Companies

JD Wetherspoon like-for-like sales up 3.7%

11-Mar-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon has said like-for-like sales in the six weeks to 6 March were up 3.7%, following a 2.9% rise in the first half of the year.

Menu ideas

Wetherspoon’s ‘vegan menu’ praised by PETA

10-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

JD Wetherspoon's (JDW) decision to highlight vegetarian and vegan dishes on a separate menu in each of its 900+ sites has been praised by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Flair of smaller pub operators leaves big boys trailing

10-Mar-2016 By Ed Bedington

Is big no longer beautiful? According to a recent bit of research by financial boffins, it’s the medium-to-smaller size operators that are really motoring, while larger counterparts are left lurching in their wake.

Beer

Admiral partners with There's A Beer For That campaign

09-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

Admiral Taverns is teaming up with the There’s A Beer For That campaign to help its tenants and lessees boost beer sales in their pubs.

Operators

Brewdog: Twitter storm over James Watt's appearance on TV show Who's the Boss

09-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Brewdog co-founder James Watt has come under fire after appearing on BBC TV programme Who’s the Boss, which sees bosses give existing staff the power to employee a new manager.

Death of the Sunday roast fears repudiated by PMA readers

08-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Fears that the Sunday roast is on its way out, following JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW’s) decision to scrub the dish from its menu, have been quashed by Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) readers.

JD Wetherspoon ups prices as soft drink sales rise

07-Mar-2016 By Oli Gross

After serving its final Sunday roast yesterday, JD Wetherspoon has upped prices on it Breakfast Club menu.

News analysis

Is this the end of the Sunday roast?

07-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The decision by managed pub chain giant JD Wetherspoon to axe the Sunday roast has sent shock waves through the trade. Nicholas Robinson finds out if the reverberations will hit other pubs too

Big pub chains ‘losing their grip’ on the pub industry

04-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Smaller pub companies are growing at twice the rate of the large chains and have seen their turnover grow by almost 30% in the last five years according to findings from Ortus Secured Finance.

CHEF SHORTAGE

Brexit could make chef recruitment woes even worse

04-Mar-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

A British exit from the European Union could further exacerbate the shortage of skilled chefs faced by the country’s hospitality industry, a leading recruiter has warned.

Bidvest Foodservice snaps up Caterfood

04-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Bidvest Foodservice has acquired the south-west-based distributor Caterfood in a bid to strengthen its reach, after the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) revealed the company's plans to continue its expansion.

Pictures

Pub openings gallery - February 2016

03-Mar-2016 By Oli Gross

The Publican's Morning Advertiser takes a look at the pubs which were opened, renovated and reopened in February 2016.

Podcast

Ice boss: ‘Don’t shun frozen food as inferior, embrace its money-saving qualities’

02-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Frozen food should not be shunned by pub chefs who fear using non-fresh produce will taint their offer, but should embrace its nutritious and money-saving qualities.

Events

Exciting new trade show - The Bar & Pub Show - launches

02-Mar-2016 By Mike Berry

A new event dedicated to the bar and pub sector will run alongside this year's Restaurant Show at Olympia bringing together the best suppliers in the business with top operators that are transforming the UK’s on-trade.

city news

Shepherd Neame sales up 2.7% in tenanted and 6.5% in managed estates

02-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Shepherd Neame has announced like-for-like sales in its managed estate up 6.5% for the half year to 26 December with tenanted like-for-like EBITDAR up 2.7%.

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Young's' executive chef Chris Knights: rise of casual dining was 'double-edged sword'

02-Mar-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The chef world has changed immeasurably since Chris Knights was peeling potatoes in the kitchen of his mum's pub at age 13.

Suppliers

Bidvest Foodservice reveals growth plans and biggest competitors

01-Mar-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Bidvest Foodservice will continue to acquire businesses and launch new sites to grow its customer reach, chief executive officer Andrew Selley has told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA).

My shout

"Publicans are working harder than ever"...Star Pubs MD, Lawson Mountstevens

01-Mar-2016 By Lawson Mountstevens

There have never been more pressures on the great British pub.

Revolution Bars reports sales up 2.7%

01-Mar-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Revolution Bars has reported like-for-like sales up 2.7% for the six months to 31 December.

London

Campaigners and pub operator battle over plans to reopen iconic Camden pub

29-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Campaigners and pub company Ruth and Robinson are locking horns over plans to redevelop Camden’s the Black Cap pub, which was closed amid heated protests last April.

Fowl Mouths’ Japanese comfort food stay at Clapham pub King & Co extended

29-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Japanese comfort food pop-up Fowl Mouths has extended its residency at Clapham pub the King & Co to the end of March, following demand from the sell-out concept's growing fan base.

Mother’s Day is ‘bigger than Christmas’ for pubs

29-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

More than half of UK families (64%) head to the pub for food on Mother's Day, according to the most recent figures from Carlsberg UK's Consumer Insight Report.

Twisted Burger boosts the Yard’s food sales by 50%, but could rise to 300%

29-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Food sales at Yorkshire pub the Yard, Ilkley, have rocketed by more than 50% since the franchise Twisted Burger launched there in early February, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) has learnt.

Menus

JD Wetherspoon scraps Sunday roasts leaving customers devastated

29-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

JD Wetherspoon has scrapped traditional Sunday roasts to focus on its core menu in a move which has left its customers devastated.

