013

Snifter’s heart was warmed this week upon hearing that a pub had dedicated a room to the memory of a dog who was loved by the local community.

PM David Cameron faces a revolt over the pubco-tenant relationship

07-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

PM  David Cameron faces a Commons revolt this week over his failure to help Britain’s struggling pubs, The Sunday Mirror has reported.

Star Pubs & Bars helps licensees register for Machine Games Duty

07-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Star Pubs & Bars is helping its lessees register for the new Machine Games Duty (MGD) with the implementation date only days away.

HMRC urges licensees to prepare for PAYE system shake-up

07-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Licensees are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to prepare for major changes to the PAYE system which come into effect in three months’ time.

US investment firm acquires pub group Admiral Taverns for c£200m

04-Jan-2013 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Cerberus Capital Management, one of the world’s leading private investment firms, has acquired Admiral Taverns, the c1,100-strong tenanted pub company, from Lloyds Banking Group, in a deal believed to be valued at around £200m.

Greene King chief Rooney Anand speaks out over alcohol abuse

03-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand has claimed that binge drinking has become a dangerous past time, in an interview in the Daily Mail.

LTC offers support to struggling licensees following death of Wiltshire publican

03-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has urged struggling licensees to seek help on matters such as debt following the death of Wiltshire pub landlord Malcolm Levesconte.

TCG sale is “now off the agenda”

03-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

TCG, the managed operator, has said a sale of the company is “now off the agenda” and it plans a new CAPEX programme across its estate.

Pub operators push ahead with January food and drink promotions

03-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Pub operators are pushing ahead with food and drink discounts throughout January as they look to attract customers into their sites during the post-Christmas period.

Pub loses out on £4k after New Year's Eve flooding

02-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A pub lost out on £4,000 on New Year's Eve after having to close because a local water system broke down several times over the festive period.

Hook Norton to reopen its first managed pub under tenancy

02-Jan-2013 By Mark Wingett

Hook Norton, the Oxfordshire brewer and pub operator, is set to reopen its first managed site, the Coach & Horses in the centre of Banbury, under tenancy, after reportedly terminating a management agreement with Flagstone Inns.

And the most popular song of 2012 was...

21-Dec-2012

Snifter was informed today, much to his disappointment, that Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’ was the top-played song across many of the nation’s jukeboxes in 2012.

Star Pubs & Bars in Nescafe coffee link up

21-Dec-2012 By Mark Wingett

Star Pubs & Bars, the Heineken-owned lease operator formerly known as Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company, has partnered with Nescafe to offer its lessees a unique coffee support programme following successful trials in 135 pubs which have seen sales...

FLVA president Nigel Williams meets Nick Clegg to discuss pubco-tenant issue

21-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

President of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) Nigel Williams met deputy minister Nick Clegg last week to discuss pubco-tenant self-regulation.

New app allows pub customers to immediately report crime

21-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A new app has been launched to allow victims of theft to report a crime, and licensees with CCTV will be immediately notified if the crime took place in their venue.

Beds & Bars CEO Keith Knowles appointed as chairman of the Perceptions Group

20-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Bed & Bars chief executive Keith Knowles has been named the first chairman of the Perceptions Group, which is aiming to raise the profile of British pubs as a viable career opportunity.

Enterprise Inns chief executive Ted Tuppen's total pay increases by £86k

20-Dec-2012 By John Harrington

Enterprise Inns chief executive Ted Tuppen’s total pay increased by £86,000 to just under £1m in the company’s most recent financial year.

Cock Tavern licensee to appeal court ruling over barrelage discount

20-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

A London licensee is “disgusted and gutted” after a court ruled that she would not be repaid for the barrelage discount which was withdrawn by her landlord.

UK's oldest clubber puts Snifter to shame

20-Dec-2012

Snifter thought he was getting a bit too old for the nightclub scene, but try telling that to the “UK’s oldest clubber” who celebrated his 90th birthday at Batchwood Hall nightclub in St Albans on Saturday 8 December.

Enterprise Inns not in breach of code in third PICA-Service case

19-Dec-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Enterprise Inns was found not to have breached of its code of practice nor to have acted contrary to the spirit of its code in the third case presented to the Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service (PICA-Service) on 11 December.

Charles Wells profit dips but international sales soar

18-Dec-2012 By John Harrington

Charles Wells, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 10% fall in pre-tax profit to £6m in the year to 29 September as the impact of losing income from beer brands Red Stripe and Corona was felt.

Villagers in Essex buy their local pub from Admiral Taverns

18-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Residents of a village in Essex have bought their local pub from Admiral Taverns after raising £150,000 through a share subscription to fund the purchase.

BBPA remains "absolutely committed" to pubs following restructure

18-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is still “absolutely committed” to pubs after announcing plans for a restructure, chief executive Brigid Simmonds has told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Pub offers free electric charging point

18-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Knife and Cleaver in Bedfordshire has unveiled a new electric car and motability charging station, claiming to be one of the first in the region to offer the service.

Chef-licensee keen to expand business after Masterchef victory

14-Dec-2012

Anton Piotrowski, chef-licensee of the Treby Arms in Sparkwell, south Devon, has outlined his intention to take on more pubs after being crowned joint champion of Masterchef: The Professionals.