Companies

Admiral Taverns pub given £300,000 revamp

17-Jan-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A Staffordshire-based Admiral Taverns pub is set to reopen as sports bar this spring after undergoing a £300,000 refurbishment.

“We can't really let this pub close”: West Sussex pub to be sold to local community

16-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

A West Sussex pub is to be sold to the local community after almost £300,000 was raised from 300 investors.

BrewDog reveals head of new sour facility site

16-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

BrewDog has announced Richard Kilcullen as the head of its standalone sour beer facility, Overworks.

Revealed: exciting line-up for Birmingham MA500

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A rundown of what to expect at the upcoming MA500 event in Birmingham on 16 February has been revealed.

Music in pubs is a "humungous matter" says branding expert

16-Jan-2017 By Aidan Keane

Aidan Keane of Keane Brands, which designs restaurants, bars and clubs, gives us his opinion on the need for music.

Ainsty Inns' owner reveals why he swapped the motor trade for the pub industry

16-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Former motor industry man Antony Pratt decided to swap the car keys for pub keys and really moved up a gear when his Ainsty Inns business expanded.

MA 500

MA500 Member Profile: Martin Hilton — Managing Director of Purecraft Bar & Kitchen, Birmingham

13-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Martin Hilton is only a third of the driving force behind the Purecraft Bar & Kitchen concept. Along with Michelin-star chef Andreas Antona and Purity Brewing Company managing director Paul Halsey, this tremendous trio have taken over Birmingham by...

Punch Takeover

‘Don’t be fooled’: SLTA slams Heineken’s ‘dismissing concerns’ on Punch bid

12-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) claimed Heineken was trying to “dismiss concerns” regarding the ongoing bid between the Dutch company and Punch Taverns.

gastropubs

Ex-Gordon Ramsay chef: 'Pubs can be as good as the best restaurants'

11-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Steven Ellis worked at some of the country's top Michelin-starred restaurants before opening Windsor gastropub the Oxford Blue. He tells Daniel Woolfson why he fell in love with the pub trade.

Food

JD Wetherspoon apologises to 'disgusted' customer for 'half' eaten dish

11-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

JD Wetherspoon has apologised for not replacing a woman’s dish that had been already partially eaten by another customer.

Punch Taverns

‘We can’t be replaced’: Brighton’s ‘only alternative pub’ given new five-year lease

10-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Punch Taverns has agreed to give Brighton’s “only alternative” site a new five-year lease after fears that the venue could have been converted into part of a pub chain.

Beer

Camerons raises a glass to Head of Steam anniversary with new beer

10-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Camerons Brewery has released a special cask beer to celebrate three years of its ownership of the Head of Steam division.

Tim Bacon

Tim Bacon Foundation launched to help cancer sufferers

10-Jan-2017 By Mark Wingett, MCA

A new charitable foundation has been established in the late Tim Bacon’s name to recognise his achievements, to continue his legacy and to echo his legendary generosity of spirit.

NEW OPENING

Michelin star-winning chef Atul Kochhar to open restaurant at Buckinghamshire inn

09-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

High-end Indian chef Atul Kochhar has announced the opening of his first British eatery at a Buckinghamshire inn.

Punch Takeover

Heineken hits back at SLTA’s Punch deal concerns

09-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Heineken has played down Scottish industry fears it would become a pub company “monster” north of the border.

Training

JDW apologises for wrongly ejecting disabled customer

09-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

JDW has apologised to a multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer after one of its doorstaff threw him out after accusing him of being drunk.

Scotch Egg Challenge

Scotch Egg Challenge back for 2017

09-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Scotch Egg Challenge 2017 will see chefs fight it out for the top accolade during an event on Wednesday, 8 February.

Operators

Hippo Inns revealed as new owners of GBPA-winning London pub

09-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Hippo Inns is to take on the Grafton, in Kentish Town, which was named Great British Pub of the Year in 2014.

MA campaign: #RobbieForRedLion

Nine things Robbie Williams could do with the Red Lion pub if he saves it

09-Jan-2017 By The MA team

Robbie Williams fans have come out in strong support of The Morning Advertiser’s (MA) campaign to get the popstar to save the Red Lion pub he grew up in to ensure it reopens and doesn’t end up Loving Angels instead of drinkers.

MA campaign: #RobbieForRedLion

Get Robbie Williams to save the Red Lion pub

06-Jan-2017 By The MA team

Fans of pop sensation Robbie Williams are urging the singer to buy his former pub home the Red Lion, which The Morning Advertiser (MA) is backing with its #RobbieForRedLion campaign.

Beer

Craft Beer Co to expand in London after reporting double-digit growth

06-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

The Craft Beer Co hopes to open more sites across London over the next year after reporting a rise in like-for-like sales of 11.3% in 2016.

Licensing

No ‘pleasure or relief’ at Fabric’s reopening tonight, says boss

06-Jan-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Legendary London nightclub Fabric’s reopening has not made director Cameron Leslie feel either pleased or relieved.

Licensee news

"It has been the most incredible adventure": Grafton owners bid goodbye to GBPA-winning pub

05-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

The owners of the London pub named Great British Pub of the Year 2014 have announced they are to leave their acclaimed site.

Property

Pub to be converted into flats to help tackle ‘chronic shortage’ of affordable housing

05-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

A pub in in South Oxhey, near Watford, Hertfordshire, risks being demolished and transformed into new flats, if a planning application is approved.