Pie Report

10 facts to help boost your pub’s pie sales

26-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

With British Pie Week just around the corner, it’s time to swat up on your pie knowledge to help boost the quality of your offer. Here are our top 10 tips to the best pub pies

Market research

Drink-led venues hit hard by closures

26-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Drink-led venues have been hit hard by closures, with the sector shrinking by 1.2% in 2015, according to the Market Growth Monitor from AlixPartners and CGA Peach.

Charlie Gilkes on the Inception Group being named one of Britain’s 1,000 most inspiring companies

26-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Smaller hospitality businesses being recognised in the top 1,000 inspiring companies to work for is good news for the sector, according to Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes.

Pub history

21 need to know things about pub signs

25-Feb-2016 By BT Sport

The Romans might have given us sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health (thank you, Monty Python) - but arguably their greatest gift to our fair and pleasant land was the humble pub...

Casual Dining

National living wage 'could be positive for pubs'

25-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs can thrive under the national living wage (NLW) when it comes into force on 1 April, two operators have said, despite dire warnings from other trade leaders who say otherwise.

Casual Dining

Pubs' casual dining growth bubble could be burst by Burger King's beer

25-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Three pub chains are providing a considerable boost to the massive growth of the UK’s casual-dining scene, but should be wary of increased competition – including Burger King’s beer offer – warns Horizons managing director Peter Backman.

Pubco 'favouritism'

'Surviving by the skin of my teeth' thanks to rivals from own pubco

24-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Licensees have hit out against the behaviour of their pubcos, claiming their actions are putting pubs at risk.

Greene King Leisure Tracker

Dry January 'having less impact'; licensees hopeful of positive Budget

24-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Fewer than half of British adults (49%) are aware of the Government’s Budget in March, but those who are have high expectations for change, according to this month’s Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker.

Tim Martin: We need real debate on leaving the EU

24-Feb-2016 By Tim Martin

This is an unedited comment from Tim Martin, which is due to appear in the Wetherspoons magazine

Winners of the BBPA’s Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year awards announced

24-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The two winners of the British Beer and Pub Association’s (BBPA’s) Parliamentary Pub Chef of the Year awards were announced last night (23 February) at a ceremony in the House of Commons

Chef shortage

MPs and trade call for action to solve pub chef shortage

23-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Trade leaders and Members of Parliament have called for action to solve the pub chef shortage at an awards ceremony at the House of Commons last night (23 February).

Beer

Beer sommelier Annabel Smith teams up with Enterprise

23-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Enterprise Inns has teamed up with beer sommelier Annabel Smith, who will be on hand to guide licensees in maximising sales and taking advantage of beer and food matching.

Food trends

International cuisine and chicken cooked in cola top consumers’ 2016 wish list, says Premier

23-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Dishes from the Mediterranean, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam top a list of foods consumers want to try, while a desire to eat more pulled meats – including chicken cooked in cola – also made the list, according to research from Premier Foods.

Hot drinks

M&B to trial own coffee blend

23-Feb-2016 By MC Allegra FS

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to trial its own coffee blend across it Ember Inns and Sizzling Pubs estates.

Health

Calorie labelling: Trade warns pub food quality will take a hit

22-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

While groups concerned with health matters argue all pub and restaurant food menus must have calorie content labelled on them, Nicholas Robinson finds out why that’s not as simple as it sounds

Menu ideas

Pub dishes with 'northern twists and humour' added to Beef & Pudding menu

22-Feb-2016 By James Evison

Restaurant concept Beef & Pudding from New Moon Company has added dishes to its menu which play on 'northern twists and humour'.

Craft beer

Bath Ales converts third pub to Beerd craft beer bar

22-Feb-2016 By James Evison

South-west brewery and operator Bath Ales has converted one of its Bristol venues into a Beerd craft beer bar.

Longshot close to snapping up three more sites for the Bel & The Dragon

22-Feb-2016 By James Wallin, M&C Allegra

Longshot is close to securing three new sites for its Bel & The Dragon vehicle and is planning one opening for the brand every quarter for the next three years, according to the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Allegra.

Grantley Arms reopens with ex-Gherkin chef

22-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The Grantley Arms in Wonersh has relaunched with chef-patron – former head chef at Searcys – Matt Edmonds at the helm.

Food Safety

Britain’s fruit and veg supplies ‘overlapped by drug cartels’

22-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The countries supplying Britain's fresh fruit and vegetables are overlapped by drug-smuggling gangs, an expert in the field has revealed, following warnings that operators may have long-since been at risk of many types of food fraud.

Bar snacks

New nuts brand just for pubs

22-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Founders of the new premium snack firm Edgar's Choice, which has been developed specially for the pub trade, are aiming to get their products into 1,000 pubs within a year. Nicholas Robinson finds out if it's a good idea or just nuts.

Beacon

Enterprise licensees reflect on taking up a managed tenancy

19-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

As Enterprise Inns further invests in its managed tenancy model Beacon, Oli Gross looks at how the agreement is working out for licensees.

Vegetarian

Legislation

ACV listing at closed live music pub challenged by owners

17-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

An asset of community value (ACV) listing for closed live-music venue the Half Moon pub in Herne Hill, south London, is being challenged by owners Dulwich Estates.

Morning Advertiser

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