Companies

Will licensee optimism continue to rise?

17-May-2017 By Peter Linden, market analysis manager, MCA Insight

In the Pub Market Report conducted by MCA Insight and the MA last year, the key finding was that licensees were increasingly positive about trading.

The 15 pub chefs who have appeared on the Great British Menu

16-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Gastropub chefs have solidly represented the industry in BBC 2's Great British Menu for more than a decade, with 15 well-known pub chefs showcasing the expertise on offer in the trade.

JD Wetherspoon plans to transform sixth Liverpool city centre site

16-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

JD Wetherspoon plans to spend £2.5m converting a derelict office building into its sixth site in Liverpool’s city centre.

Ei Group sees first-half revenue up 1.6%

16-May-2017 By Mark Wingett

Ei Group, formerly Enterprise Inns, has reported a 1.6% increase in like-for-like net income across its tenanted and leased estate for the six months ending 31 March 2017.

Former Mothership creative director takes on Brighton pub

16-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Heather Pistor, former-creative director of bar and events company Mothership Group, has taken on a central Brighton pub called the West Hill Tavern.

Vauxhall site reopens following refurb

15-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Vauxhall Griffin in Vauxhall, south London, has reopened following a £337,000 refit.

Pubcos included on LSE list of firms with ‘high-growth potential’

15-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Four pub operators have been included on the London Stock Exchange’s ‘1,000 Companies To Inspire Britain’, an annual celebration of the country’s most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

Mitchells and Butlers introduces frictionless payment with Flypay

12-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is rolling out frictionless payments across its estate to allow people to pay at their table and run a bar tab using apps and Flypay technology.

Three Cheers takes on eighth site and plans £2m refit

12-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Three Cheers Pub Company has announced that it has grown its portfolio by acquiring the Bedford in Balham, south London, taking its total number of sites up to eight.

Support for campaign offering free pints for voter registration ‘snowballs’

12-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A Bristol-based scheme to offer free pints to people who register to vote ahead of the general election on 8 June has gained support from pubs across the UK with 35 pubs signing up to take part.

Punch brings back free pint promo

12-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Punch has announced the return of its free drinks promotion in partnership with Carling, Stella and Rekorderlig Cider.

Toby Carvery launches Groupon deal for one third off meals

11-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Mitchells & Butlers brand Toby Carvery has launched a Groupon deal offering a meal and a drink for two for under £15.

MA500 Liverpool thrilling study tour announced

11-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The next MA500 meeting is taking place next week (Thursday 18 May) in Liverpool and the study tour venues have now been revealed.

Ei announces pub awareness fortnight

11-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Ei Publican Partnerships has announced a ‘pub fortnight’ event to boost interest in pubs over the summer months.

London pub successfully avoids ‘turgid’ MRO process

11-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A central London pub has gone free of tie without invoking the “turgid” market-rent-only (MRO) option available through the pubs code.

Punch updates tenants on Heineken bid

11-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Punch has emailed its tenants to tell them that the sale of 1,900 pubs to Heineken is expected to be completed before the end of August.

Cooking with Red Stripe: pub to launch Caribbean menu

11-May-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A soon-to-open London pub is to debut chicken wings cured in Red Stripe lager as one of the choices on its Caribbean-themed menu.

Fuller's pub and Italian restaurant 'menu swap'

11-May-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A London pub is ‘swapping menus’ with a neighbouring Italian restaurant to offer customers more choice. 

My Pub: The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston, Lancashire

09-May-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Julie and Patrick Beaume’s Lancashire pub the Cartford Inn was named Best Inn at 2016’s Great British Pub Awards, ahead of celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The couple discuss their journey and the secret to the inn’s success.

My Pub: The Doctor's Orders, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

09-May-2017 By Claire Churchard

Licensee Matt Steer has been in the pub business long enough to know what it takes to succeed. And in Sheffield, labelled ‘the real ale capital of the world’, the competition is tough.

Michel Roux Jr to oversee food for new tavern at luxury hotel

09-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Langham, in London’s Regent Street, will open the Wigmore tavern this summer with drinks from the team behind its award winning Artesian bar, and food by former BBC MasterChef: The Professionals judge Michel Roux Jr.

Red Mist Leisure reveals breakfast offer at new site

08-May-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Red Mist Leisure is launching a weekend breakfast offer at its newly opened 500-year-old Red Lion in Odiham, Hampshire. 

Exciting line-up for Liverpool MA500 unveiled

08-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A rundown of what to expect at the upcoming MA500 business club meeting on 18 May at the Camp and Furnace in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle has been announced.

Young’s £1m refurb of brewing site near Cutty Sark

08-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Young’s has launched a new pub on a historic brewing site, previously the home of Meantime Brewery, opposite London’s maritime landmark the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

Oakman Inns launches £2.5m crowdfunding programme

05-May-2017 By MCA

Oakman Inns is seeking to raise £2.5m through crowdfunding platform Downing Crowd to fund the total renovation of its newly acquired Royal Foresters pub site in Berkshire.

