Companies

St Austell Brewery completes first acquisition since 2016

21-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Cornish independent brewery St Austell has agreed to buy a city centre pub in Bath, its first acquisition since purchasing Bath Ales in 2016.

Kerridge is the nation’s favourite pub chef

20-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Celebrity chef and operator Tom Kerridge is the UK’s favourite pub chef, according to a new survey, based on cookbook sales over the past two decades.

Big interview: Simon Emeny Fuller’s chief executive

20-Sep-2018 By Claire Churchard

With ambitious growth plans, acquisitions and an eye on its heritage, Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny shares his thoughts on what’s shaping the future of pubs and brewing, and how he plans to keep the pubco’s progressive attitude fresh

JD Wetherspoon workers to strike in October

20-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Staff at two JD Wetherspoon pubs in Brighton have voted to take industrial action next month, in a bid for higher wages and union recognition.

City Pub Group sales increase by £3.9m

20-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

In a statement revealing its unaudited results for the 26 weeks ending 1 July, City Pub Group revealed a sales increase of 24%.

Pay rise for Wetherspoon workers amid strike ballot

19-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

JD Wetherspoon has said it will raise pay rates because of economic trends, as workers claim it was a response to a pay rise campaign.

Shurvinton to replace Forrest at Greene King

19-Sep-2018 By MCA

Greene King has appointed former Pizza Hut chief operating officer, Wayne Shurvinton, as managing director for its Pub Partners tenanted and leased division.

World Cup drives record quarter for Stonegate

19-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

In a third quarter (Q3) trading update Stonegate Pub Company revealed a like-for-like sales increase of 6.1%.

MA500

A quarter of consumers more likely to revisit a tech-savvy venue

17-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

According to findings from CGA and Zonal research, the rapid rise in phone and app platforms in the hospitality sector is being driven by younger consumers.

TRG believed to be in talks to buy Peach Pub Company

17-Sep-2018 By MCA

The Restaurant Group (TRG) is believed to be in talks to acquire Peach Pub Company, the Midlands-based, multiple pub operator, the MA’s sister title MCA has learned.

MA500

How can your pub cut back on waste?

17-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Businesses are under increasing pressure to cut back on waste and recycle more. Nick Burns from Robinsons Brewery, Clare Clark from the Roebuck in central London, and Pete Rayner of Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) look at the options for pubs...

JDW like-for-like sales up 5%

14-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5% increase in like-for-like sales in its annual financial report.

MA500

Independent and managed pubs are driving the sector

13-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Growth in the independent, managed and free-of-tie areas in the pub trade are pushing growth, delegates at the MA500 business club meeting heard today (13 September).

MA500

How can your pub handle neighbours from hell?

13-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Steve Burnett from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen discusses the introduction of the agent-of-change principle and how it can help pubs hush hellish neighbours.

Brewhouse & Kitchen open market town's first brewpub

12-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Brewhouse & Kitchen has opened a site in Horsham, West Sussex, the first on-site brewpub and brewery for the town.

Beloved Victorian pub escapes demolition again

12-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A Victorian pub that faced demolition has been saved for the second time after an appeal from a developer was rejected.

Dominic Chapman: ‘I’m done with running 3 or 4 pubs’

12-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Elite chef Dominic Chapman will focus on growing his Top 50 Gastropub the Beehive and making it the best it can be.

Two hundred Stonegate general managers to descend on Parliament

12-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Two hundred Stonegate Pub Company general managers will descend on Westminster today (12 September) to celebrate the appointment of the company’s 200th home-grown general manager.

Titanic Brewery set to open £80,000 station venue

11-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Staffordshire-based Titanic Brewery will open another venue in its cafe bar concept at Stoke-on-Trent station next month, in an £80,000 investment.

Ei considers sale of commercial property business

07-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Pub giant Ei Group has confirmed it may sell the commercial property arm of the company, in a trading update.

Ei Managed Investments announces new Urban Pubs & Bars venture

05-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Ei has announced the launch of Urban Pubs & Bars Two in partnership with Nick Pring and Malc Heap, the founders of Urban.

Petition backing landlord after Punch eviction notice gathers pace

05-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

An online petition calling on Punch to offer John Pybus of the Blue Bell pub in York a new tenancy agreement has passed 2,500 signatures in less than a day.

Northants licensee takes on ninth pub

04-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A licensee based in Northamptonshire has added a ninth pub to his growing estate, with the acquisition of a pub in Daventry.

Mosaic Pub & Dining acquires three Birmingham pubs for £1.3m

03-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Mosaic Pub & Dining has acquired Edmunds Bar & Brewhouse, the Queens Arms and the Rectory Bar in Birmingham in a joint deal.

