Companies

CAMRA launches consultation to drive inclusivity

02-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched a consultation into inclusivity, diversity and equality within the organisation and at its events, in response to discussions in the wider beer and pub industry regarding continuing prevalence of discrimination and...

Stonegate Group raises £315k for British Heart Foundation

01-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stonegate Group has raised £315,000 for the British Heart Foundation through fundraising activities across its managed estate.

Prince Albert pub transformed with £280k investment

01-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Prince Albert pub in Ely, Cambridgeshire has bagged a £280,000 investment from Greene King Pub Partners in conjunction with long-term business partners Jeanene and Mike Connelly.

Bar and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer to open

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Par 59, a Cardiff bar, restaurant and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer Gareth Bale is set to open on 18 March with bookings available from the first week of February.

Urban Pubs & Bars pleased with performance during pandemic

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Urban Pubs & Bars has recorded a profit before tax of £5,287 (2020: £890,404) from sales of £8.8m with directors saying they are “pleased with the performance of the company” in its latest report to Companies House.

Drinks sales down 11% in the week to Saturday 22 January

31-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants were down 11% in the week to Saturday 22 January when compared with the same week in 2019, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.

Hickory’s like-for-like sales up 25% since December

31-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The group behind Hickory’s Smokehouse has continued to outperform pre-Covid levels of trade in 2022 with like-for-like sales up 40% from May 2021, and 25% since December 2021.

St Austell invests £2m in 14th century pub

31-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator St Austell Brewery is ploughing £2m into the refurbishment of the 14th century Masons Arms pub in Branscombe, Devon.

Arc Inspirations targets Midlands with £14m refinancing package

31-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has secured a £14m refinancing package, which includes a separate £5m facility to help the group expand its site numbers.

Pandemic taught operators importance of tech, loyalty and adaptability

28-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The coronavirus pandemic has taught operators the need to be resilient and adaptable, the importance of technology and who could be counted on as loyal friends and customers, according to licensees across the sector.

Star invests £60,000 into 'Rugby packages' in a bid to increase footfall

28-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has invested £60,000 into Rugby support packages ahead of the Six Nations to help its pubs maximise the occasion.

Greene King named most admired pub operator ahead of Fuller’s, Young’s and JDW

27-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator Greene King has been named the best pub operator in the Britain’s Most Admired Businesses awards 2021.

Licensees to open third Star Pubs & Bars site after £500,000 refurb

27-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Two West Lancashire based licensees have taken on their third pub lease with operator Star Pubs & Bars in the past two years.

Fuller’s confident as City workers return to its sites

27-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Fuller’s is confident about the future as City workers return to its sites, according to its latest trading update.

Wells & Co announces rent concession for its partners

25-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator Wells & Co has announced a 10% rent concession for all its 130 leased and tenanted sites across the UK.

Inception Group to open another Mr Fogg’s site in late spring

25-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based bar operator Inception Group is set to open a Mr Fogg’s site in Mayfair at the former Balls Brothers site.

Peach Pubs sees slight sales rise despite 23k cancellations over Christmas

25-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

In the five weeks of Christmas and New Year, Peach Pubs was up 3.1% on 2019 with like-for-like sales compared to 2019 increasing by 21% in the six months to 2 January, 26% over the summer, 10% in autumn and 3% at Christmas.

Saturday 4 December most profitable trading day

20-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub sales were down 29.2% in December 2021 when compared to 2019 with New Year’s Eve sales down some 30%, however staff headcounts and hours worked were in good stead, the latest Fourth Hospitality Report has shown.

Rekom UK CEO ‘cautiously optimistic’ for post-Plan B trade

20-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Despite a rocky festive trading period, Rekom UK chief executive Peter Marks was “excited” for a future free from Plan B restrictions, and said young people should be celebrated for their responsibility.

‘Covid Passes were this year’s version of the Scotch egg’

20-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Covid Passes led to confusion, conflict and cost in what was "this year's version of the Scotch egg", according to Revolution Bars chief executive Rob Pitcher, who said the Government must do more than roll back Plan B restrictions.

Robinsons will invest £12m to relocate brewery, staff and all operations to one site

20-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Robinsons Brewery is set to invest more than £12m to relocate its Stockport town centre brewing and head office operations to its packaging centre site in Bredbury.

JDW sees sales decrease by 11.7% in half year to January

19-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

J D Wetherspoon (JDW) saw like-for-like sales and total sales decreased by 11.7% and 13.3% respectively in the 25 weeks to 16 January 2022, when compared to the similar period in financial year 2020.

Inn Collection Group secures £42m funding for renovation and expansion

18-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator The Inn Collection Group has secured an additional £42m funding from OakNorth Bank to revamp about half of its 26 sites and develop its property portfolio.

Brewhouse & Kitchen saw a 'valiant performance' during December

18-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Brewhouse & Kitchen saw a growth of 8.9% across the last quarter of 2021 despite a disappointing and frustrating December period.

Greene King pub in Cheshire relaunches after £250,000 investment

18-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King Pub Partners has relaunched the Red Lion pub in Parkgate, Cheshire, following a £250,000 investment into its renovation from the pub operator and the sites new tenants.

