Companies

The Pub Market Report 2012: Win an iPad 2

15-Nov-2011

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser is offering readers the chance to win an Apple iPad 2 by taking part in our Pub Market Report 2012.

My Pub: Ship in Distress, Mudeford, Dorset.

14-Nov-2011 By Sheila McWattie

Sheila McWattie meets Maggie Wheeler, chef-proprietor of the Ship in Distress, in Mudeford, Dorset.

Is it just a load of hot air?

14-Nov-2011 By Peter Coulson

I recognise the wariness and scepticism of licensees when faced with a new breathalyser machine being marketed to pubs. They might think ‘what’s the come-back on me if I install one of these and something goes wrong?’

Michelin chef takes on Brakspear pub

14-Nov-2011 By Lesley Foottit

A top Michelin chef has reopened a Brakspear pub following a floor to ceiling refurbishment.

Good news for pubs over AWP tax ruling

14-Nov-2011 By John Harrington

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has suffered a serious set back in its attempt to reclaim VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines that have been issued to pub operators and licensees.

Innuendo: it’s the bedrock of beer

11-Nov-2011 By Mark Daniels

Hands up if you’ve ever bought an alcoholic product on the assumption that it’s going to give you an almighty erection?

Living Ventures to open new venue

11-Nov-2011

Living Ventures Management, the restaurant and bar company led by entrepreneurs Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, will open its latest venture in Manchester — Peppermint Bay, a café-deli concept — next week.

Sheffield’s art-inspired bar

11-Nov-2011

Thornbridge, the Derbyshire-based brewer and pub operator, has opened its first city-centre bar, named Dada, in Sheffield.

Whiting & Hammond’s seventh site

11-Nov-2011

Whiting & Hammond, the award-winning south-east multiple led by co-founder Brian Whiting, has secured its seventh site, historic 18th-century Stanmer House in Brighton.

Responsibility deal condemned

11-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Government’s responsibility deal will fail because it creates a fundamental conflict of interest within the drinks industry, according to public health campaigners and an influential committee of MPs.

Multi-sites prove pubs are alive and kicking

10-Nov-2011 By The PMA Team

This magazine has been charting the rise of the multi-site operators for a while now, through our MA250 programme, adding around 50 companies a year to the membership.

Restaurant Group refinances on sales uplift

10-Nov-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The Restaurant Group (TRG), owner of the Brunning & Price pub chain, Frankie and Benny’s and Chiquito brands, has completed a refinancing exercise that has given the business a new five-year, £140m bank facility.

Greene King rolls out Meat & Eat franchises

10-Nov-2011

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator led by Rooney Anand, has launched its new franchise model called Meet & Eat after receiving British Franchise Association accreditation.

Stonegate eyes Barracuda Pub Co

10-Nov-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Stonegate, the TDR Capital-backed managed pub operator, is understood to be running a slide rule over Barracuda Pub Company, the c.200-strong pub group, prior to a possible bid for the business, the PMA has learnt.

AB-InBev UK Q3 volumes rise 0.8%

09-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

AB-InBev, the international brewer, has cited “poor summer weather” for a modest 0.8% rise in own-beer volumes in the UK in Q3 2011.

Living Rooms: They’re the new Smoking Rooms

09-Nov-2011 By Mark Daniels

So David Cameron has announced that he supports the smoking ban and thinks that it has worked — cue every smoking zealot spouting figures to the contrary, and everybody else telling them to shut up and get on with it.

Georgel: pubcos must empower BDMs

09-Nov-2011 By Ewan Turney

It is puzzling the industry does not spend more time focusing on the role of the Business Development Manager — that’s the view of Admiral Taverns boss Kevin Georgel.

A third Cosy Club opened

09-Nov-2011

Loungers, the privately-owned group led by Alex Reilley, has opened its third site under its Cosy Club brand in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Michelin stars boost UK pub image

09-Nov-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The operator of the first pub to receive two Michelin stars says its award has helped to put British pubs on the international culinary map.

C&C buys US cider brand for €20m

09-Nov-2011

C&C Group, the Dublin-based producer of Magners, has bought America’s second biggest cider brand Hornsby’s from E&J Gallo for a deal worth up to €20m.

Four more join ALMR

08-Nov-2011

Liverpool-based pub and bar operators Central Bars, Baa Bar, Pax Leisure and Ice Bars are the latest to join the Association for Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

British Pub Week toasts success

08-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

Licensees across the country raised a glass to the Great British pub as customers flocked in to celebrate British Pub Week.

Apartment’s £8.65m loan

08-Nov-2011

Apartment Group, the north east-based bar and restaurant company, is eyeing further growth in the region after a securing an £8.65m loan from the Co-operative Bank.

Lincs pub found with majority of underage customers

08-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A Lincolnshire pub has been served with a closure notice for failing a test purchase operation and having a majority of underage customers.

Pub gaming is under control

07-Nov-2011 By Peter Coulson

Whatever claims politicians make about the removal of red tape, those in the licensed trade know only too well that nothing actually gets any better.

