Companies

The Cocktail Club to reach 16 sites with Birmingham opening

08-Apr-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Nightcap group is set to open a flagship site for its brand – The Cocktail Club – in Birmingham later this year.

Star boosts social media support with new training package

05-Apr-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Star Pubs & Bars is ramping up its social media support on existing platform Avocado Social, as licensees label help with social media a top priority.

Greene King reveals new inclusion group

05-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large operator Greene King this week (Monday 4 April) launched a new inclusion group to support its team members with disabilities, Ability, to mark the start of Autism Awareness Month.

Business leaders' confidence rise but cost pressures threatens recovery

05-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Multi-site restaurant, pub, and bar leaders are six percentage points more assured about the future than last year, with 65% now confident about the next 12 months of the market, according to the latest CGA and Fourth’s Business Leaders’ Survey.

Greene King launches seventh Hive Pubs site after £400k revamp

04-Apr-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King Pub Partners has launched its seventh Hive Pubs site, the Orb & Sceptre in South Wootton, Norfolk, following a £400,000 investment.

Diageo invests more than £40m into Guinness production sites

04-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Diageo has planned a £40.5m investment to expand capacity at its packaging facilities in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Runcorn, Cheshire to support the growth of Guinness Draught and Guinness Zero.

Hospitality sector entering 'catastrophic period'

01-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs have had no breathing time following the pandemic as rising costs pose multiple challenges for operators who have survived by “the skin of their teeth” with the potential for a "catastrophic" and "very tough" year ahead, according...

Roxy Leisure to open in Bristol for its 11th site

31-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Roxy Leisure has announced it will open a Roxy Lanes site in Bristol in May this year.

Shepherd Neame achieves ‘strong rebound’ in sales

30-Mar-2022 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Shepherd Neame achieved a “strong rebound” in sales in the first half of FY2021, with revenue recovering to pre-pandemic levels.

Arc to open Manahatta site in Newcastle

29-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Bar operator Arc Inspirations is set to expand its portfolio with its biggest ever development, having secured approval to launch a £2.5m Manahatta bar in Newcastle.

England's oldest pub reopening under new management

29-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans, thought to be England’s oldest pub, will be reopening its doors from midday on Monday 4 April.

Greene King launches 'craft' beers celebrating British folklore

29-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King has announced the addition of four new offerings to its portfolio, as the operator looks to expand into the craft beer market this year.

Opinion

'Hospitality left out in the cold by Chancellor's failure to plan'

28-Mar-2022 By Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester

As is so often the case with big fiscal events, what is missing from a speech is just as important, if not more so, than what is actually said.

Stonegate wins ‘Best Employer of the Year’ award

28-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large operator Stonegate Group has been awarded ‘Best Employer of the Year’ at the British Credit Control Awards 2022.

Greene King Pub Partners Night of Excellence awards winners revealed

25-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Suffolk-based pubco Greene King has announced the winners of its Night of Excellence awards for its Pub Partners licensees.

Revolution Bars Group no longer a minimum wage employer

23-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Revolution Bars Group, the operator of bars including Revolución de Cuba, Playhouse, and Founders & Co, has invested £2m in raising wages over minimum wage, as part of the ‘fair day’s pay for hard day’s work’ pledge.

JDW boss blasts Gov proposal to increase VAT

22-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has criticised the Government’s plans to increase VAT back to 20% for food in pubs, restaurants and cafés from next month (April).

City Pub Group sells package of pubs to Portobello

22-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Freehold managed pubs firm Portobello Starboard has bought six pubs, including five from multiple operator The City Pub Group as well as a separate seaside venue.

Marston’s increases pint prices, Joule’s holds fire

21-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Marston’s has raised it pint prices by between 20p and 45p as economic headwinds hit the sector.

Star warns licensees to start Jubilee weekend preparations early

21-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Star Pubs & Bars has warned licensees to get ready well ahead of the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations in early June by launching a support package for its licensees.

JDW returns to ‘more normal trading period’

18-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has shown a return to more normal trading periods in their preliminary results for the 26 weeks, which ended on the 23 January 2022.

Greene King helps 100 prison leavers find employment

17-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King’s award-winning social mobility scheme, Releasing Potential, has helped 100 prison leavers find employment since its launch in 2019.

Admiral Taverns appoints software firm to integrate Hawthorn estate

16-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Admiral Taverns has appointed Ocean Dynamics to implement new software that will integrate the Hawthorn pub estate it acquired in July 2021.

