Companies

Awards

ALMR Late Night Awards winners announced

12-Oct-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has announced the winners of its Late Night Awards at a gala ceremony in London’s West End.

Future Trends: Spirits

'Proper' training could lift spirits sales by more than £7,300

12-Oct-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Giving staff diverse training to sell spirits could increase bar profits by £7,346, reveals research by a major international training organisation.

Halloween

Brakspear launches haunted pub tour

10-Oct-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Henley-on-Thames-based pubco and brewer Brakspear is marking this year’s Halloween with a ‘Ghost Hunt’ around three of its pubs.

Pubs code

Duncan Garrood: how Punch is helping licensees with the pubs code

10-Oct-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Punch has been touring the country with roadshows offering its licensees resources, offers and support for their businesses along with seminars on the pubs code.

MA500

Oakman Inns growth continues

07-Oct-2016 By James Evison

Multiple operator and Publican Awards winner Oakman Inns has continued its strong sales performance and growth of its Enterprise Inns managed site partnership.

NEW OPENING

Michelin star-winning chef brothers unveil new Essex pub

07-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Serial restaurateurs the Galvin brothers have announced their second pub will open in Essex next month.

JD Wetherspoon

JD Wetherspoon and Punch push for greater food sustainability

06-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and Punch have signed up to the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA)’s Food Made Good scheme.

GBPA

The Great British Pub Awards, as it happened...

06-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Hundreds of top operators converged on London for the Great British Pub Awards last night (5 October).

Enterprise

Enterprise to open 100th managed site

04-Oct-2016 By Oli Gross

Enterprise Inns has announced the opening of its 100th managed pub as it continues to expand the division.

Interview

The Big Interview: BII's Mike Clist & Anthony Pender

03-Oct-2016 By Mike Berry

When British Institute of Innkeeping chairman Anthony Pender called in the help of Mike Clist, the wheels were set in motion to refocus the membership body’s offer and reach new heights. Mike Berry finds out more.

Morning Advertiser

This week's Morning Advertiser: Cask Report, MA500 and Great British Pub Debate

03-Oct-2016 By MA

The latest issue of The Morning Advertiser is jam packed with exciting features covering everything from The Great British Pub Debate to the most recent MA500 meeting in Leeds.

'Professionalism, choice and positivity': A view on the state of the sector

03-Oct-2016 By Mike Berry

As I prepare to leave this parish and my role as Managing Editor on the Morning Advertiser (MA), it’s an opportune moment to reflect on my time and offer a view as to the state of the sector (for what it’s worth).

Food Hygiene

Mitchells & Butlers helping FSA develop Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

30-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) is testing the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) new food hygiene scheme, which aims to ease pressure on resource-strapped local authorities, improve food safety and adapt the current Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

Pubcos

JDW to sell a further five pubs

30-Sep-2016 By James Evison

JD Wetherspoon has appointed property agents CBRE and Savills to sell a further five of its pubs. 

Pubcos

Robinsons to continue investment of estate

30-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Robinsons brewery has announced plans to continue investment in its estate following a 6.3% increase in turnover last year.

STAFF PAY

Europeans paid less than Brits in London pubs, research claims

28-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

British hospitality workers are being paid approximately 18% more than their European counterparts by London businesses, new data reveals.

Good Beer Guide 2017

Almost 200 Punch pubs in Good Beer Guide

27-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Almost 200 Punch pubs have featured in the Campaign for Real Ale’s Good Beer Guide 2017, which features 4,500 pubs nationwide.

Opinion

Paul Pavli: "Hit a sticky patch? Produce a new business plan"

27-Sep-2016 By Paul Pavli

One thing that never changes in the British pub market is the constant changes. Not only are there the usual internal industry challenges, from changing legislation to mergers and acquisitions, but influential external factors, from the rise of casual-dining...

Beer

Marston’s pumps £10m into new headquarters

27-Sep-2016 By Sara Hussein

Brewer and pub heavyweight Marston’s has pumped £10m into the launch of its new Wolverhampton headquarters last week (Monday 19 September).

Charity

Greene King to hold its biggest coffee morning to date

26-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Greene King has once again joined forces with cancer charity Macmillan to take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning across its 1,800-wide estate.

ALMR

ALMR issues warning for licensees leading up to wage increases

23-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is calling on the Government to delay the Apprenticeship Levy and advising licensees to increase efficiencies in their labour ahead of the minimum wage increase next month (October).

Book launch

Ian Wright launches book in north London pub

23-Sep-2016 By Liam Coleman

Rather than the traditional literary festival or large book store, retired footballer Ian Wright launched his autobiography, A Life In Football in north London pub, the Tollington Arms.

Pubcos

Punch strategy chief to quit role

22-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Punch's chief strategy officer, Neil Griffiths is standing down from his role and will leave in November 2016.

My Pub

My Pub: The Barge Inn, Honeystreet, Wiltshire

22-Sep-2016 By Liam Coleman

Surrounded by crop circles, campsites and canal boats, the Barge Inn attracts an eclectic crowd. Manager, Toryn Hockham, discusses the unique location, customers and offer of the pub.

CHEFS

Tom Kerridge to cook one-off charity dinner at Hampshire pub

22-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Double Michelin-starred pub chef Tom Kerridge has announced plans to host a one-off supper club at a Hampshire gastropub.