Tragedy raises review queries

07-Nov-2011

The tragic events at Lava & Ignite in Nottingham, that saw a student crushed to death, hit the headlines for obvious reasons, but the aftermath raises a couple of questions for me.

Eclectic eyes expansion on sales boost

07-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Eclectic Clubs & Bars, the Avanti Capital-backed bar group, continues to eye expansion as it reports increased sales and EBITDA in the year to 30 June 2011.

New cider house for London

07-Nov-2011

The team behind well-known London pub the Euston Tap at Euston station, which specialises in unusual and niche beers, are to open a dedicated cider pub opposite.

Pubs could act as tourist offices

07-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

More pubs could soon provide tourist information as part of their offering if a pilot scheme in a West Sussex pub is successful.

Myers takes chair at Intertain

04-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

David Myers, industry veteran and current chairman of Premium Bars & Restaurants and La Tasca, has been appointed as the new chairman of Walkabout operator Intertain.

Carbon Trust offers free energy advice for licensees

04-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

Pubs could save up to 20% on energy costs with an investment of just £2,000 — that’s according to the Carbon Trust, which has launched a new free independent advice service aimed at helping businesses improve their energy efficiency.

Tim Sykes named Best Individual at MA250 Awards

03-Nov-2011

Beds and Bars chairman Tim Sykes was crowned Best Individual at the MA250 Awards for independent multiple operators in London yesterday.

11 Luminar sites to close, interest in estate

03-Nov-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The administrators of Luminar and its subsidiaries have taken steps to close 11 loss making clubs as part of their ongoing strategic review of the business.

Time for change: an open letter to Bob Ivell

03-Nov-2011 By The PMA Team

Dear Bob, I trust you’re well. Welcome back to the pub trade. You will have noticed that right now our industry’s collective voice is as fragmented as ever. I know there have been a few distractions at Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), Bob, but things...

Pipe & Glass named Michelin Pub of the Year

03-Nov-2011 By Jo Bruce

The Pipe & Glass in South Dalton, near Beverley, East Yorkshire, has been named Pub of the Year in the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2012.

GMB to survey pubs to fight hike in rent

03-Nov-2011 By Ewan Turney

The GMB is to undertake a survey of pub rents in the East Midlands area in a bid to fight a proposed 60% rent hike at a Punch pub.

Bars could close if PPL fees increase

03-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Late-night pubs, bars and clubs that host DJ nights and discos will be forced out of business if proposed changes to the way music royalties are paid are pushed through — that’s the clear message from a host of operators who laid bare the shocking extent...

ALMR opposes blanket ban on restrictive covenants

02-Nov-2011 By John Harrinton, M&C Report

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has urged action on the use of restrictive covenants on pub sales, but fell short of calling for a blanket ban.

BII hunts for licensee of the year

02-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is welcoming entries for its Licensee of the Year Award, which has now entered its 27th year.

Greene King IPA: 100,000-pint award

01-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

A 93-year-old Greene King IPA drinker has been awarded an engraved tankard by the brewer and pub operator for his loyalty.

The below-cost sales minefield

01-Nov-2011 By Peter Coulson

It does not surprise me that the Government is having some difficulty in resolving the issues involved in supermarket low-cost sales (Cheap booze ban: work continues — the PMA, 20 October).

Are you a lamb to the slaughter?

01-Nov-2011 By Robert Sayles

Neil Robertson recently stated that the prospect of naive new tenants entering the trade was a major source of concern. With this in mind I’ve devised a questionnaire so that those thinking about entering the trade can gauge whether or not they fully...

Heron & Brearley acquires Market Town Taverns

01-Nov-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Market Town Taverns, the Yorkshire-based operator led by Ian Fozard, has been acquired by Heron & Brearley, the Isle of Man’s biggest hospitality operator, for an undisclosed sum.

CAMRA urges restrictive covenants ban

31-Oct-2011

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on the Government to ban the practice of selling pubs with restrictive covenants that force change of use.

Dukedom goes into administration

31-Oct-2011

Dukedom, the Redcar-based pub and bar operator, has been placed into administration.

Hall & Woodhouse posts drop in profit

31-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Hall & Woodhouse, the Dorset brewer and pub operator, has reported a fall in pre-tax profit for the 52 weeks to 29 January 2011, as it incurred significant start-up costs for a flagship site in Bath and started the development of its new brewery.

BISC's pubco report: the trade's view part II

31-Oct-2011

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...

Piper takes stake in Be At One

31-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Piper, the private equity group, which formerly backed Pitcher & Piano and Las Iguanas, has taken a significant minority stake in Be At One, the London-based 12-strong cocktail bar chain.

Tim Martin takes £19k pay cut

28-Oct-2011 By Mark Wingett

Tim Martin, chairman of managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW), took a £19,000 pay cut in 2011, according to the company’s annual report.

BISC’s pubco report: the trade’s view

28-Oct-2011

The damning criticism from the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship has put the industry firmly into the spotlight. The report claimed industry self-regulation had failed and there should be a statutory...