Dardis to leave Young's

16-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

Young’s boss Patrick Dardis has announced plans to step down from the role after six years, to be replaced by chief operating office Simon Dodd.

Red Oak Taverns raises ‘significant capital for growth’

16-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Red Oak Taverns has recapitalised the business, giving it additional capital to help enable its acquisition programme.

Greene King to provide £5k to employees in need

15-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King will offer grants of up to £5,000 for employees in pressing financial need, in its Team Member Support Scheme launched this week.

JDW hikes pint prices by 10p

15-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has increased the cost of pints across its UK pubs, as rising prices and supply chain issues suffocate the sector.

44 pub chefs have starred on Great British Menu

15-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs have been solidly represented by BBC Two show Great British Menu, with 44 current, past or future gastropub chefs appearing on the programme since its debut in 2006.

MA Leaders Club

MA Leaders Club May location revealed

14-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The next MA Leaders Club event will be taking place in May this year and we can now reveal whereabouts in the country it will be.

Nightcap reports 'fantastic half year' results

14-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced reported revenues for the half year to 26 December 2021 rose by more than 700% from £2m.

Top female pub chef to feature on Great British Menu

11-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Charlotte Vincent, the Five Bells Inn, Clyst Hydon, Devon’s head chef, is set to make her television debut on BBC 2’s Great British Menu next week, just two months after the pub was crowned one of the UK’s top gastropubs.

Rekom UK pumps £2m into new bar brand opening

11-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Late-night operator Rekom UK, the UK arm of European firm the Rekom Group, is eyeing growth as it has announced the opening of a new bar brand in the UK.

Shepherd Neame pledges £20k fundraiser for Ukraine

11-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Shepherd Neame has pledged £20k to kickstart a fundraising effort to support the people of Ukraine, who continue to resist a Russian invasion.

Red Oak Taverns completes first purchase of 2022

11-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Red Oak Taverns has made its first pub acquisition of this year with the purchase of the Vine in Worthing, West Sussex.

Operator sees electricity quote soar by 250%

10-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs need help with their energy bills now before it’s too late, according to the Bath Pub Company managing director Joe Cussens.

The Inn Collection Group given go ahead for major redevelopment

10-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site pub operator The Inn Collection Group has had plans approved to redevelop two of its existing sites in Lancashire.

Nightclub reopens as sports bar after £370k revamp

10-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

A former nightclub has been transformed into a sports bar after a £370,000 investment from Admiral Taverns and the site’s licensees.

Call for operators to fundraise for Ukraine

10-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Staff at the Piano Works, central London have called for operators to unite and fundraise for the people of Ukraine who are suffering from lack of shelter, safety, water and food.

One of England's oldest pubs restored to 'former glory'

09-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

One of England’s oldest pubs has reopened following its forced closure in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

RedCat estate tips over 100 sites

09-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The investment vehicle founded by former Greene King boss Rooney Anand, RedCat Pub Company has added to its portfolio with the Wynnstay Hotel & Spa, building on its existing estate of more than 1,000 hotel rooms.

Stonegate offering free drinks this March

08-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate Pub Partners is offering customers a buy one, get one free deal on selected drinks across its estate to support charity until the end of March 2022.

International Women's Day 2022 - sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Wells celebrate female staff

08-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Wells have celebrated International Women’s Day today (8 March) through showcasing stories of the company’s female staff.

International Women's Day 2022 - sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Revolution Bars Group champions women with new senior appointments

08-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Revolution Bars Group has tipped the balance of its executive team to a female majority with two new hires, in a bid to show a positive shift towards diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Southwest multi-site operator takes on Star lease

07-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Multi-site Southwest pub operator TQ2 Limited has taken on the lease for a Star Pubs & Bars site in West Devon.

UKH board member appointed as Marston’s non-executive director

07-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Marston’s has appointed UKHospitality board member Nick Varney as a non-executive director to the board, with effect from 1 July 2022.

No delivery from Calor Gas forces pub to close

07-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A Kent pub was forced to close for a few days after Calor Gas failed to top up gas levels, which the managing director of the pub group has claimed was “not forgivable”.

Craft breweries unite to raise funds for Ukraine

04-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Europe’s craft breweries, cider makers and wineries are coming together to raise funds and show solidarity for the Ukrainian people, as the ninth day of Russia’s invasion dawns.

The MA's Review of the Week

Experience will be key in face of rising prices

04-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Lancashire-based multiple Tim Tomlinson of the Hand Pulled Pub Company to discuss passing on price rises, growing consumer confidence and the importance of service.