Companies

New faces at NWTC and Loungers

09-Jun-2017 By MCA editorial

New World Trading Company (NWTC) and Loungers reshuffle senior staff to boost growth.

MA500: hitting the Mersey

09-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The latest MA500 business club saw the sights and sites of Liverpool and heard from operators inside and outside of the trade before pounding the streets for a study tour.

Fuller’s results: food up, beer down

09-Jun-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

London pub group and brewer Fuller’s profits rose by 5% to £42.9m last year, driven mainly by food and accommodation.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Coach head chef: ‘It’s all about deliciousness’

09-Jun-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Tom Kerridge’s the Coach in Marlow's head chef Nick Beardshaw lets The Morning Advertiser in on what drives dish inspiration at the Buckinghamshire pub, as well as what it is like working with Kerridge.

Redemption Brewery to open first pub

08-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

A North London brewer has taken its first step into pub operations and has strong plans to develop five more sites over the coming years.

Champions League final in Cardiff hits local pub trade

07-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Cardiff publicans have reported that trade on the day of the Champions League final was slower than a typical Saturday, despite the match being hosted at the city’s Principality Stadium.

My Pub: The Sheffield Tap

07-Jun-2017 By Claire Churchard

When licensee Jamie Hawksworth found a derelict Edwardian building on platform 1b of Sheffield railway station, he saw potential beneath the boarded-up windows and damage. But he says the journey to making it an award-winning pub wasn’t always easy.

ALMR chief launches bid to fund emergency services bar tab

07-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

A crowdfunding scheme to buy a round of drinks for the emergency services that responded to last week’s terrorist attack in London has been launched by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR)'s chief executive.

Publican breaks Guinness World Record for pool marathon

06-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A publican from South Devon has broken the Guinness World Record for the longest ever pool marathon, clocking up more than 100 hours of continuous play in four days.

Portfolio of 13 Stonegate-operated pubs sold to BlackRock

06-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

A collection of 13 pubs, operated by Stonegate on a leasehold basis, has been sold for £23m by Coffer Corporate Leisure to BlackRock.

ALMR hires former Heineken sales director as chief operating officer

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Rupert Culme-Seymour has been appointed as the chief operating officer at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) to oversee the association’s commercial and membership growth and events management.

Be At One appoints head of marketing to drive innovation

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Sophie Evans has been appointed head of marketing at cocktail bar operator Be At One.

Community fails in bid to buy Leeds pub despite raising £130,000

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

A community group has failed in its bid to purchase iconic West Yorkshire pub the Cardigan Arms as the owner agrees a sale with another party.

Low MRO numbers caused by 'complex and convoluted procedures'

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Billed as a ‘new dawn’ for tenants last July, take-up for the market-rent-only (MRO) option has proved slow ever since. What has gone wrong with this critical tenet of the pubs code?

Pubs ‘on the front line’ of terrorist attacks

05-Jun-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs played a vital role in protecting and caring for stranded, injured and scared civilians during the London Bridge terror attack on Saturday (3 June) night, trade leaders have said.

Exclusive

How pub staff saved customers’ lives in London Bridge terror attack

04-Jun-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Staff and customers at Borough Market pub the Wheatsheaf came face to face with the terrorists who inflicted havoc in the area after barricading themselves in the venue moments before the attackers were gunned down by police.

16 pubs surround London Bridge terror attack area

04-Jun-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

At least 16 pubs and many more bars and restaurants surround the area where three knife-wielding terrorists unleashed a horrific attack in the capital last night (3 June), killing seven and wounding 48. Many of the pubs played a key role in keeping customers...

Goose Island president reveals plans to perfect pub models in UK

02-Jun-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Ken Stout, president of Goose Island, has told MCA that the brand’s first European pub – in Balham – has highlighted differences in beer tastes across the pond.

Stonegate reopens iconic JDW site after investing £750,000

02-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Stonegate has reopened former JD Wetherspoon (JDW) site Tally Ho in Finchley, north London, after a £750,000 investment.

Head chef to open Ei gastropub after £200,000 investment

02-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

An established head chef with 35 years’ experience has teamed up with Ei Publican Partnerships to open his first pub following a joint investment of £200,000.

PCA to examine claims pubcos ‘inhibit’ tenant access to MROs

02-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

The office of Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) Paul Newby has approached industry bodies for evidence following concerns pubcos could be inhibiting tenant access to the market-rent-only (MRO) option.

Star Pubs & Bars invests more than £3m in its Lancashire pubs

31-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Star Pubs & Bars has earmarked £3.6m, out of its total £20m investment programme for 2017, to refurbish 16 of its sites in Lancashire.

Meagre MRO take up across major pubcos

26-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Only eight licensees have taken up the market-rent-only (MRO) option across five of the six pubcos governed by the pubs code since it came into force in July 2016.

AA Rosette chef Adam Turley joins Brakspear

26-May-2017 By Michelle Perrett

AA Rosette chef Adam Turley has joined Brakspear to become head chef at the Running Horses, the pubco's managed outlet in Mickleham, Surrey.

