Companies

Prospect Pubs expand with fifth site

03-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

Prospect Pubs has announced the launch of its fifth site with the opening of the Joiners Arms near Banbury with a sixth on the way.

NWTC to open Botanist site in Edinburgh

02-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Bar-restaurant operator New World Trading Company (NWTC) will open a Botanist site in the St James Quarter area of Edinburgh later this year.

JDW paid 83% of free shares and bonuses to pub staff

02-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has revealed it has awarded 83% of its free shares and bonus scheme to employees working in the sites over the past 16 years.

Property round-up

£121k revamp of Herts GK pub and boutique pub with rooms opens in Newbury

01-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The latest property news includes Greene King Pub Partners’ renovation of a village pub in Hertfordshire, Red Lion Holdings’ restoration of a site with boutique pub and rooms in Berkshire, a new Punch Pubs site and London Fields Brewery site placed on...

Fuller’s launches Pride of Fuller’s Awards

01-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Pride of Fuller’s Awards have been launched by Fuller, Smith & Turner, to celebrate anyone who has gone above and beyond, inspired others, or carried out acts of kindness.

St Austell ‘planning to grow estate to more than 200 pubs’

28-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

South-west based business St Austell is looking to expand its portfolio over the next few years, boss Kevin Georgel has said.

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence has risen but inflation poses threat

25-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs are still standing and optimistic for the year ahead, but inflation and VAT rises alongside the staffing crisis pose big challenges for 2022, according to operators across the sector.

MA Leaders Club

Standard of food key as consumers return to the pub

25-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Consumers admit Covid has altered the way they visit pubs but it is the expected standard of food that has proved the biggest talking point.

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence rises by 36 percentage points

25-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Consumer confidence has risen 36 percentage points when compared with January 2021 with 70% now feeling ‘very’ or ‘quite confident visiting hospitality venues, according to CGA.

The MA's Review of the Week

The economic impact of Ukraine invasion will be felt across the world

25-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Valiant Pub Co boss Gerry Carroll to get his take on the latest headlines hitting the industry, from managing the exit of restrictions through to the impact of war in Europe on the trade.

MA Leaders Club

Further lockdowns unlikely because Government ‘cannot afford it’

25-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The possibility of further lockdowns is over according to Peter Hansen of Sapient Corporate Finance because the Government “cannot afford it”, he said while speaking at the MA Leaders Club conference at Fabric nightclub, in London, on Thursday 24 February.

MA Leaders Club

Pubco and operator partnerships: good operators will get noticed

24-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

If you are a good operator, your business will get noticed and that’s when opportunities for growth can appear, according to Big Smoke Brew Co co-founder Richard Craig.

Bridge Arms chef: It’s amazing to represent pubs in the Michelin Guide

23-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Chef-director of Kent-based gastropub the Bridge Arms, which won a Michelin star last week, was proud to represent pubs in the Michelin Guide and champion the value of good food, friendly service and consistency.

72-year-old pub owner wins award after 40 years of service

23-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A 72-year-old pub owner has been granted a prestigious award since retiring following 30 years of service at the Dynevor Arms, in Groes-faen, Wales.

Punk music helps Michelin-starred chef cook

23-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stephen Harris, head chef at the Sportsman gastropub in Kent, has shared the creative process behind his dishes. This comes after his pub retained its Michelin star in the 2022 Michelin Guide last week.

Jonathon Swaine returns to pub sector

22-Feb-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA

Shepherd Neame has announced the appointment of Jonathon Swaine as managing director of its pubs business.

New Michelin star a 'shock' to the Dog & Gun Inn

22-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Chef-owner of gastropub the Dog & Gun Inn, which bagged a Michelin star last week, was “over the moon” his small, Cumbrian pub had scored the prestigious award.

JDW wins at the Loo of the Year Awards 2022

21-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has won numerous awards at the Loo of the Year Awards 2022.

Star to double Scottish managed portfolio

21-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large pub operator Star Pubs & Bars has announced plans to double the amount of its managed operator pubs in Scotland during 2022 as part of it Just Add Talent (JAT) estate.

Nightcap set to open new Cocktail Club, 24 new sites in pipeline

21-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, is set to open a The Cocktail Club site and a Tonight Josephine bar in early April – and has 24 new premises under offer or in legals too.

Inn Collection Group plans approved to turn hotel into family-friendly pub

18-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Inn Collection Group will transform north Tyneside venue, the Park, into a pub, after the council approved plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment.

Shepherd Neame scores four-year deal with Bromley Football Club

18-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Shepherd Neame has secured a new four-year pouring rights partnership with National League team Bromley Football Club.

Village pub reopening inspired by community

16-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Community power has seen a popular Cambridgeshire village pub reopen thanks to new licensees and Admiral Taverns.

