Companies

Shutdown preferable to outside only restrictions, survey reveals

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

More than 90% of operators would rather be shut down than face post Christmas trade with indoor restrictions, a snap survey has revealed.

Robinsons to cut rents by 10% in January and pushes back annual price hike

22-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Robinsons Brewery will reduce rents by 10% for its tenants in January and is to postpone its annual price increase by a month to March.

Sharp's head brewer named Young Brewer of the Year

21-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Sharp’s Brewery head brewer Aaron McClure has been named Young Brewer of the Year at the Brewers Choice Awards.

Fuller’s closes the majority of its city sites

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewers, Fuller’s, has closed the majority of its city pubs temporarily and called on the Government to provide immediate suspension of business rates and an extension on VAT reduction.

JDW promotes pub managers to its board

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon has put its faith in its employees by recruiting four current pub managers to its board.

CAMRA calls on the Government for "urgent support packages" for pubs

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, has called for the Northern Ireland Government and UK Government to work together and “come up with an urgent support package for pubs”.

Shepherd Neame announces 10% rent deduction for its licensees

16-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Shepherd Neame has announced a 10% rent deduction for its licensees from 1 January 2022 in light of the Governments new ‘Plan B’ restrictions and damage to consumer confidence.

Pubs left to 'scrimp and save' following new restrictions

16-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs have been left to scrimp and save wherever possible to the detriment of their customers in the aftermath of Omicron, according to a Stockton-on-Tees licensee.

Kerridge: ‘Hospitality is being hung out to dry yet again’

16-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has revealed 654 cancellations at one of his sites to shine light on industry-wide problems caused by the UK Government’s “mixed messages” about the Omicron variant.

‘Hospitality is the victim’ of Gov’s indecision

16-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The UK Government’s response to the Omicron Covid variant has been a “fiasco” that has undermined customer confidence and victimised hospitality, said the owner of the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk.

JDW to open two new sites with almost £5m combined investment

16-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is opening two new pubs today (Thursday 16 December) in Birmingham and Sheffield, investing nearly £5m in the venues.

Laine also acquired by Fortress

15-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Laine Pub & Brew Co has also been snapped up by US-bank Fortress Investment Group as part of its acquisition of assets from Patron Capital & May Capital.

December set to be weakest trading period of 2021

15-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

December is set to be the weakest trading month of the year following the surge in Omicron cases and the announcement of Plan B restrictions causing cancellations, lost revenue, and decreased footfall, according to one Kent-based operator.

Punch acquired by US-based investment firm

15-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Investment management company Fortress Investment Group has acquired Punch Pubs & Co for an undisclosed sum.

Hospitality needs to ‘get used to U-turns overnight’

14-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector needs to ‘get used to U-turns overnight’ and new restrictions over the festive and new year period due to indecisive leadership and knocks to consumer confidence, according to one West Sussex operator.

Two thirds of operators 'optimistic' about trade before Plan B

14-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Two in three (66%) hospitality leaders were optimistic about the next 12 months for their business, the fourth-quarter Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has revealed.

‘Country appears to be heading towards lockdown by stealth’ says Tim Martin

14-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has warned the nation looks to be nearing a “lockdown by stealth”, impacting consumer confidence and trade.

Oakman Group looking to almost double its estate in the next five years

13-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator the Oakman Group has announced its plan to increase its number of sites from 36 to 70 by 2026 after forecasting year-end sales for 2021 to be in excess of £64m.

Red Oak Taverns acquires 8 Euphorium Pubs venues

13-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Red Oak Taverns has completed the acquisition of eight free-of-tie pubs in Bristol from Euphorium Pubs for an undisclosed sum.

RedCat acquires the White Horse Hotel

13-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

RedCat Pub Company has acquired the White Horse Hotel in Romsey, Hampshire at an undisclosed price: the sale was completed by Savills on behalf of a private client, and the pub will be operated by the Coaching Inn Group.

MA Review of the Week

'There'll be a hell of a lot people thinking April doesn't matter anymore because I'm not getting to the end of January'

10-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Plan B dominating the headlines, MA editor Ed Bedington chatted with Brucan Pub's James Lyon-Shaw about the impact he can see from the move and how Christmas trade was likely to shape up for the wider trade.

Greene King offers employees a bonus package worth £6m

09-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Greene King has announced it will reward employees with a share of an incentive package worth more than £6m this Christmas.

Fuller’s has good opportunity for M&A

08-Dec-2021 By MCA

Fuller Smith & Turner has a good opportunity to participate in M&A activity within the pub sector, by disposing of its tenanted inns division, and using these funds to acquire City Pub Group (CPC), an analyst note from Panmure Gordon has suggested...

JDW hits £19m fundraising target for cancer charity

07-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has raised £19m for its chosen charity Young Lives vs Cancer to support 7,000 young cancer patients and their families.

