Companies

Punch takeover

‘Monster-tie’ Heineken/Punch deal could threaten tenants, industry warns

15-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Industry figures have expressed ‘serious concern’ over Heineken’s bid to acquire almost 2,000 Punch Taverns pubs.

ALMR

ALMR announces major initiatives to boost jobs in post-Brexit climate

15-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has announced two major initiatives to boost jobs in the hospitality sector.

Punch takeover

Sale of 1,900 Punch pubs to Heineken moves one step closer

15-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Heineken has moved one step closer to acquiring the lions share of Punch Taverns' pub estate, after three of the pubco’s top shareholders gave their support.

Pubs

Wet-led sites fall by 2.1% in the last year

15-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The number of wet-led sites has fallen by 2.1% in the past 12 months compared to the more marginal decrease in the number of food-led premises (0.4%) latest research has revealed.

Punch

Heineken in "takeover battle" for Punch

14-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Heineken is reported to have launched a bid to take control of Punch.

Legislation

‘Targeted by supermarkets’: Save the Pub Group could protect pubs under amended planning law

13-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has put forward an amendment to planning proposals that would give more protection to pubs.

APPBG

‘We can’t be complacent’: Graham Evans urges Government to help British pubs

13-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The industry must unite in pressuring the Government to further reduce the level of beer duty, All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) chairman Graham Evans has urged.

Retirement

Punch’s commercial director John Healy to retire next year

13-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Punch’s commercial director is to step down next year after 30 years with the business.

CAMRA

2017 Predictions: CAMRA concerned at pub’s ‘high taxation’ levels

13-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chairman Colin Valentine has expressed his concern over high taxation differentials between pubs and supermarkets.

Festive pub

Britain’s 'most festive' pubs sees spike in trade

12-Dec-2016 By Helen Gilbert

A West London pub dubbed ‘Britain’s most festive’ has seen trade almost double in one weekend after unveiling its most extravagant Christmas display to date

BBPA

2017 Predictions: Simmonds says next year to be dominated by Brexit

12-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds has said Brexit and its consequences will be the challenge for the sector next year.

Closures

Craft beer and food to thank for fall in pub company closures

09-Dec-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Focusing on current trends such as craft beer and better food have led to a significant fall in the number of pub and bar companies going insolvent, new research claims.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

Pub slams 'ridiculous Grinch w*****' over Christmas noise complaints

09-Dec-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

A pub took to social media with a witty tirade after a neighbour complained to the council about noise from its community Christmas market.

Charity

‘We're going to take X Factor on and be Christmas no 1’: pub takes on challenge with festive video

08-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

A pub that made a Christmas music video featuring its ‘oldest’ regular customer is hoping to reach Christmas no.1 this year.

MA500

Bitters N' Twisted's Matt Scriven: 'I wanted to put Birmingham on the map'

08-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser gets top tips from an existing licensee. After opening its first site in 2006, Bitters N’ Twisted now consists of multiple sites punctuated across Birmingham and beyond.

Pest control

Mouse spotted in JDW pub

08-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pest-control operators were called to a JDW pub in Kent after a mouse was seen scurrying across the floor.

MA500

BII Licensee of the Year: "Birmingham is a vibrant city, has plenty of culture and the people are friendly"

08-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Ahead of the next MA500 club meeting in Birmingham, The Morning Advertiser looks at why operators should consider opening a site in this thriving city.

St Austell Brewery

St Austell purchases ‘historic’ hotel to expand portfolio

07-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

St Austell Brewery added the Pier House Hotel to its managed house estate yesterday (Tuesday 6 December) after purchasing the family-owned business.

Charity

JDW raises £13m for young cancer victims

07-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

JD Wetherspoon has raised a total of £13m for young cancer victim charity CLIC Sargent since their partnership was formed 14 years ago.

Charity

Fulller’s launches Wise Men beer to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK

07-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Fuller’s launched a beer yesterday (Tuesday 6 December) to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

PUNCH

Punch: 'no intention' to close popular alternative pub

07-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Punch has denied claims it plans to close Brighton's 'only alternative pub'.

Stonegate

Stonegate acquires Walkabout brand owner

06-Dec-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Stonegate Pub Company is set to acquire Walkabout brand owner Intertain for an undisclosed sum.

AB InBev

AB InBev to open first food-led managed pub in London

05-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

Global brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev is set to open its first food-led pub chain in London under the American brand Goose Island Beer Co (GI).

