Companies

JDW back serving pigs in blankets again

18-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub bemouth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is serving pigs in blankets again after a problem with supply meant a handful of pubs didn’t have them for a short time.

Oakman Inns CEO predicts ‘Brexit bounce’ in consumer confidence

18-Dec-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Peter Borg-Neal celebrated a boost in like-for-like sales at his pub company and predicted pubgoers would be more confident now there was a “clear direction of travel” over Brexit.

Rising optimism across hospitality businesses

17-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Optimism in across the UK pub, bar and restaurant market has risen to its highest point for 18 months, research has revealed.

Ei to boost January trade with 100k free drinks giveaway

17-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

Ei Publican Partnerships is launching the ‘Cheer Up January’ initiative that will donate 100,000 free drinks to drive footfall and drink sales for publicans during the notoriously quiet post-Christmas period.

Greene King pub fights to reverse one-star hygiene rating

16-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

A Greene King pub is fighting to turn around a poor food hygiene rating after an inspection found improvement was required in food safety and cleanliness.

JDW pub closed after mouse spotted

12-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

A JD Wetherspoon (JDW) pub in Essex was closed for a short period after a mouse was discovered, which the pub group put down to local building activity.

Fuller’s reveals £164.5m profit from beer business sale

12-Dec-2019 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Fuller, Smith & Turner has revealed that it made a £164.5m profit from the £250m sale of Fuller’s Beer Business to Asahi in April.

JDW to plough more than £200m into estate expansion

10-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it will launch a £200m spending spree as the giant pubco is set to develop its estate over the next four years.

Festive pub partnership aims to call time on loneliness for elderly

09-Dec-2019 By Stuart Stone

Housing and care charity The Abbeyfield Society, Age UK County Durham, and northern pub operator The Inn Collection Group have joined forces to host a three-course Christmas dinner for elderly people at risk of isolation.

Stonegate-Ei Group takeover must address ‘local concerns’

09-Dec-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Stonegate Pub Company must assure a watchdog that its prices will not rise in the aftermath of its proposed acquisition of Ei Group’s portfolio.

Thornbridge to open Leeds and Birmingham venues

06-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Thornbridge & Co is set to open its Leeds and Birmingham sites this month (December).

The secrets behind Barworks' success

06-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The trio of businessmen behind Barworks unveiled their first site more than 20 years ago but the ethos is still to make places look great and offer great value for great food.

Opinion

Could awarding shares to pub employees help the sector’s recruitment and retention crisis?

05-Dec-2019 By Catherine Gannon

Catherine Gannon, founder of Gannons Solicitors, reviews the option of share schemes as an employee incentive.

Robinsons Brewery acquires Individual Inns

05-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Cheshire-based Robinsons Brewery has announced the acquisition of Individual Inns, which comprises six sites.

Ei Group estate to save 80m litres of water a year

05-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

Pubco Ei Group is rolling out a new initiative that is set to save 80m litres of water per year in washrooms across its managed estate.

Strike ballot as GK brewery staff ‘hit brick wall’ over pay deal

04-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

A ballot for strike action for Greene King brewery staff has been confirmed after ‘hitting a brick wall’ with pay negotiations, but union Unite says there is still time to talk.

‘Having a specific, very niche offer and keeping on-trend can be dangerous’

04-Dec-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

When private funding came in for The Inn Collection Group in 2013, its expansion was fast.

Moorhouse’s Brewery back in profit after seven years

04-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

Moorhouse’s Brewery has hit top form once again after its turnaround plans resulted in a £37,000 pre-tax profit.

‘2020 will be the year of stability for the pub sector’

03-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

Despite high levels of pub insolvencies over the past 10 years, Hawthorn Leisure chief executive Mark Davies says the current “robust economy” is stabilising the sector.

‘Too many Star pubs in Otley’

03-Dec-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A pub giant owns too many sites in one Yorkshire town and should sell some pubs to local operators, according to an historic pub campaign group.