The Inn Collection Group adds to Yorkshire estate

07-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Inn Collection Group has acquired the 15th century Dower House and Spa in Knaresborough as part of its Yorkshire expansion, making its total estate count 26.

GBPA 2021 winner eliminated from MasterChef: The Professionals

07-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) Best Young Pub Chef 2021 winner, Samuel McClurkin, has been eliminated from BBC One’s MasterChef: The Professionals.

JW Lees ready to expand in 2022

06-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator JW Lees has hunkered down during the pandemic to concentrate on survival first and foremost but that looks certain to change in the new year.

Operator's bid to become the ‘most festive-spirited pub company’

06-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Inn Collection Group has offered free Christmas lunches for isolated older people and shelter for those affected by Storm Arwen across its pubs in a bid to become the UK’s ‘most festive-spirited pub company’.

Stonegate pub to reopen after £500k investment

03-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stonegate Group pub the Oak Tree in Norwich has opened its doors after a short period of closure following an investment of half a million pounds.

Greene King renames Black Bitch pub due to ‘offensive and racist connotations’

03-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco and brewer Greene King has announced plans to change the name of one of its pubs in Linlithgow, West Lothian as the name now carries offensive and racist connotations, the company said.

Dorking pub named overall winner at the 2021 Griffin Trophy Awards

02-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Queen’s Head in Dorking has been named the winner of the overall winner of this year’s Fullers Griffin Trophy as well as winning in the Best Town/Local category.

GBPA 2021 winner through to next round on MasterChef: The Professionals

01-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The winner of Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) 2021 Best Young Pub Chef award has made it through to the next round on BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals.

Prospect Pubs & Bars to open fifth site

30-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Prospect Pubs & Bars has announced it will open its fifth site, The Joiners Arms in Bloxham, Oxfordshire after major refurbishment and extension.

A look back at Fuller's mergers and acquisitions

30-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Brewer and operator Fuller’s has a long history for its pub and brewing business and The Morning Advertiser has taken a deep dive into the company’s merger and acquisition deals.

New pub deal from Marston’s proclaimed a “game-changer”

30-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Marston’s is hoping to reinvent the pub trading partnership with the launch of what it describes as a “game-changing” deal for operators.

Greene King launches Hive Pubs franchise model

30-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Greene King Pub Partners (GKPP) plans to make a real buzz about its new pub franchise concept – Hive Pubs – which it said is “a branded community pub model”.

Punch deal rumours remain unconfirmed

30-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Speculation over a potential deal for the purchase of Punch Pubs & Co continues to swirl with both parties refusing to comment.

JDW signs 20-year deal with Budweiser, ends 41 years with Heineken UK

29-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will end its 41-year association with Heineken UK after announcing a new 20-year supply partnership with Budweiser Brewing Group that will begin on 15 December – it has also signed deals with other industry heavyweights.

‘Policing is almost being pushed on to hospitality to do’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser news editor Nikkie Thatcher spoke with Martin Greenhow, managing director of Leeds-based multi-site business Mojo, to discuss the latest headlines.

Greene King wins award for diversity and inclusion work

26-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewery Greene King has won an award in recognition of its work to promote diversity and inclusion.

Arc Inspirations ‘actively exploring opportunities in new cities’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations is looking to grow its portfolio, it announced while revealing sales since 19 July were up by two fifths (42%) compared to the same period in 2019.

M&B records sales growth in past eight weeks after losses in financial year

25-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has recorded like-for-like sales growth of 2.7% in the past eight weeks versus 2019 since the end of its financial year, during which its like-for-likes dropped by 9.6%, impacted by Covid-related restrictions.

Fire 'reduces Top 50 Gastropub to ashes'

25-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Emergency services were called to battle a fire at an Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub in North Yorkshire last night and are still tackling it this morning.

Greene King raises more than £10m for Macmillan

23-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Greene King has beaten its fundraising target to raise more than £10m in under a decade for Macmillan Cancer Support.

2016 Great British Pub of the Year sold to Young’s

23-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The overall Great British Pub Awards winner from 2016 has been acquired by Young’s, which was advised by Fleurets, for an undisclosed sum.

Admiral Taverns invest its largest capital investment into Chester pub

23-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Admiral Taverns has reopened one of its pubs after injecting its largest capital investment of £370,000 into extensive renovations.

RedCat’s portfolio tips over 80 sites

23-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

RedCat Pub Company, Rooney Anand’s investment vehicle, has expanded its estate once again with the addition of six further sites.

JDW 99p drinks offer extended until February

23-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it is continuing its lower prices on a range of alcoholic drinks.

Why Robinsons is a real Trooper

23-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Independent family brewer and pub operator Frederic Robinson, or better known simply as Robinsons, has been running from its Stockport base for more than 180 years.

Kerridge: ‘I was 100% committed to drinking’

22-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Tom Kerridge, the owner of Marlow-based gastropubs including the Hand & Flowers, opened up about his past alcohol use, and said the “exhilarating” nature of the industry often drew in people prone to excess over moderation.