Companies

From promotion to operation - drinks agency takes on pub

16-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

Victorian pub the Gunmakers - located on the site of an former gunmaker’s shop on Eyre Street Hill in Clerkenwell, central London - which features a hair studio in its attic has been taken over by specialist drinks agency Sweet&Chili.

Redcomb Pubs pulls 100,000 pints in one of its best Decembers to date

11-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs announced one of its strongest festive trading seasons to date, with like-for-like sales across its portfolio increasing by 12.6% year-on-year during December.

Brewdog to open Shaftesbury Avenue site

11-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

Multinational brewery and pub chain BrewDog will be taking over the former Ape & Bird pub at 142 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, after Venetian-inspired restaurant group Polpo closed its doors following four-years in operation.

The Alchemist kicks-off the New Year with £16m investment from Santander

10-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

The company behind 12 UK venues employing more than 700 people has secured an additional multi-million pound finance package from existing debt funders Santander to support its growth plans.

Top chef Sargeant eyes pub rollout

10-Jan-2018 By James Wallin

Michelin-starred chef Mark Sargeant has told MCA he is keen to secure a joint venture to increase his portfolio.

Tim Martin hits back over Pete Brown's Brexit beer mat slam

09-Jan-2018 By Georgina Townshend

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has hit back over The Morning Advertiser columnist Pete Brown chastising the pub giant's Brexit beer mats.

Beds & Bars reports 'another successful year' for 2017

08-Jan-2018 By Georgina Townshend

Backpacker bar and hostel operator Beds & Bars has reported that like-for-like sales have increased 5% year on year, rising to £47.7m from April 2016 to March 2017 despite "political, social and economical obstacles hitting the businesses hard".

Deltic Group reports December like-for-like sales increase

08-Jan-2018 By Georgi Gyton

The Deltic Group has reported like-for-like sales increased by 8.2% in the four weeks to 31 December 2017.

Be At One announces record festive trading

08-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

Specialist cocktail bar group Be At One sold 500,000 cocktails during December – with best-selling cocktail, the Pornstar Martini, accounting for 67,252 of those.

Arc Inspirations invests £1.8m in new Manchester site

05-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Leeds-based multiple operator Arc Inspirations has launched its New York-inspired bar brand Manahatta in Manchester, following a £1.8m investment.

Pizza, Pots & Pints pub concept launches in second Cambridge site

05-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub concept Pizza, Pots & Pints is set to open another site at the Carpenter’s Arms in Cambridge later this year.

Ei Group launches revamped national awards scheme

04-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

The pub company behind 4,600 sites across the UK is launching a revitalised awards programme in order to recognise the work of outstanding publicans in its estate, operational excellence and pubs that are the focal point of their communities.

New McMullen pub named after Princess Charlotte

04-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

A recently opened new-build pub in Colchester, Essex, has become the first in the UK named after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s two-year-old daughter.

Record breaking New Year’s Eve caps successful Christmas for Upham Group

04-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

Off the back of a strong Christmas trading performance, Upham Group announced that it recorded the highest grossing sales day in its history on New Year’s Eve.

Oakman Inns reports 'strong sales and profit growth' over 2016/17

04-Jan-2018 By Georgina Townshend

Oakman Inns has reported a strong performance over 2016/17, with group turnover up by 20.4% at £23.3m and like-for-like sales up 3.5% - despite being "negatively impacted" by the weakness of sterling and a snowy Christmas period.

Pete Brown opinion: I'm voting with my feet over Wetherspoon's beer mats

03-Jan-2018 By Pete Brown

With Brexit entering a new phase of negotiation, Pete Brown bares his soul and reveals why he won’t be visiting his local Wetherspoons any time soon

Rockingham Group transforms public toilet to launch Sheffield site

03-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

A speakeasy-style bar serving sustainable cocktails was launched in November 2017 as the Rockingham Group’s fourth site.

JDW slashes drinks prices for January

02-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is having a January sale and reducing prices across its drinks range this month.

Top 50 Gastropubs chef is TV show champion

22-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Top 50 Gastropubs the Royal Oak in Paley Street chef Craig Johnston has won this year’s Masterchef: The Professionals.

James Armitage to leave Ei Group as part of restructure

21-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Ei Group (EiG) has confirmed that group services director James Armitage is leaving the business at the end of the year.

Admiral has 'appetite for game-changing acquisition'

21-Dec-2017 By James Wallin

In light of a solid financial year for the pubco, Admiral Taverns chief executive Kevin Georgel told MA's sister title MCA that the group has the “appetite for a game-changing acquisition and the resources to do that”.

The Big Interview: Nick Light, Ei Publican Partnerships managing director

21-Dec-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Ei Group has transformed its business in the wake of the pubs code but tenanted and leased pubs remain the bulk of its portfolio. Ei Publican Partnerships managing director Nick Light reveals what the tied model looks like in a post pubs-code era

The Coaching Inn Group launches chef academies

21-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Coaching Inn Group has joined forces with HIT Training to launch a chef academy at one of its sites.

