Companies

Pub chef opinion: The importance of balance in the kitchen

22-Nov-2012 By Jesse Dunford Wood

I recently had an epiphany that successful management is all about good judgment and clear decision making. That and balance, of course.

Pubs Advisory Service 'undermined' by lack of pubco support

22-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Pubs Advisory Service (PAS) has written to the business secretary, Vince Cable, claiming that the organisation is being “undermined” by the reluctance of pubcos to promote the service.

Oceana Kingston has licence revoked

21-Nov-2012

Luminar, the nightclub operator, has said it will consider its options for its Oceana club in Kingston after the decision to revoke its licence following a fatal stabbing inside.

Enterprise Inns ‘energised’ by its people, pubs and performance

20-Nov-2012 By Mark Wingett

Enterprise Inns claims it has moved on to the front foot in terms of its business performance – and its licensees are benefiting.

Enterprise Inns reports dip in earnings and sales

20-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

Enterprise Inns, the leased and tenanted pub operator, has reported a fall in EBITDA from £366m to £340m in the year to 30 September, although the company said it saw improved performance trends across the estate, with like-for-like net income down 1.2%...

North Wales pub opens shop to serve local community

20-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A pub in North Wales has opened a village shop to serve the community, with the help of Pub is the Hub.

McManus Pub Group examines funding options

20-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

McManus Pub Group, the Northamptonshire-based pub operator, is looking into funding options as it plans expansion, commercial director Chris Wright has told M&C Report.

JD Wetherspoon asks landlords to cut insurance costs

20-Nov-2012 By John Harrington & Adam Pescod

JD Wetherspoon has asked around 400 of its landlords to reduce its insurance costs after discovering that the company could save between 25% and 75% by securing its own cover.

Cheap alcohol and promotions encourage binge drinking, says Alcohol Concern research

20-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Low-cost alcohol and the way it is promoted encourages young people to binge drink, according to a new study from health campaign groups Alcohol Concern and Balance.

The Big Interview: Alistair Arkley

19-Nov-2012 By Phil Mellows

As the sun sinks over the plains of the Serengeti the last light of the day glitters in the golden dust, stirred into the cooling air by the hooves of 10,000 wildebeest. In the distance the breeze shudders the canvas walls of a lonely tent. Inside, Alistair...

Pub chef opinion: There's never a dull moment in catering

19-Nov-2012 By Andrew Pern

I am now approaching my 17th year at the Star Inn and during that time I have seen many fads and new places arrive, all singing and all dancing, only to move on or fade away after a few years.

Best Bar None looks to appoint new national director

19-Nov-2012

Best Bar None (BBN), the award scheme that encourages responsible alcohol retailing across the UK’s pubs and bars, is seeking somebody to fill the new role of national director.

CAMRA urges planning law changes to stop pub supermarket conversions

19-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to change planning laws after it published new research showing that over 200 pubs across Britain have been converted into supermarket convenience stores since January 2010.

Old Mill pub in Coventry rewarded at Spirit Pub Company's Best Awards

19-Nov-2012

The Old Mill pub in Coventry has picked up a host of awards at Spirit Pub Company's annual Best Awards.

Star Pubs and Bars unveils winning licensees at first ever Star Awards

16-Nov-2012

Star Pubs & Bars (formerly Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company) has unveiled its top performing lessees with the announcement of the winners of its first ever Star Awards.

Punch Taverns plans to restrict director pay and bonuses

16-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Punch Taverns chief executive Roger Whiteside saw his basic salary increase by £25,000 to £430,000 in 2012, although his bonus payment dropped significantly and the company said it would further restrict bonuses for the CEO and finance director going...

WaverleyTBS was owed £26.5m by trade debtors

16-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock and John Harrington

WaverleyTBS was owed £26.5m by trade debtors at the time of its collapse last month, of which it is estimated that only £15m will be paid.

Arran Brewery secures Glasgow site for first craft beer bar

16-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Arran Brewery, the company formed by the merger of two Scottish brewers, has secured a site in central Glasgow for its first craft-beer bar and told M&C Report it wants to open “as many as we can”.

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company rebrands and offers new support for tenants

15-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC) has been renamed Star Pubs & Bars and has launched a new three-year agreement that offers low-cost entry to the trade

Hi-Spirits saved from WaverleyTBS losses thanks to debtor insurance

15-Nov-2012

Drinks company Hi-Spirits has revealed it was protected from a six-figure loss following the collapse of WaverleyTBS thanks to its debtor insurance cover.

Small wet-led outlets suffer as costs of running a pub increase

15-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock & Adam Pescod

Total operating costs of running tenanted and leased pubs increased significantly last year — with smaller, wet-led pubs bearing the brunt, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA’s) latest Running a Pub benchmarking survey of companies...

