Companies

Ringing the virtual bell for QR codes

15-May-2012

I’m a big fan of QR Codes. You know, those strange little squares that you see on advertising hoards, websites, branded merchandising and so on?

Trade bodies express relief at 'breathing space' given to pubs in Queen's Speech

15-May-2012

Trade bodies have given the thumbs up to the ‘breathing space’ afforded to the industry in the content of the Queen’s speech which — for the first time in 10 years — did not contain pub-specific legislative proposals.

Enterprise reports 5% rise in pre-tax profits and begins refinancing talks

15-May-2012

Enterprise Inns has reported a 5% rise in pre-tax profit to £64m in the six months to 31 March on the back of a rise in like-for-like net income in its substantive estate, as it reveals that it has begun talks on refinancing.

Pub operator Wear Inns gains £10m investment

15-May-2012 By Mark Wingett

The Business Growth Fund (BGF) and NVM Private Equity have announced they plan to invest £10m into Wear Inns, the north-east England-based pub operator, to further aid its growth strategy.

Enterprise Inns offers 10 pubs on free-of-tie leases

14-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Enterprise Inns, the leased pub operator, is inviting offers for 10 “hand-picked” sites on a free-of-tie lease.

Scotland confirms plans for minimum price for alcohol at 50p per unit

14-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Scotland has confirmed that it wants to set the minimum price for alcohol at 50p per unit.

BII chief Peter Thomas claims Brewdog-Diageo debacle "unfortunate" and "regrettable"

11-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

BII chief executive Peter Thomas has responded to the Diageo - Brewdog debacle claiming the incident was “unfortunate, regrettable, disappointing”.

Jonathan Neame to become BBPA chairman

11-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Kent-based family brewer Shepherd Neame, is to be the new chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) from the end of June.

National Pubwatch launches online tool to map local pubwatch schemes

11-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

National Pubwatch (NPW) has launched an online mapping tool to help the organisation draw up a list of pubwatch schemes across the UK.

PPL boss urges industry to shop pubs and bars dodging music fees

10-May-2012 By Mike Berry

The boss of music licensing body PPL has urged licensees to report pubs and late-night venues that are dodging paying music fees.

Diageo apologises for stripping Scottish pub firm BrewDog of Bar Operator of the Year 2012 award

09-May-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Global drinks firm Diageo has apologised after a “serious misjudgement” on stripping Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog of Bar Operator of the Year 2012 at the BII Scotland annual awards.

Mahdis Neghabian of the Camden Eye is BII Licensee of the Year 2012

08-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Mahdis Neghabian of the Camden Eye in London has been awarded BII Licensee of the Year 2012.

Wear Inns gains £10m investment

08-May-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The Business Growth Fund (BGF) and NVM Private Equity (NVM) have announced they plan to invest £10m into Wear Inns, the North east England-based pub operator, to further aid its growth strategy.

The Big Interview: Alex Reilley, Loungers

08-May-2012

If they love you, then you’re made,” says Loungers’ main man Alex Reilley. And the bar and restaurant company is certainly well-loved by its customers.

Mark McQuater to leave Barracuda Pub Company

08-May-2012

Mark McQuater is set to leave Barracuda Pub Company after 12 years, to be replaced as chief executive by the former managing director of Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) Value division, Roger Moxham.

Tim Martin and Ian Payne slam minimum unit pricing for alcohol

04-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Two of the pub industry’s most influential figures, JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin and Stonegate chair Ian Payne, have spoken out against the merits of introducing a minimum unit price of alcohol.

Punch Buying Club hits 100,000th order

04-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Punch Buying Club, the online purchasing website, has just celebrated its 100,000th order.

Peach Pub Company gets "significant" investment from Molson Coors

04-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Peach Pub Company, the multiple pub operator, has received initial financing worth half a million pounds from brewer Molson Coors, with an option to secure more at a later date.

Tadcaster converts four tenanted pubs to managed

04-May-2012

Tadcaster Pub Company, the northern England-based pub operator, has revealed that it has converted four of its tenanted pubs to managed and is looking to convert two more sites in the near future.

First operations director as Livelyhood Venues plans growth

04-May-2012

Livelyhood Venues, the London-based pub and restaurant operator, has appointed its first operations director as it announces plans to grow to 15 pubs over the next three years.

Czech Government plans to undermine Budweiser are thwarted

03-May-2012 By Roger Protz

Moves by the Czech government to undermine the state-owned Budweiser Budvar brewery by handing its key export markets to rival AB InBev, which owns the American Budweiser brand, have been thwarted.

Dave Mountford agrees "private" deal with Punch over rent review

02-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns and controversial licensee Dave Mountford have come to an agreement over the rent review of his pub the Rising Sun, Middleton, Derbyshire - although the details are not being disclosed.

LT Pub management subsidiary signed up for Little Chef deal

02-May-2012

Little Chef, the iconic roadside chain, has appointed a subsidiary of LT Pub Management, the pub management specialist led by Billy Buchanan, to provide operational support.

Wetherspoon's bemoans tax burden after small increase in like-for-like sales

02-May-2012 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 2% rise in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 22 April, as it revealed plans to further scale down its opening programme and predicted its tax bill will reach half a billion pounds this year.

Downing Corporate Finance aims to raise £16m from pub deal

02-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Downing Corporate Finance plans to raise up to £16m via its recently-launched Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) to invest in a portfolio of freehold and long-leasehold pubs.

The Big Interview: Martin Hartridge

30-Apr-2012

Seventy years after the Luftwaffe carelessly dropped its bombs on the Hampshire village of Hambledon destroying the Alliance Brewery, beers are once again being brewed under the Alliance name.

Pub 'friendliness' top factor for consumers when choosing destination

30-Apr-2012 By Lesley Foottit

The friendliness of a pub is the most important factor consumers consider when deciding which one to visit.