Local MP backs new Punch pub development

30-Nov-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Malton MP, Kevin Hollinrake, joined staff and regulars at the Royal Oak pub to celebrate its £180,000 makeover by Punch.

pubs code

MRO quote plea from 24 Greene King licensees

30-Nov-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Greene King has revealed that 24 licensees requested a quote for the market rent-only option (MRO) in the first three months of the pubs code.

Mitchell & Butlers

Mitchells & Butlers inspires ‘future leaders’ at Skills Show 2016

25-Nov-2016 By Sara Hussein

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has encouraged thousands of pupils to take up a career opportunity in the hospitality industry at the Skills Show last week (17 to the 19 November) in Birmingham.

Marston's

Marston's: average profit per pub increases 8%

25-Nov-2016 By Liam Coleman

The preliminary annual accounts for Marston’s have shown that the pub company’s average profit per pub increased 8% in 2016.

Other Operators

Operator celebrates 50 ‘remarkable years’ in pub

24-Nov-2016 By Sara Hussein

An operator has celebrated 50 ‘remarkable’ years at his pub by charging customers 10p for a pint of beer — the price of a pint in 1966 when the site was first purchased.

Weather damage

Pubs begin Storm Angus clean-up operation

24-Nov-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs across the country are cleaning up and reopening in the aftermath of Storm Angus and bad weather that has battered the UK.

Property

Redcomb adds Potters Bar pub to fast-growing estate

24-Nov-2016 By James Evison

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs has added a further site to its fast-growing portfolio of outlets having only acquired its previous site in October.

Property

Upham introduces station pub to portfolio

24-Nov-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Upham Pub Company has added a Surrey pub to its portfolio bringing the total number of sites to 15.

MA500

A year in the life of MA500 members

23-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The national living wage, the EU referendum and 'beertails' topped the agenda this year at MA500 meetings. Here, The Morning Advertiser reflects on the fast-changing landscape of the UK on-trade, as experienced by those who attended the gatherings....

Best Bar None

Stonegate Pub Company gives cash backing to Best Bar None

22-Nov-2016 By Sara Hussein

Responsible retailing in the on-trade has been given a £10,000 boost from the Stonegate Pub Company.

Opinion

'Taxes killing pubs while supermarkets surge'

22-Nov-2016 By Tim Martin

Two taxes in particular are killing pubs according to Tim Martin: business rates and VAT. Here the JD Wetherspoon chairman has his say on the situation...

TOILET

'Wee jobby' pub sign is 'just a joke'

21-Nov-2016 By Helen Gilbert

A manager of a Scottish pub has declared that he has no issue with people using the toilet in his pub after a sign he wrote as a ‘joke’ went viral.

Pub bombings

Birmingham pub bombings: victims to be given Freedom of the City

21-Nov-2016 By Sara Hussein

Birmingham councillors have approved giving a posthumous Freedom of the City to the 21 victims of the city's 1974 pub bombings.

FABRIC CLOSURE

Fabric “could re-open” after drug-deaths closure

18-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Talks are underway to re-open iconic London nightclub Fabric, which closed earlier this year following the drug-fuelled deaths of two teenagers, The Morning Advertiser (MA) understands.

Chefs

Pubs need to offer chefs a better work-life balance

18-Nov-2016 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs need to take better care of their chefs and give them a better work-life balance, a leading recruitment agency has claimed.

Pub demolition

Co-op clashes with locals in battle to demolish pub

18-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Sheffield residents outraged at Co-op’s plans to replace a pub with a retail unit have applied to list the site as an asset of community value (ACV)

MA500

New Botanist to open in Didsbury, Manchester

18-Nov-2016 By James Evison

The New World Trading Company (NWTC) has announced a new Botanist site in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.

JDW vs Travellers

JDW agrees £44k settlement for travellers refused entry to pub

18-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Travellers who were controversially refused entry to one of JD Wetherspoon’s London pubs in November 2011 have reached an out-of-court settlement with the pub giant.

Awards

Star Pubs & Bars announces award-winning licensees

18-Nov-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The winners of Star Pubs & Bars Star Awards were unveiled last night (17 November) at a glittering awards ceremony, hosted by footballing icon Chris Kamara in Liverpool.

Sales figures

Managed pub sales drop for first time since EU referendum

18-Nov-2016 By Liam Coleman

Sales for managed pub groups slipped in October for the first time since June's EU referendum, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Results

Fuller's reports tough times for tenanted division

18-Nov-2016 By Ma Freelance

Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has told The Morning Advertiser’s sister title MCA that the group is focused on boosting profits in its tenanted division through a mixture of disposals and a greater focus on food.