Castle Rock Brewery opens its first micropub

20-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Nottingham-based brewer Castle Rock opened its first micropub and wine cellar yesterday (19 December) – the 25th pub in its stable across the East Midlands and Yorkshire.

Fuller's chief executive: 'the great British pub will outlive us all'

20-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

In an interview with The Morning Advertiser, Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller Smith & Turner plc and the new British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) chairman, spoke about his main concerns for the pub industry in 2018, offered advice to licensees...

Coaching Inn Group acquires Ledbury site

20-Dec-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

The Coaching Inn Group has acquired The Feathers Hotel in Ledbury, Herefordshire, for an undisclosed sum, as part of its £50m expansion programme.

TLC Inns appoints ops director

18-Dec-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Martin Baillie, who left Greene King this summer after 18 years, has joined TLC Inns as interim operations director, The Morning Advertiser's sister title MCA understands.

Fish and chip shop skipper unveils new US-style pub food offer

14-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Ei Publican Partnerships and an entrepreneurial father and daughter have made a joint investment of £155,000 to upgrade the facilities and introduce a new US-themed food offer at a Torquay pub.

‘Ginuary’ comes to Henley-on-Thames

14-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Henley-on-Thames will host its first ever gin trail in January thanks to a collaboration between locally distilled Mr Hobbs Gin and Brakspear.

Brighton Bierhaus backs campaign to save the Greys

14-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

The campaign by Brighton residents to save one of the UK’s best known and loved music venues has received a boost after being backed by another pub in the city.

November delivers sales boost for pub groups

14-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

According to Coffer Peach Business Tracker figures for November 2017, sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants saw an uplift after flat trading across the last six months.

BBPA appoints Fuller’s chief executive as chairman

13-Dec-2017 By James Beeson

Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller Smith & Turner plc, has become the new chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the organisation has announced.

Ei to give away 45,000 free pints in January

07-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Ei Publican Partnerships has joined forces with a range of brewers - including Molson Coors, Heineken and Meantime - to help publicans increase sales during a historically challenging month for the industry.

Acquisition of Admiral Taverns complete

07-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Admiral Taverns has "welcomed on board" its new investors after its purchase by Proprium Capital Partners and C&C Group has been officially completed.

Ei pub reopens after £370k investment

07-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A publican has made a joint investment with Ei Publican Partnerships to renovate a Manchester pub, adding six new en-suite letting rooms and revamping the downstairs bar area.

Greene King wins ‘Best Apprenticeship Programme’ at the Training Journal Awards

06-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Pub retailer and brewer Greene King, which currently employs around 40,000 people across the UK, took home the prize for Best Apprenticeship Programme at the Training Journal Awards on 5 December.

JD Wetherspoon: 'We're not trying to kill off smaller pubs'

06-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

In a revealing interview on BBC Radio 4, the chairman of JD Wetherspoon spoke about his early career, Brexit, day-to-day business, and admitted some of his best bar staff are “quite grumpy”.

Local community bids to save famous Brighton venue

05-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

South-coast pubgoers have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the £300,000 needed to take over one of the country’s best known and loved music venues.

Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year Awards dates confirmed

04-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year Awards competition dates have now been revealed, with the first round of judging due to take place this week.

Laine Pub Co acquires Distinct Group

04-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Regional brewer and operator Laine Pub Company has acquired the four-strong leasehold pub estate of the Distinct Group.

BrewDog and NWTC in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100

04-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog and multiple-award winner the New World Trading Company (NWTC) have both featured in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 league table.

Pub and bar insolvencies rise 9% in past year

04-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Smaller pubs should consider their funding options to "tap into popular trends and retain market share", according to London-based commercial lender Ortus Secured Finance, as it warns pub and bar insolvencies have increased by 9% in the past...

New Wetherspoon beer mat flags 'big business scare story'

04-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

JD Wetherspoon has issued a new beer mat highlighting its support of the British fishing industry and accusing business chiefs of misleading the public on soaring food prices after Brexit.

Anger over proposed Heineken redundancy scheme restructure

04-Dec-2017 By James Beeson

A new system capping the redundancy settlements to which Heineken UK (HUK) employees are entitled to has been slammed by the company’s staff, The Morning Advertiser (MA) can reveal.

Brakspear expands estate with Bicester pub

01-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator and brewer Brakspear’s managed estate has grown to 11 sites with the acquisition of the Lion in Wendlebury.

How to solve the chef shortage

29-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

International recruitment, early age intervention and maximising college opportunities are just three of the ways to ease the chef recruitment crisis, according to recruitment experts.

Be At One hits productivity milestone

29-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

The UK’s leading specialist cocktail bar group’s revenue per labour hour now exceeds £50 according to recent analysis of the hourly pay of thousands of sector workers by Fourth.

Revolution Bars Group set for three openings before Christmas

27-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

A trio of new sites, including Revolution’s sixth bar in London, will increase the bar group’s portfolio to 72 locations across the UK and create approximately 180 new jobs.