NWTC secures further £5.6m investment from NatWest

03-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Award-winning operator The New World Trading Company (NWTC) has received a £5.6m cash injection from NatWest, in a bid to help fund the pub company’s roll-out programme.

Planning approved for first Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar venue

31-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

Thornbridge Brewery and craft beer wholesaler Pivovar have had plans to transform a former branch of Lloyds Bank in Birmingham into their first joint venue approved.

Food & Fuel sold to Brunning & Price for £15m

31-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

The operator of 11 London gastropubs, Food & Fuel, has been sold to Brunning & Price – part of The Restaurant Group.

JD Wetherspoon staff in Brighton to vote on strike action

31-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Pubco giant JD Wetherspoon has confirmed staff at two pubs in Brighton will hold a ballot for industrial action, calling for higher wages and union recognition.

Stonegate to reopen Glasgow Walkabout bar after £500,000 refit

30-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A popular Aussie bar is set to reopen in Glasgow after receiving a makeover worth half a million pounds.

Thai cocktail bar opened by restaurant brand

30-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A cocktail bar made to look like a street scene from the far east will open in Liverpool city centre this autumn.

Marston's new £2m pub marks anniversaries

30-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Two companies have marked their respective 40th anniversaries by joining forces with Marston's to build a £2m pub in North Yorkshire.

Pub to honour ex-football chairman with £350,000 refurbishment

29-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A pub in Burnley, Lancashire will receive £350,000 for a refurbishment that will pay tribute to the pub’s connection to local football.

Pubco liquidated over £360,000 tax debt

28-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Birmingham-based The Humble Pub Company has entered liquidation after facing tax debts in excess of £360,000.

Second Kent pub for family duo

28-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A father and son duo have added a second pub to their portfolio of Kent pubs.

New York cocktail concept to open London bar

28-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A New York inspired brand is opening a cocktail bar in London next month.

Popworld to expand to 35 sites before the end of 2018

28-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

Stonegate Pub Company club chain Popworld will add seven sites to its growing portfolio and open its first venue in the capital before the end of 2018.

Guy Ritchie buys Mitchells & Butlers' London pub

24-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Film director Guy Ritchie is set to make a return as a landlord, having acquired a Mitchells & Butlers’ pub in London.

Greene King to introduce compostable straws at nearly 2,000 pubs

24-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

Bury St Edmunds-based brewer and pub operator Greene King has announced that it will introduce compostable straws across its estate of 1,750 pubs.

JD Wetherspoon to enforce dogs ban next month

23-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon will ban dogs from the premises of its 936 pubs, beginning next month.

Inception Group to launch fifth Mr Fogg's venue

23-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Inception Group is set to open the fifth London bar in its Mr Fogg’s brand at a site on the Strand this autumn.

Punch credit cycle changes 'unfair', says tenant

22-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Pubco Punch Taverns has been accused of unfairness by a tenant after it made changes to its credit cycle.

Popworld Manchester to open after £430,000 investment

22-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

The latest branch of Stonegate Pub Company’s club chain Popworld will open in Manchester on 24 August.

Thwaites declares West Midlands pub as best in bloom

21-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A West Midlands tavern has been named the best in its Pubs in Bloom competition, out of 250 pubs across the country, by its pubco.

Pub LFLS up 2.7% in July as restaurants fall 4.8%

21-Aug-2018 By MCA

Managed pub and bar groups grew like-for-like sales (LFLS) by 2.7% in July while restaurants slumped 4.8% year-on-year.

Pub opens on board British warship HMS Elizabeth

20-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

The bar on board the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has been turned into a brand new pub by brewer Wadworth in partnership with the Royal Navy.

How pubs have plugged the chef recruitment gap

17-Aug-2018 By Katie Coyne

With trained cooks difficult to come by, three businesses explain how lateral thinking found a way around this shortage

More than 250 pubs managed by Ei model Beacon

17-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Ei’s managed tenancy model, Beacon, now manages more than 250 pubs after the milestone was broken by a pub in North Tyneside.

Pubcos' ratings upgraded by HSBC

16-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

HSBC has upgraded its ratings for Mitchells & Butlers and Greene King despite a mixed performance because of wet weather conditions earlier this year.

Ei Group pubs saved by local communities

16-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

Ei Group pubs in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have been saved from closure after being bought by community groups.

Greene King apprenticeship applications surge by 141%

16-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

As tens of thousands of students collect A-level results, Bury St Edmunds-based pub operator and brewer Greene King has registered a sharp increase in the number of applications to its apprenticeship programme.