St Austell Brewery launches six-figure recruitment campaign

15-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Independent brewery and pub company, St Austell Brewery, has launched a six-figure campaign to attract new talent to the hospitality industry and highlight the adventures in store for employees who choose to work in the South-West.

PETA UK urges M&B to reopen pub with ‘animal-friendly’ name

15-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

PETA UK has urged operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) to reopen ‘England’s oldest pub’ under a new name and a completely vegan menu.

'Proper boozer' to be sold via raffle

15-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Licensees in Birkenhead have decided to sell their pub via raffle in the hope the “proper boozer” will stay at the heart of the local community.

Sheffield licensees given Star Pubs & Bars long-service award

15-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has awarded licensees of Fagan’s - one of Sheffield’s oldest pubs - a long-service award in recognition of more than 35 years behind the bar.

The Inn Collection Group sold in a deal estimated at £300m-plus

14-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

North of England-based pub operator The Inn Collection Group has been acquired by a new company backed by The Harris Family Trusts together with Kings Park Capital in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £300m.

MA Leaders Club

MA Leaders London line-up revealed

11-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Our first MA Leaders Club event of 2022 will be taking place at the iconic Fabric nightclub in Farringdon, London this month (Thursday 24 February) as well as exploring Smiths of Smithfield before hitting the streets to uncover some of the most exciting...

JW Lees to open first new-build site in 10 years

11-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Manchester brewer and pub operator JW Lees is set to open three sites including its first new-build pub in more than 10 years at the end of the month – and is targeting more acquisitions.

Greene King launches campaign to reduce cask ale waste

10-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King has launched the ‘Magic Pints Initiative’, in partnership with wastage saving app Too Good To Go, in a bid to save thousands of surplus pints of cask ale from being wasted.

Oakman looks to increase estate size by 25%

10-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator the Oakman Group has secured what is directors believe to be its “strongest ever pipeline of new sites”, which would result in the business growing its estate by a quarter (25%).

Kerridge: ‘I haven’t looked at TripAdvisor in 12 years’

10-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Head chefs of Tom Kerridge’s pubs the Hand & Flowers and the Coach in Marlow, which ranked in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list 2022, discuss the inspiration behind dishes that have been slammed for their expensive prices.

Brasserie Bar Co: ‘The business has never been in better shape’

10-Feb-2022 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Brasserie Bar Co now has the firepower to accelerate its expansion plans and is keen to use new owner Alchemy’s experience as the backer of The Inn Collection to drive it forward, executive chairman Mark Derry told MCA.

Young’s to acquire almost all Lucky Onion sites

10-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Young’s is set to take ownership of six of the Lucky Onion group’s seven sites.

2021 'harder than first year of pandemic' says Wells & Co

09-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator Wells & Co has reported a sales income decrease of £8m, totalling £30.5m to the year ending 3 October 2021.

Star boss optimistic about consumer confidence returning

09-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Confidence is steadily growing week by week as the pub trade emerges from the pandemic, a leading pubco boss claimed.

Alchemy acquires Brasserie Bar Co

08-Feb-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Brasserie Bar Co has been acquired by Alchemy Partners for an undisclosed sum, understood to be around £40m.

Stonegate Group only pubco nominated at the British Credit Awards 2022

08-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large pub company, the Stonegate Group, has been shortlisted for three awards at the British Credit Awards 2022.

Star Pubs & Bars partners with rating specialist to reduce business rates

08-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has partnered with rating specialist Dunlop Heywood ahead of the new business rates rating list due to come into effect in April 2023.

Hydes looks to ramp up activity after ‘punishing’ restrictions

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator Hydes Brewery hopes to open a pub in the near future after putting acquisitions on the back burner during the height of the pandemic that saw some “incredibly punishing” restrictions on the industry.

Inn Collection Group completes its first acquisition of 2022

07-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Award-winning northern pub group the Inn Collection Group has completed its first acquisition of 2022 with the purchase of the Glenridding Hotel in Ullswater, the Lake District.

Last orders at England’s ‘oldest pub’

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks – a pub believed to be the oldest in England – has called time at the bar and closed after licensee Christo Tofalli’s business went into administration.

RedCat grows accommodation offer with latest acquisition

07-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Former Greene King boss Rooney Anand’s pub investment vehicle RedCat Pub Company has acquired the Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, taking its portfolio to approximately 100 sites.

Greene King partners with TV chef for National Apprenticeships Week

07-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator Greene King has partnered with TV chef and presenter, Joe Hurd, to launch its new back of house academies for trainee chefs as part of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week (7 to 13 February 2022).

UK’s No1 gastropub shares secrets behind its menu

04-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The head chef of the Unruly Pig in Woodbridge, Suffolk, discusses gastropub’s current menus after it scored first place in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list 2022.