Companies

Walkabout honours Gareth Southgate with national ‘Wear a Waistcoat’ week

09-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

Despite allegiance to all things Australian, sports bar chain Walkabout will honour the England manager and his tailored touchline attire.

Yummy Pub Co Euston site to reopen after fire

09-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A central London pub gutted by fire will reopen its doors next week with a special party celebrating the work of the emergency services and its contractors.

‘We’ll need to recruit 4,000 staff over next 18 months’ says Fuller's

06-Jul-2018 By Georgi Gyton

Fuller’s has estimated that it will need to recruit another 4,000 staff over the next 18 months in order to sustain its current level of service, chief executive Simon Emeny told delegates at the MCA Pub Conference earlier this week.

'Considerable cost pressures' put 100 Greene King jobs at risk

06-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

Brewer and operator Greene King has announced a proposed restructure of its Bury St Edmunds and Burton-upon-Trent office-based teams, with about 100 roles at risk.

First PIRRS decision for Fuller's

05-Jul-2018 By Claire Churchard

A soon-to-be former Fuller's tenant is the first person to take the family brewer to the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme (PIRRS) after she felt the rent they offered her was “far too high”.

Sales growth of 5.1% for Oakman Inns

04-Jul-2018 By Claire Churchard

Oakman Inns & Restaurants has seen a 5.1% rise in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 1 July, according to a trading update from the pubco.

JD Wetherspoon has ‘random pricing syndrome’, says chairman

04-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said the logic behind the company’s pricing structure was random during an on-stage interview.

Pub industry ‘buoyant’ as restaurants suffer, data shows

03-Jul-2018 By Emily Hawkins

The pub industry has remained “buoyant” in comparison to restaurants, trading data from market research firm AlixPartners has shown.

JDW chair backs campaign to stop discrimination against travellers

02-Jul-2018 By Claire Churchard

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has backed a campaign to raise awareness of the discrimination travellers and gypsies face when they visit pubs, bars and restaurants.

Greene King pub renamed in honour of England captain Harry Kane

02-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

Bury St Edmonds based brewer and pub operator Greene King has renamed a London pub ‘the Golden Boot’ in support of England captain Harry Kane.

JDW opening can have halo effect on other venues

02-Jul-2018 By MCA, Helen Gilbert

JD Wetherspoon openings do not necessarily damage trade for nearby pubs, bars and restaurants, a new report has found.

Sibling team lead Mobberley Brewhouse’s first on-trade venture

02-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

Following a period of sizeable growth, Cheshire-based Mobberley Brewhouse will launch Project 53 - a chain of two taprooms in its home county this August - serving as the brewhouse’s first ever points of sale.

Lancashire pub reopens after £71,000 investment

02-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

The Grapes at Goosnargh, Lancashire, has reopened after £71,000 worth of investment from Admiral Taverns.

Adventure Bar chain to open new site after £1.4m loan

02-Jul-2018 By Stuart Stone

Structured lending specialists OakNorth has completed a debt finance deal of £1.4m to cocktail chain Adventure Bar, bringing its total lending to the group to £3m.

Acquisition grows Coaching Inn portfolio to 15 sites

02-Jul-2018 By Michelle Perrett

The Coaching Inn Group is to open its 15th site after the acquisition of the Swan in Stafford, for an undisclosed sum.

Award winning landlord saves Tonbridge pub from developers

26-Jun-2018 By Michelle Perrett

CAMRA award-winning pub landlord Matthew Rudd has saved the Nelson Arms, in Cromer Street, Tonbridge, from developers after the help from local customers.

Stay Original estate to double over next four years

25-Jun-2018 By MCA

The boutique inns and hotel operator Stay Original Company, formerly known as Draco Pub Company, is planning to add five additional sites to its estate over the next four years, MA's sister title MCA has learnt.

Red Mist launches apprenticeship schemes

25-Jun-2018 By MCA

Surrey and Hampshire-based pub group Red Mist Leisure has announced a partnership with Farnborough College of Technology to develop two new apprenticeship schemes.

Mentor Inns to sell nine sites

25-Jun-2018 By MCA

Mentor Inns has put nine sites across the south and south east on the market.

Shepherd Neame reveals 2018 pub award winners

22-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator and brewer Shepherd Neame announced the winners of its annual pub awards on 19 June.

Gherkin pub reopens after £200k investment

20-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Bar and restaurant operator Novus has re-opened the Sterling, its City of London site at the base of the Gherkin.

MHALG grows portfolio with Brewery Tap in Liverpool

19-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

The Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group (MHALG) is expanding its portfolio in Liverpool with its second purchase in the city centre, the Brewery Tap at the site of Cains Brewery on Stanhope Street.

The Alchemist announces £2.9m investment across two new London venues

19-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Bar and restaurant chain the Alchemist has secured two new central London locations as the number of venues in the city increases to three.

Ei Group partners with University College Birmingham to host food strategy training day

19-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Ei Group hosted an inaugural food strategy immersion day for regional managers and divisional directors as part of a new partnership with University College Birmingham (UCB).

JDW to operate new £2m pub in St Pancras station

19-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

A new 6,500sq ft venue, to be operated by JD Wetherspoon, is to open this autumn in London’s St Pancras International rail station during its 150th year.

Heineken to make £44m investment in UK pub estate

18-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Heineken is poised to make its largest ever investment in Star Pubs & Bars, with £44m to be spent during 2018 – more than double last year's expenditure.