FULLER'S

In pictures: Fuller’s Chefs Guild finalists face off in culinary showdown

05-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Chefs from across Fuller's' managed houses faced off in a culinary showdown to decide the winners of the company's annual Chefs' Guild competition.

Property

Pop sensation Robbie Williams' pub home for sale

05-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Robbie Williams's former pub home is up for sale with a guide price of £150,000, but could be turned into flats if no buyers step forward.

GASTROPUBS

First look: former Restaurant Gordon Ramsay chef opens new gastropub

05-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

A chef who worked at some of the country’s top eateries has opened his new gastropub to the public after a year-long refurbishment.

My Pub

My Pub: GBPA Winner The Bull, Ditchling, East Sussex

04-Jan-2017 By Ed Bedington and Sara Hussein

Set in the heart of East Sussex, the Bull has come a long way in the past 14 years. Now crowned Great British Pub of the Year 2016, this historic pub is, according to owner Dominic Worrall, ready to take on new challenges in this charming little village.

2017 Predictions

2017 Predictions: Innovation and responding to changing trends is the key to 2017 success says Wadworth’s CEO

03-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Wadworth CEO Chris Welham claims the key to success for the trade this year will be innovation and responding to changing trends.

Beer

‘I always believed in the great British pub’: Titanic Brewery’s Keith Bott to be awarded MBE

03-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Titanic Brewery director Keith Bott is to receive an MBE for his dedication to the brewing industry.

Property

‘We couldn’t see another pub go to waste’: Brighton brewery to save 200-year-old pub

03-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

A Brighton brewery has announced today (Tuesday 3 January) plans to save a 200-year-old pub from closing.

Property

TV daredevil Guy Martin saves Batemans Brewery pub

03-Jan-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Daredevil Guy Martin has saved the local Lincolnshire pub of his youth, Kirmington village’s Batemans Brewery-owned Marrowbone & Cleaver, and spent a considerable amount renovating it.

2017 predictions

Mulholland calls for unity to fight business rates

22-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

The chair of the British Pub Confederation has predicted that the pub industry will be united on at least one thing in the new year.

LEGAL

Home Office urges young people not to use passports as ID

22-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Home Office has urged students and young people not to use a passport to verify their age in pubs and clubs.

2017 predictions

2017 predictions: Fleurets forecasts one more pubco exit from tied lease model

21-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

Fleurets has predicted that at least one tenanted pub company will exit the tied lease operating model in 2017.

Leisure tracker

Greene King Leisure Tracker: drinking out spend up year-on-year

21-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Consumers spent less money on drinking in November but their spend remained significantly higher than the same period last year, reports Greene King’s monthly Leisure Tracker.

Beer

Castle Rock brewery to use green-energy brewing process

21-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Castle Rock Brewery has launched a new year-long renewable energy scheme to make its brewing process more environmentally-friendly.

2017 Predictions

2017 Predictions: BII says there is no doubt the year ahead will be tough

20-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) CEO Mike Clist has told The Morning Advertiser there is no doubt 2017 will be a tough year for the sector.

Christmas Safety Campaign

‘Better for businesses’: licensee launches Christmas safety campaign

20-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

A licensee has launched a campaign to make sure people stay safe when partying during the festive season.

Historic Pub

Historic pub named among 21 'most fascinating' places to visit in England

20-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

A Grade II-listed pub is among 21 of the ‘most fascinating’ places to visit in country, according to a Historic England guide.

2017 Predictions

2017 predictions: ALMR to focus on ‘employment challenges’ in hospitality sector

20-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has claimed it will tackle “employment challenges” next year as further Brexit negotiations take place.

Pubs Code

Greene King accuses Pubs Code of "confusion” over stocking rights

19-Dec-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Greene King has blamed the pubs code of creating “inconsistency and confusion” by omitting to clarify stocking rights.

Lease agreements

Enterprise Inns' short-term lease strategy described as a 'suicide pact'

19-Dec-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Enterprise Inns has admitted it is focusing on shorter term lease agreements and offering licensees shorter deals at lease renewal.

2017 Predictions

2017 Predictions: Garrood says with change comes opportunity

19-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Punch CEO Duncan Garrood has said that following the pubs code and Brexit paving the way for change in 2016, next year will also bring change and opportunity.

Charity

PubAid urges pubs to join World’s Biggest Pub Quiz

19-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

PubAid is urging operators to take part in the World’s Biggest Pub Quiz after announcing a collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK last week.

2017 Predictions

2017 Predictions: Mountstevens outlines key forecasts for next year

19-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Star Pubs & Bars managing director Lawson Mountstevens predicts 2017 will be about “experimentation, premiumisation, unusual mixers, flavoured spirits and authentic artisan food”.

Greene King

Cerberus in talks to sell c£400m pub package

16-Dec-2016 By Mark Wingett, MCA

US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is understood to be in advanced discussions to sell a portfolio of c170 pubs, which are currently let to Greene King, in deal valued at c£400m.

Enterprise Inns

‘Hub for the community’: Locals take on village pub

16-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

A Warwickshire pub has been taken over by the local community, Enterprise Inns has confirmed.

JDW

2017 predictions: JDW boss slams BBPA Brexit warnings

16-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has hit back at BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds following her claims that Brexit and its consequences will be the main challenge for the sector next year.