Q&A with pub owner and cricketer Stuart Broad

04-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Morning Advertiser catches up with cricketers Stuart Broad, England player; Harry Gurney, a Nottinghamshire county bowler; and experienced pub operator Dan Cramp; to talk about their burgeoning pub company The Cat & Wickets and getting to grips...

Ale house launches 'first' crackling menu

04-May-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A London alehouse has debuted what it claims is the UK’s first ‘crackling menu’ aimed at complementing the venue’s craft-ale offering.

Kellie Maloney opens Kent pub

03-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Prominent boxing promoter and reality TV star Kellie Maloney is set to open a Kent pub after completing a £250,000 renovation of the site.

Star Pubs & Bars praises staff after car smashes into pub

03-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Pubco Star Pubs & Bars has praised staff members at one of its pubs in Mitcham, south-west London, for their actions after a car ploughed into the property last week.

London’s 'first community pub' in the black

03-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

A site believed to be the first community pub in London, the Ivy House in Nunhead, is turning a profit for the first time since it came under community ownership.

National Trust reveals it owns more pubs than BrewDog

02-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The National Trust has revealed that it owns 39 pubs in the UK, meaning it owns more pubs than New World Trading Company, BrewDog and Be At One.

Fuller’s replaces wine team in refocus

27-Apr-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Fuller’s has replaced its entire wine team as it looks to set itself apart from its rivals as an expert in wine, The Morning Advertiser has learned.

Frontier Pubs set to open sixth site

26-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A west London pub will become the sixth site for Frontier Pubs, the partnership between Ei Managed Investments and Food & Fuel.

Ei Publican Partnerships to ‘drive footfall’ through live music

24-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

To help drive customer numbers in pubs through music and connect publicans with “top talent”, Ei Publican Partnerships has signed an exclusive agreement with live music specialists Live & Loud.

Investigation of Punch takeover extended again

21-Apr-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Heineken's proposed purchase of 1,900 Punch pubs has for the second time had its investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) extended.

CAMRA reacts to reports of pubs ‘banning swearing’

21-Apr-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs should be “encouraging good behaviour” in pubs rather than opting for complete bans on those who swear, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has said.

Drinkaware unveils scheme to help Shoreditch drinkers stay safe

21-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Drinkaware has launched a scheme aimed at keeping young people safe while on a night out, in partnership with Shoreditch Pubwatch.

Night Czar backs iconic LGBTQ+ pub protest

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

London’s Night Czar Amy Lamé has voiced her support for reopening iconic LGBTQ+ pub, the Black Cap in Camden.

Greene King expands foodservice arm for tenants

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Greene King Pub Partners has expanded its range of food services to tenanted and leased pubs in its estate. 

Carrwood Catering closes Kelsall site

20-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Carrwood Catering has closed the doors at its Lord Binning pub in Kelsall, Cheshire, after six years running the site.

Cirrus Inns receives almost £12m backing from Metro Bank

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Cirrus Inns has received £11.67m in funding from Metro Bank meaning the multi-site operator can acquire more venues.

Red Oak Taverns spends six figure sum on historic Dartford pub

20-Apr-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Red Oak Taverns, the Mark Grunnell-led pub operator, has completed a six figure refurbishment of an historic Dartford pub.

Suck it up: Oakman Inns set to permanently ban straws

20-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Oakman Inns is launching its own permanent “ban the straw” campaign on Earth Day (22 April) declaring “straws suck”.

Concept rethink for Ascot Inns operator

19-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

The managing director of Ascot Inns has opened the first site under a new franchise.

Brakspear chief pulls pints for Sue Ryder charity

19-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Going back to his bartending roots, Brakspear’s chief executive pulled pints to help the company raise £51,000 for a chosen charity.

Greene King opens 14 new Farmhouse Inns

13-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Greene King has opened 14 new Farmhouse Inns sites over the last 12 months and has recruited 1,000 staff to fuel the expansion. 

Fire devastates Thwaites pub after £1m transformation

13-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A Thwaites food pub and microbrewery in Hoghton, Lancashire, has been devastated by a fire that tore through the building just months after a £1m refurbishment.

Innis & Gunn launches largest Beer Kitchen

12-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish brewer and pub operator Innis & Gunn has launched its fourth and largest Beer Kitchen concept in Glasgow’s West End, with its own onsite microbrewery.

Stonegate launches low-calorie Prosecco

12-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

As the demand for diet and low-calorie drinks continues to rise, Stonegate has released a light Prosecco across its traditional pubs and Slug & Lettuce venues, and claims it is as close to “clean drinking” as you can get.

MA500 Member Profile: Andrew Stones on why Liverpool is a good bet

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

After its inception in 1998, Be At One now has more than 30 bars across the country. After opening its Liverpool site just six months ago, operations director Andrew Stones outlines why operators should consider the thriving city and what it has to offer...