Companies

city news

Oakman Inns reports growth - but issues Brexit warning

05-Jul-2016 By James Evison

Publican Award winner Oakman Inns reports like for like growth in Q1 of 5.1% - but issues Brexit warning as well.

City news

City Digest: Touchwood, City Pub Co and Charles Wells

05-Jul-2016 By James Wallin

This week's city digest includes new sites for Touchwood and City Pub Co, Pantry plans for Charles Wells and Deliveroo expansion.

City News

Butcombe Brewery plans to reach 100 sites

05-Jul-2016 By James Wallin

Butcombe Brewery has announced plans to grow by up to 100 sites over the next five years as its parent company edges closer to securing new backers.

JDW

Wetherspoons airport pub wins 'best in the world'

04-Jul-2016 By James Evison

A Wetherspoon airport pub has been named as the best in the world at the Food & Beverage (FAB) awards in Geneva.

City news

Former Geronimo MD launches pub company

30-Jun-2016 By James Wallin

Former Geronimo Inns managing director Ed Turner is launching a new pub company and has secured his first site, with Star Pubs & Bars, MCA has learnt.

Greene King issues Brexit warning despite growth

29-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Greene King has warned licensees that consumer confidence may be affected by Brexit, after reporting strong financial results in a ‘transformational year’ for the pubco.

Pictures

Pub openings - June 2016

28-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

The Publican's Morning Advertiser takes a look at pubs that were opened or refurbished in June 2016.

Technology

Punch and Sky extend Wi-Fi deal

28-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Punch has extended its agreement with TV giant Sky to allow of its pubs in the UK to offer customers free Wi-Fi from the Cloud.

Property

Shepherd Neame completes pub acquisitions

28-Jun-2016 By James Evison

Kent-based brewery and pub operator Shepherd Neame has completed its purchase of seven freehold pubs from Enterprise following discussions with the pubco.

Fuller’s announces Master Cellarman of the Year 2016

27-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

London pub company Fuller’s has crowned Kim Rennie from the Crystal Palace in Bath as Master Cellarman of the Year.

Brexit

Tim Martin reflects on Brexit: "Democracy is economic steroids"

27-Jun-2016 By Tim Martin

After campaigning hard for the Leave campaign, JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin reflects on Brexit.

The Guv'nor

How do you get customers into remote pubs?

24-Jun-2016 By Ray Thompson

There’s a saying that the quickest way to make a small fortune in the licensed trade is to start with a large one.

Brexit

JDW founder Tim Martin leads Brexit celebrations

24-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has led celebrations from Brexit campaigners in the industry after Britain voted to leave the EU.

Council worker and licensee swap jobs for National Licensing Week

23-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Today (24 June) marks the end of the first National Licensing Week and James Currell, manager of the Wetherspoon's-owned William Dampier, backed the job-swap scheme to help raise awareness of licensing in day-to-day life.

Research

Pub Market Report: Optimism for on-trade growth

23-Jun-2016 By Mike Berry

The majority of licensees expect their turnover to increase during the next 12 months hinting at growing optimism among operators.

Pubcos

Enterprise's "Pubs in Bloom" competition to return

22-Jun-2016 By James Evison

Enterprise Inns’ Pubs in Bloom is set to return following a record number of entries in 2015 – its first year as a national competition.

Greene King Leisure Tracker

Drinking out spend up 5% since April

22-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Spending on drinking out showed further signs of stability in this month’s Greene King Leisure Tracker, with consumers spending an average of £1 (2%) more than last year, and £2 (5%) more than April..

Pubs in the papers: Caribbean menus, Bale lookalikes, and arson

21-Jun-2016 By James Evison

This week's pubs in the papers includes a pub with Caribbean food in Worcester, a Gareth Bale lookalike scaling a pub roof, pub arsonists and shootings.

The Pub Conference

Tim Martin on JDW pubs: "It can go wrong in a flash"

20-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Tim Martin has insisted that JD Wetherspoon is not a brand and stressed that its position on the high street continues to evolve.

EU Referendum

JD Wetherspoon prints 500,000 more Brexit beer mats attacking George Osborne

20-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon has printed another wave of Brexit beer mats for its pubs with a message for George Osborne as founder Tim Martin continues his bold campaign for his customers to vote leave this week.

Epic pubs to open new pub with rooms

20-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Bedfordshire-based pub company Epic Pubs is to open its fourth pub, in Rutland, after an extensive refurbishment.

David Cameron visits Greene King brewery

17-Jun-2016 By James Evison

Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited the Greene King brewery this week as part of a tour of the region - following his campaign to remain in the EU ahead of next week's referendum on the issue.

The Pub Conference

Enterprise "off-the-shelf" modules for tenanted & leased pubs

17-Jun-2016 By James Wallin, MCA

Enterprise chief outlines new "off-the-shelf" modules from managed house concepts for T&L pubs at MCA's The Pub Conference.

Licensee views

The Guv'nor: Property developers buying all the pubs

17-Jun-2016 By Tony Leonard

This week, the only pub in a nearby village will be sold at auction to the highest bidder, widely expected to be a property developer.