PUB CRIME

Sex offender chef 'pulled customer's trousers down'

21-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

A chef who pulled a man’s trousers down in the beer garden of a Yorkshire pub has been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Training

Stonegate graduates and their MPs hit the House of Commons

20-Sep-2016 By Liam Coleman

What did you get up to on Wednesday 9 September? Chances are you can’t remember because it was a regular day with very few noteworthy events. For 100 managers of Stonegate pubs, it will be a day that will live long in the memory.

Drinkaware

Drinkaware teams up with UNILAD to tackle 'booze-fuelled sexual harassment'

16-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Alcohol education charity Drinkaware and online millennial site UNILAD have joined forces in a bid to tackle alcohol-related sexual harassment during Freshers' Week.

Wine

Greene King helps licensees ‘take the mystery out of wine’

15-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubco Greene King has launched a free wine and spirits tool kit to help operators drive sales in the categories, which it claims can be challenging for licensees who feel they “lack the expertise” to put together a strong offer.

Charity

Oakman Inns raises £20k for Italian earthquake appeal

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Midlands and southern-based multiple operator Oakman Inns has raised more than £20k for charity following the Italian earthquake last month.

Craft beer

Craft Beer Co's 'Craft 100' festival returns

15-Sep-2016 By James Evison

One of London's biggest pub beer festivals Craft100 has returned for a second year at The Craft Beer Co's Clapham site.

Somerset licensee to compete in World Chilli Cook-Off championship

14-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

An Admiral Taverns licensee will compete against rivals from across the world after being named the winner of the UK Chilli Cook-Off championship.

'We want to work in partnership with councils and police'

14-Sep-2016 By Peter Marks

When the Licensing Act 2003 finally became law, it changed everything. Whilst I don’t intend to detail all the changes, it’s safe to say that while there are some positives, there are also many negatives which still need to be addressed.

Outdoor equipment

Licensee's plea for respect after play area vandalised

13-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A licensee of a pub in Kent is urging customers to have more respect after he was forced to take down his play area because it was being constantly damaged.

Competition

Hungry Horse urges customers 'having a mare' to enter competition

13-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Greene King’s Hungry Horse brand has launched a competition to help families get through their first week of work and school.

Staff

JDW boss to offer zero-hours staff guaranteed contracts

12-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has become the latest big name to offer staff on zero-hours contracts the opportunity to work guaranteed hours.

CLOSURE

Anger as historic pub ‘turned into furniture shop overnight’

12-Sep-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Outraged locals are protesting the ‘overnight’ closure of a much-loved Brighton freehouse, which was turned into a furniture shop last week. 

Bar Opening

The Orange Tree, Derby is all set to blossom later this month

08-Sep-2016 By Tom Lawson

 A focus on premium cocktails and spirits is the driving force behind the latest opening for the Orange Tree Group.

Leeds

Why should operators consider Leeds?

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Co-founder of Arc Inspirations, Martin Wolstencroft will be speaking to delegates about Leeds at this month's MA500 meeting and advising them on the city.

Employment

Employment expert Katrina Fox gives tips on how to get and retain staff

08-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Employment expert Katrina Fox will be advising delegates at the next MA500 meeting this month (September) on how to attract and retain staff. Ahead of the event, Fox reveals some of her top tips. Nikkie Sutton reports.

JDW

Stonegate has exchanged on a package of 10 JD Wetherspoon pubs

08-Sep-2016 By James Wallin, MCA

The package comprises pubs in High Wycombe; North Finchley; Torquay; Berwick; Walton-on-Thames; Banbury; Cheadle Hulme; Hull; Reading and Newquay.

Apprenticeship Levy

Pub boss calls for rethink on apprenticeship plans

08-Sep-2016 By Ed Bedington

The government’s plans to impose an apprenticeship levy could put the brakes on the ability of the industry to train efficiently, a leading pub operator has warned.

London

ALMR "disappointed" at closure of Fabric

07-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has said it is “disappointed” with Islington Council’s decision to close London’s Fabric nightclub.

Christmas

Punch launches personalised POS for Christmas

07-Sep-2016 By James Evison

Punch has launched its Christmas catalogue of point of sale (POS) material for its pubs.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Get ready for Top 50 Gastropubs 2017

07-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Eight months ago, 2016’s top 50 gastropubs were named, followed by a whirlwind of national press coverage. Plans for 2017’s event are under way and it’s shaping up to be a belter

Tribute

'Great pub man' John Weir, MD of Wear Inns, dies following heart attack

05-Sep-2016 By Oli Gross

Tributes have been paid to ‘great pub man’ John Weir, the managing director of Wear Inns, who has died following a heart attack.

Training

Outrage after pub 'refuses' to serve food to disabled customers

02-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A pub in Lancashire has outraged a local social and sports group for young disabled people after allegedly refusing to serve them with food.

Charity

Masterchef's Gregg Wallace calls on pubs to join the fight against prostate cancer

01-Sep-2016 By Mike Berry

Following the launch last year of pop-up pub fundraiser, the Men United Arms, Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace, is calling on pubs across the country this autumn to throw open their doors and host a fundraising night in order to help save men’s lives.

Awards

BII announces scholarship winners

01-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Scotland have announced the champions of two unique scholarship chances, the BII Scotland Lausanne Scholarship and the Gleneagles Scholarship.

Punch

Punch reports positive results

01-Sep-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Punch has released its figures for the 52-week financial year, which show positive growth, and hopes to issue its full year results for the same timeframe on 8 November this year.