Companies

Family affairs: William (left) and Oliver (right) Robinson are the managing directors of the business

#Unitedwestand

Robinsons cancels rent until pubs reopen

By Nikkie Thatcher

Stockport-based operator and brewer Robinsons has outlined the measures it is taking to support its licensees amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Changes and support: while The Morning Advertiser goes digital and monthly, you have access to this content and more for free

#UnitedWeStand

The Morning Advertiser goes digital – and is free

By Chris Lowe

In a very short space of time, the hospitality industry and, indeed, the world has changed. Coronavirus in the UK has had an unprecedented effect and, in particular, for our readers in the hospitality sector where their pubs and bars have had to shut...

LoveHouse launch: Bed & Bars CEO Keith Knowles says the company has a responsibility to protect and support its people

#Unitedwestand

Beds & Bars to house stranded staff at UK hostels

By Stuart Stone

Operator of hostels, bars and pubs across 10 cities in seven countries – Beds & Bars – has launched LoveHouse, a scheme guaranteeing staff a roof over their head during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pubco is adapting: Chestnut founder Philip Turner wants to plough revenue from its takeaway offer into charitable causes

#Unitedwestand

Chestnut to donate takeaway revenue to the NHS

By Stuart Stone

The founder of East Anglia-based operator Chestnut, Philip Turner, has vowed to donate takeaway revenue from its 11-strong pub estate to the NHS during the Covid-19 shutdown.

Payments postponed: Ei Group is still deferring rent for its publicans

#Unitedwestand

Ei Group defers rent for April

By Nikkie Thatcher

Ei Group has deferred the collection of rent and fees from its licensees for the whole of April – a move that will remain under constant review while the coronavirus pandemic goes on, it has said.

Joint effort: Punch Pubs & Co boss Clive Chesser said the business was committed to working with its publicans

#Unitedwestand

Punch continues to suspend rent

By Nikkie Thatcher

Punch Pubs & Co is still suspending the collection of rent, insurance, fixtures and fittings rental, and licensing fees amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teamwork: Jonathan Neame said the business was working closely with its licensees

#Unitedwestand

Shepherd Neame waives rent

By Nikkie Thatcher

Kent-based pub group and brewer Shepherd Neame has waived rent for its licensees while pubs are closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Peachy outlook: directors will take no salary until Peach Pubs sites reopen and all staff will keep their jobs, says MD Hamish Stoddart

#Unitedwestand

Peach rules out staff cuts as directors forgo salary

By Stuart Stone

Peach Pub Company has assured staff there will be no job cuts across its 19 sites during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – with company directors surrendering their salaries until pubs reopen.

Business support: Palmers Brewery MD John Palmer has outlined the company’s plans around coronavirus

#Unitedwestand

Palmers Brewery gives retrospective rent reduction

By Nikkie Thatcher

South-west-based operator Palmers Brewery has given its licensees a retrospective rent reduction of 50% for the month of March, before Covid-19 hit the industry, along with no rent payable for April.

Help taken: St Austell chief executive Kevin Georgel welcomed the financial support package from the Government

#Unitedwestand

St Austell makes no redundancies

By Nikkie Thatcher

South-west-based St Austell Brewery has announced its plans for a temporary staffing structure including not making a single redundancy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Company goals: looking after its people is a key priority for North

#Unitedwestand

‘People and cash flow will get us through’

By Nikkie Thatcher

A focus on the team and cash flow is how North Bar/North Brewing Co is weathering the storm of Covid-19, co-founder Christian Townsley told The Morning Advertiser.

Staff support: Jonathan Neame has said his staff have shown ‘great spirit’ and they will resume their roles in the future

#unitedwestand

Shepherd Neame puts 85% of workforce on stand-by

By Emily Hawkins

Brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has announced its plans for staff payment, which includes asking 85% of its employees to not work and a temporary salary reduction for higher paid staff who are still working.

On halt: JDW has asked suppliers if it can pay them once its pubs have reopened

JDW asks suppliers for payment break

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has asked suppliers via email for a moratorium on payments until its pubs reopen, at which point it intends to clear outstanding payments within a short time-frame.

Rent relief: Admiral sent a letter of support from chief executive Chris Jowsey to its licensees

#Unitedwestand

Admiral cancels rent for licensees for 5 weeks

By Nikkie Thatcher

Admiral Taverns has cancelled rent payments for its licensees, effective from Saturday 21 March until Thursday 30 April – an end date that will stay under review.

Pub classics: GK hopes to have 500 sites offering takeaways during the coming weeks

Coronavirus

Greene King rolls out takeaway offer

By Alice Leader

Pubco-brewer Greene King is launching a takeaway service across its sites to customers who still crave traditional pub meals and drinks while they social distance themselves due to coronavirus.

Reassuring news: Greene King has said it will not ask publicans to pay rent or associated charges until further notice (image: Sludge G, Flickr)

coronavirus

Greene King delays rent collection

By Emily Hawkins

Pub company Greene King has told its tenants it will delay the collection of rent and associated payments until further notice.

Total invasion: a customer complained that the cameras in a JDW pub invaded her privacy

JDW vows to continue CCTV use in toilets

By Alice Leader

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has apologised for making a female customer feel “uncomfortable” after she noticed CCTV in the pub’s toilets, but the pubco defends its right to have them for the prevention of crime and disorder.

Called off: Greene King distribution and production employees will not walk out this week after a pay agreement was reached

Greene King strikes cancelled

By Emily Hawkins

Strikes at Greene King warehouses have been called off after a pay agreement was reached this week.

Reducing its portfolio: SA Brain currently has more than 200 sites

SA Brain to sell 40 ‘non-core’ pubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Welsh brewer and operator SA Brain is to sell 40 pubs that are “not core to its business” and will be reorganising its support centre to create a “leaner and more agile business”.

Team goals: the new appointments will be instrumental in driving the business forward says Arc’s Martin Wolstencroft

Arc Inspirations makes double appointment

By Stuart Stone

Premium bar operator Arc Inspirations has appointed Laura Lewis as its new head of marketing and Tim Knockton as financial director in the hope of building on the ‘most successful year in the company’s history’.

Top tips: Marc Bridgen gives his advice on how best to market your pub

Guv'nor

Top tips on pub marketing

By Mark Bridgen, owner of the Dog at Wingham, near Canterbury. Kent

Using his experience from his pre-pub days, Mark Bridgen from the Dog at Wingham shares his suggestions on how to use marketing to your advantage

Ongoing discussions: the deal was first announced in July last year

Stonegate/Ei deal approved by CMA

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Competition Markets Authority (CMA) has passed the proposed acquisition of Ei Group by Stonegate Pub Company, after the pubcos satisfied the watchdog that a set number of pubs would be sold to avoid potential monopolies.

Peacekeeping force: how can pub staff effectively resolve customer conflict?

MA500

How to be a pub peacemaker

By Stuart Stone

CPL Online director of learning and education Martin Hilton shared how publicans can turn their staff into an effective peacekeeping force and steer customers off the warpath with a handful of conflict resolution tips.

The Morning Advertiser podcast episode four Simon Emeny Fuller's

The MA Podcast – Ep 4

Fuller's boss Simon Emeny on the future of the pubco

By MA Podcast

In the fourth episode of The MA Podcast, Ed Bedington talks to Fuller's boss Simon Emeny about the pubco's future, threats to the trade and why we should be celebrating success.

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