Just Add Talent

Star reveals new profit-sharing operator agreement

17-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Star Pubs & Bars is introducing a new operator arrangement in which the pubco pays vital expenses and offers licensees a share of the pub's profits.

TV Sport

Comment: A clearer picture for pubs showing Premier League football

16-Jun-2016 By Richard Scudamore

Copyright law is changing and it has big implications for pubs showing football illegally, as the Premier League's Richard Scudamore explains.

Digital Marketing

5 simple social media tips for pubs

15-Jun-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Although it might be unfair to brand the pub trade as stuck in the dark ages, there’s certainly more licensees could be doing when it comes to social media. Here are 5 tips to get started.

Video: watch the highlights from the latest PMA500 in Soho

14-Jun-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Operators at the latest PMA500 in Soho heard from industry experts about the potential impact of Britain leaving the European Union on the sector, how pubs can do more to tap in the lucrative family market and how can manage high rents in competitive...

TV Sport

Sky reveals hefty price hike ahead of new football season

14-Jun-2016 By Mike Berry

Sky has announced a double digit price increase for its commercial customers ahead of the new football season.

M&B chefs face off in east London

13-Jun-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) brand Premium Country Pubs has crowned the winner of its 'Chef Inspiration' contest.

City news

Sheps buy eight Enterprise pubs

13-Jun-2016 By James Wallin, MCA

Shepherd Neame has announced the acquisition of eight pubs from Enterprise Inns.

City news

City digest: Peach Pubs, Fuller's and the NWTC deal

10-Jun-2016 By James Evison

This week's city news digest from sister title MCA includes stories on Peach Pubs, Fuller's and the NWTC/Graphite Capital deal

JD Wetherspoon to open 8 pubs and a hotel

10-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

J D Wetherspoon is to open eight pubs and a hotel in the next six weeks, mostly in unrepresented areas.

chef shortage

Chef shortage: industry ‘still suffering’ from chronic lack of kitchen staff

10-Jun-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Pubs are finding it harder to recruit skilled chefs despite significant positive action by large segments of the trade during the past year, a leading pub chef has warned.

Greene King IPA becomes Greene Queen IPA

09-Jun-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Greene King IPA has temporarily changed its name to Greene Queen IPA in honour of the monarch’s 90th birthday for this weekend only.

City news

New World Trading Co acquired by private equity firm

09-Jun-2016 By MCA

Graphite Capital, the private equity backer of Hawksmoor and Corbin & King, has acquired the fast-growing pub and restaurant business New World Trading Company (NWTC), in a £50m deal, MCA understands.

Enterprise reveals further details of premium tenancy agreement

08-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Enterprise Inns has revealed further details of its Partnership Tenancy Plus – a new flexible tenancy agreement.

BII to ‘put pride in its membership’

08-Jun-2016 By Mike Berry

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) is in a “healthy position” with membership and revenue growing, according to managing director Mike Clist.

JDW

Wetherspoon's chef finishes shift despite winning £4 million

07-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

A dedicated Wetherspoon’s worker returned to work despite just finding out he had won £4million on a scratchcard.

Pub chefs to compete in BBC2’s Great British Menu 2016

06-Jun-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Several UK pub chefs are set to compete in this year’s edition of BBC 2’s popular cooking show Great British Menu.

Occasions

Fuller’s celebrates Father’s Day with 'My Dad’s Pub' competition

03-Jun-2016 By James Evison

Fuller's plans to celebrate Father's Day this month with a competition for dads to have their own pub for the day.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Top 50 Gastropub hosts second beer & food evening

03-Jun-2016 By James Evison

Michelin-starred and Top 50 Gastropub The Royal Oak in Paley Street is set to host its second beer and food matching event this month.

city news

City digest: Brasserie Bar Co, Market Town Taverns and St Austell

03-Jun-2016 By James Evison

This week's city digest from MCA Insight - including stories on Brasserie Bar Co, Market Town Taverns and St Austell.

Training

Former LVS Autistic learner cooks with Raymond Blanc

03-Jun-2016 By James Evison

A former learner at Licensed Victuallers' School (LVS) Hassocks has cooked with celebrity chef Raymond Blanc at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Innovation

BII's Anthony Pender: Why I opened a pub without a bar

02-Jun-2016 By Anthony Pender

Co-owner of Yummy Pub Co and BII Chairman Anthony Pender talks about the need for constant innovation in the pub sector.

EU Referendum

"Pub landlord" Al Murray ridicules Wetherspoon's Brexit beer mats

02-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon’s distribution of 200,000 Brexit beer mats has kicked up a storm this week - and even led ‘pub landlord’ Al Murray to wade in with his critique.

EU Referendum

Brexit: Wetherspoons print 200,000 beer mats comparing IMF to FIFA

31-May-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon has printed 200,000 pro-Brexit beer mats for its pubs, which likens the governance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to global football body FIFA.

Pubs minister: system for calculating business rates 'unlikely' to change

27-May-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Pubs minister Marcus Jones has said that the current system for calculating pub business rates is unlikely to change ahead of next year’s revaluation.