Arc Inspirations to rebrand first site with £500k investment

14-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Arc Inspirations is investing £500,000 into the Arc in Headingley, Yorkshire – its first ever site – to convert it to the latest branch of its Manahatta brand.

Greene King begins judicial review proceedings over PCA advice note

14-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Greene King has followed through on its threat to bring court action against the office of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) over the legality of an advice note published on the 2 March 2018.

Ei and Star join forces for National Pub Fortnight 2018

14-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Two of the biggest pub groups, Ei Publican Partnerships (EiPP) and Star Pubs & Bars, have joined forces to promote and grow the 2018 National Pub Fortnight, a 14-day celebration of the great British pub.

Ex-Duck & Waffle chef Dan Doherty to open pub

12-Jun-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Former Duck & Waffle chef Dan Doherty has revealed plans on Instagram to open a London pub after “a lot of bloody hard work”.

Operators Whelan and Star to open their first Irish bar in south-west London

11-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Multiple operator Austin Whelan is working with Star Pubs & Bars to open a new site in Kingston-upon-Thames.

Pub struggles with slower delivery regime under new pubco

11-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

A Lancashire pub has struggled with a new 96-hour ordering and delivery regime after the site moved from Punch to Star Pubs & Bars as part of the deal to acquire almost 1,900 pubs.

Pub luminary recognised in Queen’s birthday honours 2018

11-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Ian Payne, founder and chairman of Stonegate Pub Company, has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to the hospitality and pub industry with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award.

Wetherspoon ‘not as clever’ as it thought on rents

08-Jun-2018 By The MA

Wetherspoon has pursued a strategy of agreeing “virtually no open-market rent reviews” in past 16 to 17 years to avoid rent hikes brought about by the rise of casual dining, according to the pub company's founder Tim Martin.

Fuller's acquires Bel & The Dragon

08-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

While releasing its financial results for the 52 weeks ending March 31 2018, Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller's) announced that it has acquired Bel & The Dragon.

'Niche sports' and new broadcasters: the challenges facing sport pubs

07-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

The Morning Advertiser asked Stonegate Pub Company’s CEO, Simon Longbottom, to reflect on the past 12 months in sport, and to look ahead to the World Cup this summer and beyond.

EiLive events move to later in the year to support Christmas trading

07-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Ei Publican Partnerships (EiPP) has moved its EiLive trade shows from spring to autumn to offer licensees support ahead of the crucial trading periods of Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas.

Neil Morrissey to open second pub

07-Jun-2018 By MCA and MA staff

Actor Neil Morrissey has secured a second site for his fledgling pub company, MA's sister title MCA understands.

Pubs remove Saudi flag from World Cup bunting after complaint

04-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

Hundreds of pubs in Greene King’s managed estate have been asked to remove the flag of Saudi Arabia from World Cup bunting supplied by the pubco after a complaint was made about the presence of Islamic text in pubs.

Medway pub reopens after £1.3m transformation

04-Jun-2018 By Stuart Stone

The Boathouse in Yalding, which sits on the banks of the River Medway in Kent, has reopened following a seven-figure revamp.

Star Pubs & Bars extends range to include beers from 900 UK breweries

04-Jun-2018 By James Beeson

The pubco is increasing its cask beer range to over 300, meaning its licensees now have access to beers from 900 brewers across the country.

BrewDog opens ninth venue in London

31-May-2018 By Stuart Stone

Independent craft brewer BrewDog has expanded its presence in the capital with the opening of a new venue in Angel, Islington – its ninth in London.

Titanic Brewery to open two more sites in Bod café-bar format

31-May-2018 By MCA

Titanic Brewery is rolling out its Bod café-bar format to two new sites, after struggling to secure traditional pub sites.

Pubs hit by flash floods as storms lash UK

30-May-2018 By Claire Churchard

A pub in Gravesend was flooded for the second time in three days after thunderstorms battered the UK.

Will 2018 be the year of the wet-led pub?

30-May-2018 By Peter Linden, MCA

Results from last year’s pub industry survey with licensees revealed wet-led pubs were in a better trading position than their food-led counterparts. The question is, could this trend become more pronounced in 2018?

Travellers leave ‘£100,000 mess’ at Thwaites Brewery

30-May-2018 By Stuart Stone

A group of around 100 travellers has been evicted from Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn, Lancashire, after invading the site and causing roughly £100,000 worth of damage.

Remarkable Pubs acquires Boleyn Tavern freehold

29-May-2018 By Claire Churchard

A drinking establishment much beloved of West Ham football fans has come under new management as pub company Remarkable Pubs confirmed it has acquired the freehold interest of the Boleyn Tavern in east London.

MA500

Operators need to promote without discounting

24-May-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubs should promote their brand and products without sacrificing cash from the bottom line, operators have been advised.

MA500

Lazy Gen Z stereotypes ‘not backed by research’

24-May-2018 By Claire Churchard

The popular stereotype that young people are lazy and narcissistic is not backed up by research, according to Josephine Hansom, director at YouthSight, speaking at MA500 in Cardiff.

MA500

What’s behind the resurgence in wet-led pubs?

24-May-2018 By Claire Churchard

Demand for wet-led pubs is growing and is being driven by consumers looking for quality drinks and a welcoming social environment, delegates at the MA500 event in Cardiff heard today.