NewRiver buys Bravo Inns for £17.9m

03-Dec-2019 By Alice Leader

Hawthorn Leisure has ramped up its managed estate after its owner – NewRiver – acquired community pub company Bravo Inns Limited for £17.9m, which represents an EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) multiple of 6.8x....

Fire damaged Vintage Inns pub to reopen

29-Nov-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Historic Vintage Inns pub the Ye Olde Six Bells in Horley, Surrey, is to reopen on 6 December after being severely damaged and closed by a fire in the spring.

Big Interview

Ei Group eyes 100 managed sites a year

29-Nov-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

With a growing portfolio of managed businesses under its belt, how does Ei Group strategy and retail director James Croft view the future?

Marston's profits drop as debt reduction pursued

28-Nov-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operator and brewer Marston’s has experienced a £3m dip in profits after making substantial disposals across its estate.

Pub industry pays tribute to Gary Rhodes

28-Nov-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub chefs, licensees and a trade body have paid tribute to celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, following the sad news that he died this week (26 November) in Dubai.

Tim Martin wins re-election battle at JDW

26-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Despite corporate governance warnings, Tim Martin has been backed in a re-election to the position of executive chairman at JD Wetherspoon.

Community pubs plea for recognition in election

25-Nov-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Many community pubs act as a lifeline for residents of rural areas with little else around them. Ahead of the general election on 12 December, The Morning Advertiser asked the volunteers and publicans behind the bar at these sites what they would say...

Admiral acquisition of 137 Marston’s pubs complete

25-Nov-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The board of Admiral Taverns has confirmed the completion of the acquisition of 137 pubs from Marston’s.

Stonegate chairman scores Industry Icon award

22-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Stonegate Pub Company chairman Ian Payne has scooped the CGA Peach Industry Icon at the 2019 Hero and Icon Awards for his lasting and positive contribution to the sector.

Under-age gambling sees JDW pub stripped of machines

22-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

A JD Wetherspoon (JDW) pub in Wanstead has been stripped of its gambling machines, bar two, after it repeatedly failed to stop children playing on them.

Hawthorn Leisure plans £3m investment in pub estate

22-Nov-2019 By Stuart Stone

NewRiver REIT’s pub arm, Hawthorn Leisure, is poised to ramp up investment in its pub portfolio to the tune of “at least £3m” in the next six to 12 months, according to CEO Mark Davies.

Ed Sheeran’s pub slapped with two-star food review

21-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Ed Sheeran-owned pub has been given a lowly score of two out of five for its food after only opening in September this year.

NewRiver income from pubs rises by 27%

21-Nov-2019 By Stuart Stone

Hawthorn Leisure, the community pub operating arm of NewRiver REIT, has revealed a 5.5% increase in like-for-like income per pub in its latest half-year results.

Shepherd Neame announces passing of president and former chairman

20-Nov-2019 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has announced that president and former chairman Robert ‘Bobby’ Neame passed away on 15 November.

GK says popular ale has not been dropped

20-Nov-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Brewer and operator Greene King (GK) has confirmed that a popular beer has not been ditched from its brewing rotation despite its sale to an international property firm.

Ei publican saves £14k on energy costs

19-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Ei Group is to drive its publicans towards a “greater profitability” with the launch of ‘Pub Energy’ scheme.

Confusion over Sam Smith's card payment strategy

19-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Claims that Sam Smith's payment strategy across its estate has changed, with card payments apparently being pulled from its sites, are unfounded and outdated, a source has said.

Ei Group sales up ahead of takeover

19-Nov-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Pub giant Ei Group has announced a like-for-like sales increase across its managed sites as it approaches its takeover by Stonegate.

Loneliness affects 20% of people on Friday nights

18-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

The scale of isolation in Britain has been highlighted in new research that reveals one in five people would like to go the pub but have no one to accompany them.