Tottenham Court Road pubs continue trading following siege

30-Apr-2012 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs in Tottenham Court Road are going about business as usual despite the central London street being closed by police following a bomb alert.

Imbiba Partnership plans new Darwin & Wallace concept

26-Apr-2012

Imbiba Partnership, the investment company behind Drake & Morgan, plans to launch a new bar and restaurant concept called Darwin & Wallace with the first funds raised through its recently launched Enterprise Investment Scheme, M&C Report understands.

Batemans opens first managed pub the Bell Inn near Skegness

26-Apr-2012

Batemans, the Lincolnshire brewer and pub operator, has opened its first managed pub and is looking to run more sites on a managed basis in the future, M&C Report has learnt.

University of York academic to investigate the role of village pubs in the community

26-Apr-2012 By Michelle Perrett

An academic from the University of York has received a British Academy award to explore the role of village pubs.

Whitbread reports a 2.6% increase in like-for-like sales

26-Apr-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Whitbread has reported a 2.6% increase in like-for-like sales for the year to 1 March 2012, on the back of continued growth at Costa Coffee, but said that trading had been variable during the year and that it expected that trend to continue.

Great British Pub Awards 2012 now open for entries

26-Apr-2012 By Mike Berry

The Great British Pub Awards 2012 has officially launched today and is now open for entries.

Animal Inns snapped up by Jeremy King and David Cappendell

25-Apr-2012

Former Regent Inns executive and Momo Leisure co-owner Jeremy ‘Jez’ King has teamed up with entrepreneur David Cappendell to acquire the Norfolk-based Animal Inns business from owner Henry Watt for an undisclosed sum.

Pub People Co in branded beers deal with Nottingham Brewery

25-Apr-2012 By John Harrington

Pub People Company, the Midlands-based multiple pub operator, has signed a deal with a local brewer to produce bespoke beers that will be available exclusively in its outlets.

Welsh landlords back 50p minimum price per unit on alcohol

25-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Almost eight out of 10 (77%) Welsh licensees would back the introduction of a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol, according to a survey commissioned by charity Alcohol Concern.

Exclusive: Beleaguered BII appoints Peter Thomas as chief exec for make or break year

25-Apr-2012 By Rob Willock

BII interim CEO Peter Thomas has been asked to serve in the role full-time for 12 months to offer “stability” and “commercial leadership”, following a turbulent year in which the institute has run up a deficit of around £400,000.

Spirit puts ‘Britain’s toughest pub’ up for sale

24-Apr-2012 By Adam Pescod

Spirit Pub Company has decided to sell the freehold of a Greater Manchester outlet, which has been labelled “Britain’s toughest pub”.

The Big Interview: Charlie McVeigh, Draft House

23-Apr-2012 By Phil Mellows

After hearing about Charlie McVeigh’s ambitions for his Draft House pub chain, how he aims to double in size to six by the end of this year and get to 15 by 2015, it wouldn’t naturally occur to you say, “Yes, but what else are you doing?” So, leaning...

Greene King like-for-like sales up

23-Apr-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has this morning reported a 4.6% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed division for the 50 weeks to 15 April, helped by a 4.5% rise in its fourth quarter, and said it was well-placed to benefit from...

Admiral unveils first right to buy

20-Apr-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Admiral Taverns, the tenanted pub operator, has revealed details of the first agreement it has signed with a tenant that gives them the opportunity to buy the freehold of the pub from three years into a lease.

500 events posted on CAMRA's Community Pubs Month website

19-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs are getting behind the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA’s) Community Pubs Month with 500 events being posted on the initiative’s website — www.communitypubs month.org.uk.

Pub landlord hails use of body-mounted video cameras for cutting complaints against doorstaff

19-Apr-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Northamptonshire licensee has hailed the use of body-mounted video cameras in his pub as a great success in reducing the number of false allegations against doorstaff.

Thwaites seals pub deal with microbrewer Prospect Brewery

19-Apr-2012 By John Harrington

Lancashire brewer and pub operator Daniel Thwaites has unveiled its first pub partnership deal with a microbrewer that lets the smaller producer serve its own beers free-of-tie, and is looking to roll the agreement out further, M&C Report has learnt.

Wet-led Amber Taverns named top performing pub company in Zolfo Cooper Profit Tracker

19-Apr-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Amber Taverns, the operator of 76 pubs in northern England, has been identified as the UK’s privately-owned pub and bar operator with the fastest profit growth — proving that wet-led community pubs are far from dead.

Portsmouth pub landlord to take anti-Nazi group to court for website allegations

19-Apr-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Portsmouth licensee has said he will take an anti-fascist organisation “all the way to the courts” after threats were made against his family for his alleged links to right-wing extremism.

CAMRA has 1m beer mats for pubs to promote scrapping of duty escalator

18-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has a million free beer mats available for pubs to order to encourage customers to sign an e-petition asking the Chancellor to scrap the alcohol duty escalator.

Charterhouse Leisure nets £2m funding to expand Coal Grill & Bar brand

18-Apr-2012

Charterhouse Leisure has secured £2m in new funding as it looks to further expand and refresh its Coal Grill & Bar brand, M&C Report understands.

Momo in talks to roll out Jongleurs comedy clubs

18-Apr-2012

Momo Leisure, the firm run by former Regent Inns executives David Elphick and Jez King, is in talks with around six late-night bar operators about rolling out Jongleurs comedy clubs into their outlets, M&C Report has learnt.

Head of Steam pub chain offers take-home ready meals as part of Stuff the Supermarkets campaign

17-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A multiple operator is offering customers ready meals to take home as part of its Stuff the Supermarkets campaign, in a bid to compete with the retail giants.