£420,000 investment for Alchemist sites

26-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Alchemist has said it will temporarily close two of its sites in June as part of a full refurbishment.

Greene King loses bingo licence appeal

26-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Court of Appeal has refused a Greene King application to have bingo in its pubs, after the court ruled in favour of the Gambling Commission.

Licensee complains to Punch after debt collectors ‘steal’ property

26-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A licensee has complained to the chief executive of Punch pubco, claiming her personal property was “stolen” last month by the representatives of a debt collection firm used by Punch.

Provenance Inns co-founder quits as director

25-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

There will be “no changes to current or future projects” from Provenance Inns, despite the co-founder resigning as managing director.

Punch strikes distribution deal with Marston’s

24-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Punch will change its delivery service ahead of its proposed takeover by Heineken and Patron Capital, following current distributor Carlsberg’s announcement to withdraw its UK delivery service.

Ei ties deal with Three Cheers under managed partnership model

24-May-2017 By James Wallin

Ei Group, formerly Enterprise Inns, has announced that its next managed operator partnership will be with London-based gastropub company Three Cheers Pub Co.

Cautious optimism over fixed hours for zero-hours contracts workers

24-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A Government-commissioned inquiry that recommends employees on zero-hours contracts are given a right to request fixed hours has been given a cautious welcome by one trade body.

£10k raised for emergency staff ‘to have a drink’ after terror attack

24-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

More than £10,000 has been raised for emergency service staff to “have a drink” following one of their “most exhausting and difficult shifts” after the terrorist attack in Manchester on Monday (22 May).

Wadworth targets 65 managed sites after £6.5m investment

24-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Wadworth is looking to take its managed estate to 65 sites in the years ahead, The Morning Advertiser (MA) understands.

Licensing authorities and publicans to job swap for National Licensing Week

23-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

National Licensing Week will take place in mid June and see job swaps across the industry, the Institute of Licensing has confirmed.

Ei licensee sees trade ‘walk down the street’ to rival Ei site

23-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

An Ei pub in Plymouth has launched a stinging attack on the pubco claiming that it is paying £80 more for tied beers than an Ei site two minutes’ walk down the road.

Turnover of largest pub groups continues to outpace inflation

23-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The average turnover of the 50 biggest pub companies in the UK is continuing to outpace inflation.

Former security head warns pubs to boost vigilance after Manchester terror attack

23-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

The former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office Chris Phillips has warned pubs and bars to increase their security following the devastating bombing at the Manchester Arena last night.

Cost warnings from Revolution Bars prompt fall in share price

22-May-2017 By MA Editorial

The share price for Revolution Bars fell sharply after leaders at the company highlighted concerns about increasing labour and property costs, it has been reported.

Redcomb to open pop-up site on ‘floating park’

22-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A pop-up site from Redcomb Pubs will open at London’s ‘Floating Pocket Park’ on the Paddington Basin section of the Grand Union Canal this summer.

Fuller’s announces Chef of the Year 2017

22-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Fuller’s has revealed its Chef of the Year in both of its age categories, after months of rigorous judging.

More than 30 pubs added to Craft Union Pub Company's estate

19-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Craft Union Pub Company, part of Ei Managed Operations, has begun its “nationwide expansion” with the addition of 31 sites in the last three months, taking its current estate to 122 pubs.

Airport pubs to be converted into 'ale and coffee houses'

19-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Casual Dining Group (CDG) – operator of Bella Italia, Café Rouge – has moved into pub operations after winning a competitive tender process to run two Heathrow airport pubs, which it plans to turn into “ale and coffee houses”.

NewRiver opens 11th pub with Co-op store

19-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Reindeer pub in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, has reopened after a £240,000 facelift – alongside a new £500,000 Co-op convenience store in its car park.

Pete Brown: craft beer will drive alcohol-free category

18-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

The alcohol-free beer category will become as attractive to drinkers as the regular alcohol categories soon, according to award-winning beer writer Pete Brown.

What the Millennials say about pubs

18-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Drinks offers, atmosphere, ‘shareability’ and the entertainment available in the pub play a big part in where Millennials choose to spend time in the on-trade.

Be At One converts Bournemouth nightclub into site 33

18-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Specialist cocktail bar group Be At One has secured a leasehold agreement for a new site in Bournemouth, meaning the group now has 33 sites in its portfolio.

Council reverses ACV decision for pub Co-op wants to demolish

18-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A Sheffield pub that the Co-op wanted to demolish has been granted asset of community value (ACV) status.

National Vegetarian Week: what pubs were doing

17-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubs took to social media to showcase the vegetarian fare available on their menus, throughout National Vegetarian Week (15 to 22 May).

Premiumisation of Mitchells & Butlers sites results in sales boost

17-May-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Mitchells & Butlers has credited an "innovative agenda" including vegan meals, low-calorie Prosecco and its Miller & Carter steakhouse format for the rise in food and drink sales across the group.

Ei sees significant drop in income from MRO pubs

17-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Pubco Ei has estimated that it will see an 18% reduction in net income from each of the pubs that have taken the market-rent-only (MRO) option and gone free of tie.