Baker Hospitality set to open its third venue

17-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator Baker Hospitality has expanded its portfolio with a venue in Mersea Island, Essex, set to open in Spring 2022.

Whitbread share top tips for success with vegan dishes

17-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Chris Seaby, head of food and beverage development at Whitbread, who joined the pub restaurant and hotel operator last year after 26 years at retailer M&S, offers tips on plant-based food and shares insights on Whitbread’s Veganuary offer

SA Brain in deal to sell estate

17-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

Leading Welsh brewer SA Brain is reported to be set to sell the freeholds of the majority of it’s pubs to a global consortium for a reported £100m.

Downing Street lockdown parties make a ‘mockery’ of everything

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Lockdown parties have showed the Government to be in shambles as hospitality worked hard to keep customers safe and follow the rules during lockdown despite receiving thousands of pounds worth of fines while our leadership did not act appropriately, according...

Review of the Week

Restrictions have had no impact on infection rates

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Castle Rock Brewery boss Colin Wilde to hear his thoughts on the weeks news, from the impacts of restrictions, frustrations over government behaviour and isolation rules changing.

Star Pubs & Bars reduces rent costs by 30% for Welsh and Scottish pubs

13-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has announced a 30% rent reduction for its pubs on core leased & tenanted agreements in Scotland and Wales in a bid to support them through additional Government restrictions.

Nightcap sees net sales of £15.5m during its first year of trading

12-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Nightcap saw a net sales increase of 46.2% with net sales of £15.5m for FY2022 across its 27-bar portfolio during its first full year of trading.

Stonegate buys remaining 25% share of Hippo Inns

11-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Stonegate has acquired 25% of the issued share capital in Hippo Inns from Rupert Clevely and Ian Edward for an undisclosed sum.

Fuller's offers all employees private healthcare

10-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Fuller, Smith, and Turner, has partnered with Medicash to launch to a new healthcare benefit scheme as part of a package of improvements to its pay and benefits system.

Vaulkhard Leisure takes on lease for the Diamond pub in Newcastle

07-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Vaulkhard Leisure has increased its estate to 20 pubs after taking on a lease for the Diamond Pub in Ponteland after running the pub on a temporary agreement since the end of 2018.

Leicestershire licensee celebrates 35 years behind the same bar

07-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The most enjoyable part of running a pub is always being around and meeting new people and the key to success is always making sure you offer something different, according to one Leicestershire licensee.

'People who elect not to be vaccinated may be denied the opportunity to do certain things'

07-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

With the post-Christmas dust settling, MA editor Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's ceo Simon Emeny to see what had caught his attention in the past few weeks, from political machinations to the vaccination debate.

Hayfield pub sees busy Christmas followed by a devastating New Year

06-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

In the lead up to Christmas, the Pack Horse, Hayfield, Derbyshire, was surprised to be busy over the festive period, however the New Year bought in closure and coronavirus for the pub.

Greene King raising money for Macmillan through new recycling campaign

06-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King has partnered with specialist recycling businesses, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and dispose of typically hard-to-recycle plastic environmentally as part of its new campaign, Tub2Pub.

Hospitality sector awarded in New Year’s Honours List

05-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A number of people from the hospitality sector were recognised in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List including a Greene King managing director, chef Angela Maria Hartnett MBE and hotelier Robin Hutson.

Northumberland licensee feels 'really lucky' not to lose trade

05-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

City pubs were hit much harder than rural pubs over Christmas but rallying local communities was essential to survival, according to one licensee.

Trading restrictions cost Everards more than £3m

05-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Covid measures for nine months of this year have meant Leicestershire-based firm Everards reported an operating loss of £3.4m for the financial year ending September 2021.

Hydes optimistic despite losing £20m in turnover

05-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Turnover at Manchester-based brewer and pub operator Hydes fell from £29.4m to £8.5m, according to the company’s annual results, ended 28 March 2021.

Marston’s reveals 50% rent support for Welsh tied tenants

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Marston’s is reducing the rent payable to 50% of the headline rent, starting from 26 December for its tied tenants in Wales.

Greene King reveals 30% rent concession for Scottish and Welsh tied pubs

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company Greene King is introducing 30% rent concessions for tied tenants in Scotland and Wales from Boxing Day.

Inglenook Inns & Taverns acquires 7 pubs

24-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Lancashire-based pub operator Inglenook Inns & Taverns has acquired seven pubs for £2.4m.

Greene King hit £2m fundraise target for Macmillan Cancer Support

24-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King has raised more than £2m for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2021, making the company the charity’s top fundraising corporate partner this year.

Arc Inspirations ‘set for record year of growth’

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has reported its results for the financial year to 31 March 2021, showing a 42% rise in sales from July to November this year, against 2019.

Trust Inns reports £8.5m losses

23-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Chorley-based pub company Trust Inns has announced losses of £8.5m for the year to 31 March 2021.

Hall & Woodhouse set to complete on 10 acquisitions in 2021, more in pipeline

23-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Dorset-based brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) is on track to complete 10 pubs this year, across both its managed and tenanted divisions – and plans to add more next year.