Companies

Capital choice: the Punch Bowl in Mayfair offers a great food and drinks menu

MY PUB

MY PUB: The Punch Bowl, Mayfair, London

By Gary Lloyd

Whether you want to enjoy drinks in the cosy bar or enjoy some great food when you’re in London’s Mayfair, the Punch Bowl will suit everyone perfectly.

Increased sales: Armado Lounge in Plymouth

Loungers lfl sales grow by 4.7%

By Gary Lloyd

All-day bar-café-restaurant brand Loungers has announced a 4.7% leap in like-for-like (lfl) sales in its trading update for the 24 weeks ended 6 October 2024.

Pubco acquired: Epiris, the new owner of Amber Taverns, has not revealed any financial terms

Amber Taverns acquired by Epiris

By Gary Lloyd

Amber Taverns, which operates 178 freehold wet-led pubs, has been acquired by Epiris – the owner of The Big Table that counts Bella Italia and Las Iguanas among its brands.

Wet weather: Drinks sales down again (Credit: Getty/dorian2013)

Wet weather dampens drinks sales

By Rebecca Weller

Widespread wet weather has pushed drinks sales in pubs back into negative year-on-year numbers, CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker has revealed.

Private ownership is key to success: Duncan Stirling and Charlie Gilkes

Inception Group predicts record-breaking 2024

By Gary Lloyd

Inception Group, which operates brands including Mr Fogg’s, Cahoots and Bunga Bunga, expects to deliver record-breaking revenues of £29m for 2024 if forecasts bear out.

Increased sales: JDW reports 5.7% total growth for FY24

JDW sales up 5.7% to £2bn in FY24

By Rebecca Weller

Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) saw total sales soar to £2bn in the FY24, an increase of 5.7% compared with the previous 12 months.

MA Leaders Club: Today's event will see delegates take to the streets of Oxford (Credit: Getty/Nikada)

MA LEADERS CLUB

MA Leaders Oxford happening today

By Rebecca Weller

The MA Leaders club will be taking to the streets of Oxford today (Wednesday 2 October).

Greene King celebrates a year of pins during cask ale week

THE CASK PROJECT

GK celebrates a year of pins for cask pubs

By Gary Lloyd

As the on-trade continues to celebrate Cask Ale Week, Greene King is championing a successful year since the introduction of the 4.5-gallon cask ‘pin’ to its customers.

Sales boost: M&B expects certain pressures to ease in future

M&B posts 5.2% lfl sales boost for 51-week period

By Gary Lloyd

Pubs, bars and restaurants operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% in its current financial year to date with all brands in growth.

Farewell: BrewDog Bars CEO James Brown is expected to reveal what he will do during the next few days

BrewDog Bars CEO James Brown steps down

By Gary Lloyd

BrewDog Bars CEO James Brown has announced he is stepping down from his role at the Scottish brewer and pub operator and will be unveiled as CEO of casual dining chain Prezzo on Thursday (26 September).

Packages acquired: the deal includes (l-r, top row) Anchor Bexley, Lochside and Royal Oak, (l-r bottom row) Shield & Dagger, Vesper Gate and Vine

Punch Pubs adds 14 pubs to estate

By Gary Lloyd

Punch Pubs & Co has added a total of 14 pubs to its estate after its acquisition of the Milton 1 & 2 portfolio from real estate investment company Aprirose.

Outgoing Punch CEO Clive Chesser reflects on pub career

Exit Interview

'No regrets' says outgoing Punch CEO

By Ed Bedington

As Clive Chesser, outgoing CEO of Punch Pubs & Co prepares to depart the world of pubs for gyms, MA editor Ed Bedington caught up with him for one final chat.

Salubrious town: the Venture Inn in Reigate used to be known as the Desert Rat

MY PUB

MY PUB: The Venture Inn, Reigate, Surrey

By Gary Lloyd

In the affluent town of Reigate – just south of the M25 – you will find the Venture Inn, which cites low & no beers as one of its key drivers.

Well-invested site: the Langton Arms in Leicestershire has received capex from operator RedCat

RedCat to invest £8m into its estate

By Gary Lloyd

RedCat Pub Company, founded and chaired by Rooney Anand, is rolling out an £8m capital investment programme across its estate during the upcoming six to 12 months.

What's in the news 20th September?

Review of the Week

'Hospitality needs to be taken seriously'

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Great British Pub Award winner Joe Buckley of the Tollemache Arms to get his take on the week's events.

Laine Pub Company CEO Gavin George steps down

Laine’s Gavin George stepping down as CEO

By Nikkie Thatcher

Chief executive officer of Laine Pub Company Gavin George is to step down from the role and will become non-executive director within the wider Punch Pubs & Co business.

The Unruly Pig, Bromeswell, operator Brendan Padfield day in the life

A day in the life of a gastropub operator

By Brendan Padfield, the Unruly Pig

Operator of the nation's number one gastropub, the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk, Brendan Padfield has given us a little insight into a day in his life from earlier this month (Thursday 5 September) including various tastings, a visit to a local...

Significant value: Stonegate's MiXR app hits 1m downloads

Stonegate MiXR app hits 1m downloads

By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate’s MiXR app has hit 1m downloads and seen £1.8m in points redeemed since it was launched just nine months ago.

Company comment: 'A restructure of central support functions is now necessary for the business to thrive for a sustainable future in these challenging times and be best placed to delight customers and deliver outstanding experiences,

GK reveals new exec board structure

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company and brewer Greene King has announced a new executive board structure in a bid to help the company move from transformation to delivery, in its aim to achieve its goal of being the ‘Pride of British Hospitality’.

Blind Tiger Inns business profile

Business profile: Blind Tiger Inns

By Nikkie Thatcher

Wet-led, community pub operator Blind Tiger Inns is based in the north-west of England. Managing director Chris Tulloch gives an overview of the growing business.

Significant takeover: Work has begun on Boxpark's new site in Camden

Boxpark Camden to open this month

By Rebecca Weller

Food and retail park firm Boxpark has confirmed its new site in Camden, London will open later this month.

Tax disparity: JDW slashing prices to highlight benefits of a VAT reduction for the sector

JDW cutting prices to mark Tax Equality Day

By Rebecca Weller

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced plans to cut its prices next week to highlight the benefits of a VAT reduction for the hospitality industry.

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