Admiral Taverns, one of the UK’s largest leased and tenanted pub operators, is understood to have appointed advisers to review its strategic options, which could include a refinancing of its debt or an outright sale of the c1,150-strong, Lloyds-backed...
BBC's Panorama has been forced to remove a programme from iPlayer due to a glaring error in alcohol statistics provided by the University of Sheffield.
When it comes to quirky gimmicks in order to help lift trade, I’m more than happy to try new things to get people through the door. For us, a lot of traditional ‘selling’ methods have failed to work of late.
BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) chief executive Peter Thomas has admitted that the organisation had become “arrogant and lazy” in not clearly defining what it represents.
Punch Taverns is to launch a number of initiatives for its pubs over the coming months including free Wi-Fi, a mystery shopper programme and new regional launch managers (RLM) to oversee new investments.
Molson Coors has appointed Simon Cox, currently managing director, independent on-premise and wholesale to the role of managing director, Molson Coors (UK & Ireland).
Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 2.2% rise in like-for-like sales in its managed estate for the year to 29 September, and said the growth of its franchise estate has led to operating profits in its tenanted, leased and franchise...
National Pubwatch (NPW) has commissioned Leeds Metropolitan University to undertake a study to evaluate the effectiveness and strengths of local pubwatch schemes around the UK.
Barracuda Pub Company has completed a restructure, which will see the separation of its operating company (opco) from its property company (propco), with ex-Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive Adam Fowle becoming chairman of the newly formed...
Orchid Group has reported a 5.4% fall in EBITDAR in 2011, although turnover grew 3.7% to £179.6m, as the firm announced a three-year, £20m capex programme that will see wet-led sites become food-led.
After the merger of the Publican and the Morning Advertiser last year, the Publican Awards was relaunched as the blue-riband event for pubcos — and by far the biggest night in the industry’s calendar.
Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) leader Bob Crow has thrown his support behind an award-winning London licensee whose pub is threatened with closure.
Pubs are failing to persuade customers to spend all of the time and money they have budgeted for their visit, according to a new study from on-trade researchers him!
Trust Inns, the c.600-strong pub business owned by leisure magnate Trevor Hemmings, has reported a sharp fall in full-year pre-tax profits after paying higher interest payments and incurring a £1.9m impairment charge following a £6m property value write-down.
Atmosphere Bars & Clubs, the 26-strong nightclub operator backed by Sun Capital Partners, is looking to roll out its Chicago’s brand via franchise to 50 sites within the next three years, chief executive Paul Harbottle has told M&C Report.
Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 39.7% rise in pre-tax profit and record turnover that increased 9.6% to £133m for the 53 weeks to 30 June on the back of acquisitions and rising like-for-likes.
An historic pub in Chelsea, west London, has been saved from closure by the Planning Inspectorate after the owner sought to turn the site into housing.
In the heart of the headquarters of SHS Drinks Division, the outfit formerly known as Beverage Brands, there’s a library. Not your usual library with dusty old books but a library of drinks past, a cornucopia of NPD — new product development — that hit...
Pubs could save at least £230 per year on energy bills by installing a smart meter, according to a new report published by British Gas and Oxford Economics.
It’s hard for any a passionate chef to accept that they have to change. For Ross [Pike] and I, both chefs, it was a difficult time when we realised our pub’s business plan needed a boost. It dented our pride and, most of all, we were anxious about it...
A third package totalling 93 closed freehold and long-leasehold pubs, which include sites from the former Pubfolio and Goldtry estates, has been placed on the market.
Griffith Edwards died last week. He wasn’t exactly famous, except within alcohol policy circles, but as one of the intellectual pillars of what I term medical temperance his influence and ideas shape the politics of drinking today, from the nature of...
Ralph Findlay, chief executive officer of Marston’s, was presented with an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Wolverhampton.
Pub People Company, the 37-strong East Midlands-based group led by Kevin Sammons, has reported a 3.7% rise in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) for the year to the end of March 2012.
Barracuda, the managed pub operator, is close to completing a refinancing, which will see a US hedge fund take a significant stake in the Smith & Jones operator.
Portman Group chief executive Henry Ashworth has called for industry initiatives such as Best Bar None and Purple Flag to target more areas where alcohol misuse is high.
JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has reported a 3.2% rise in like-for-like sales for the 53 weeks to 29 July, and said that with taxation and input costs expected to continue to rise it was aiming for a “reasonable outcome” in its current financial...
After 18 months of speculation, name-dropping and “progress” reports from chairman Bob Ivell, Mitchells & Butlers has finally found its new CEO in the shape of Marston’s chief operating officer Alistair Darby.
Drake & Morgan, the well-regarded bar-restaurant operator, is believed to have appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to review its strategic options for the next stage of the group’s growth, M&C Report has learnt.
The UK’s leading pub and restaurant operators reported a sales boost in August with like-for-like sales up 2.1%, driven by a 5% increase in performance from operators inside the M25 against a more modest 1% climb in the regions, according to the latest...
Shepherd Neame licensee Roy Peacock of the Hatch in Redhill, Surrey, fought against the odds to continue trading after a lorry crashed through his pub, causing £30,000 damage.
Alistair Darby, who is currently chief operating officer at Marston’s, where he has been on the board since February 2003, will become the new chief executive of Mitchells & Butlers from 8 October 2012.
Pubwatch assistant secretary Frank Marnell has called for the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) to attend pubwatch meetings up and down the country if it wants to push apprenticeships.