Paddington licensee 'may have to sell lease of pub' to pay British Gas energy bill

14-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Paddington licensee fears he may have to sell the lease of his pub in order to pay a £19,000 energy bill from British Gas.

Business secretary rejects claims that BIS officials acted inappropriately over pubco-tenant deal

13-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Business secretary Vince Cable has rejected claims that officials in the Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) department acted inappropriately over the pubco-tenant self-regulation deal.

Eclectic sees rise in full-year earnings

13-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed bar group, has reported an increase in full-year earnings and said that it had secured additional banking facilities for both the refit of existing sites and for new acquisitions.

Better training for checkout clerks could benefit pub industry

13-Nov-2012 By Mark Daniels

A survey has revealed that pre-loading is a false economy, stating that those who choose to consume heavily discounted booze at home before heading out are likely to drink twice as much than if they just made a beeline to the town centre for the evening.

Pubs saved from an average 11% rise in business rates, show VOA stats

13-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs have been saved from an average 11% rise in business rates payments, following the Government’s announcement to push back revaluations by two years.

Queen's Head in Chesham named Fuller's Pub of the Year

13-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has named the Queen’s Head in Chesham, Buckinghamshire as its Pub of the Year.

Kurnia Group exits retailing with sale of Cloud Bar in Lincoln

12-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Kurnia Group has sold its last remaining outlet, the Cloud Bar, marking the end of the Lincolnshire-based group’s retailing business, which is led by operator Michael Kheng.

Waverley TBS collapsed leaving £64.5m in debts

12-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

Waverley TBS collapsed leaving £64.5m in debts to unsecured creditors, with seven drinks companies owed seven-figure sums, a new report shows.

Six Nations rugby tickets up for grabs in Greene King IPA competition

09-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Licensees have the chance to boost sales during this year’s Six Nations by giving customers the chance to win tickets to the tournament, courtesy of Greene King IPA, the Official Beer of England Rugby.

Cirrus Inns acquires two pubs from British Country Inns

09-Nov-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Cirrus, the investment vehicle launched to back a premium estate of freehold pubs with rooms, has acquired two pubs from British Country Inns (BCI), the Enterprise Investment Scheme-backed pub company, for an undisclosed sum.

Industry given 23 November deadline to prove self-regulation deal on pubco-tenant relationship is working

08-Nov-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The industry has until the 23 November to assure the Government that the self-regulation deal on the pubco-tenant relationship is working.

CAMRA reveals National Pub Design Awards winners

08-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Four pubs have been crowned winners Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) National Pub Design Awards.

Tim Martin accuses pubcos of being “silent” in fight against tax differential between supermarkets and pubs

08-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin has accused pub companies of being “silent” in the fight against the tax differential between supermarkets and pubs.

Pub chef opinion: Pioneering quality food in the west

08-Nov-2012 By Josh Eggleton

Perhaps it goes without saying, but I love to cook. So it will come as no surprise that eating out is one of my favourite pastimes. Not only is eating good food in good company enjoyable, but I always find something to learn.

Hybrid O’Neill’s to be rolled out by Mitchells & Butlers

08-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is rolling out “hybrid” O’Neill’s alongside selected conversions to its O’Neill’s Irish Pub & Kitchen format.

Minimum wage rises may make recruiting trainee pub chefs harder

08-Nov-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Minimum wage rises mean a kitchen porter could earn more than a trainee chef.

Publican pushes staff to serve take-home alcohol to compete with supermarkets

07-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Tony Brookes, of the eight-strong Head of Steam, has renewed his Stuff the Supermarkets campaign by encouraging his staff to sell take-home alcohol in the run up to Christmas.

Newman Arms in Fitzrovia sees fewer thefts after employing doorman

07-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The licensee of the Newman Arms in Fitzrovia, London, has seen incidents of theft all but eradicated at her pub after taking on a doorman last month.

GRS Pubs bullish despite banking covenant breaches

07-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

GRS Pubs, the c.200-strong pub group formerly owned by London Town, has given assurances that it’s business as usual despite news that the company breached banking covenants on its £33.2m loan facility.

BII launches search for Licensee of the Year 2013

06-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

Entries are being taken for the BII Licensee of Year Award 2013, which is open to all licensees across the UK.

The Big Interview: Bill Butler, Security Industry Authority

06-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

It is easy to have respect for somebody who has faced Lord Justice Leveson and come out the other side with their reputation intact. However, it is something else entirely to be called to the Leveson Inquiry with less than a week’s notice, only to find...

Mark Daniels: The birth of the £6 pint…

06-Nov-2012 By Mark Daniels

So last week, following a concerted effort by many publicans, industry personnel and beer lovers to generate a near religious movement on sites such as Twitter that saw an e-petition receive over 100’000 digital signatures, MPs finally had a debate about...

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