Companies

Punch names its operator of the year

06-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns has named John Vassallo, partnership development manager for North London, as its Operator of the Year.

Tributes paid to former Wetherspoon’s and Pubwatch stalwart

06-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has paid tribute to the company’s former director of licensing, David Isaac, who has passed away.

Pubco executive chef shares tips at top industry event

03-Oct-2014 By Jo Bruce

Whiting & Hammond executive chef James Moyle Rosser was among industry experts sharing tips at the Farm Frites' Restaurant Development Chef Club Food Forum in London last week.

Hydes on lookout for 'good quality pubs' but disposals of unsustainable sites will continue

03-Oct-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Hydes Brewery, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired three freehold sites this year marking a return to the acquisition trail after streamlining the company.

Upham to stick to heartland as it seeks new funding sources

03-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Upham Pub Company has ruled out national expansion as it seeks alternative forms of finance for its next round of acquisitions.

Brakspear targets food sales growth with appointment of first executive chef

02-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Brakspear has appointed its first executive chef, who will be tasked with developing food sales across its managed pubs.

Enterprise Inns reveals extent of managed ambitions

02-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Enterprise Inns has revealed it will have ten directly managed sites by mid-November.

Mitchells & Butlers cools growth plans

01-Oct-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is to significantly “temper” its organic expansion as it focuses on converting the former Orchid estate.

Management gold rush

01-Oct-2014 By Rob Willock

Directly managed pubs are suddenly in vogue among traditional leased and tenanted operators. We recently reported on Harveys’ plans to convert up to half of its estate to managed. Meanwhile Batemans, Brakspear, Charles Wells, Robinsons and Tadcaster are...

Ex-mayor of Gosport given council licensing role after Pubwatch ban

01-Oct-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensees in Gosport have hit out at the council for putting the former Mayor on the licensing board, four months after he was banned from all Pubwatch venues in the Hampshire town.

Wetherspoon’s finance chief defects to Greene King

01-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Kirk Davis, the current finance director at JD Wetherspoon, is to join rival Greene King from the start of next year as its new chief financial officer.

BII launches search for new chairman

01-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has begun its search for a new chairman.

BII East Midlands appoints new acting chairman

30-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensing consultant Michael Kheng has been appointed acting chair of the East Midlands region of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII).

LTC support line helps thousands in its first year

30-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Licensed Trade Charity’s Support & Care service helped thousands of people in its first year.

MA300: Laine Pub Company's Gavin George says pubs should reflect local culture

30-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Operators should take the time to research the culture of an area before opening a site there, according to Laine Pub Company’s Gavin George.

CAMRA appoints new chief executive

29-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced its new chief executive, three months after Mike Benner left the post.

Late Knights to launch bakery/pub concept

29-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Late Knights, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has told M&C Report about ambitious plans to open a pub housing a bakery, café, cinema and eventually a farm.

VIDEO: Warwick Davis signs off Britain's biggest pub tour in London

29-Sep-2014 By James Evison

Star Wars actor Warwick Davis oversaw the finale of Stonegate's Britain's biggest pub tour at the Slug and Lettuce, St Katherine's Dock, London on Friday (26 September).

MA300: BII Licensee of the Year reveals seaside trading tips

29-Sep-2014 By Mike Berry

British Institute of InnKeeping (BII) Licensee of the Year Lee Price emphasised the importance of treating all differing segments of your customer base with equal value.

Michelin Guide 2015: Tears of delight for pubs awarded new stars

26-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

The three pubs handed new Michelin stars last week have expressed a mixture of shock, delight and relief at winning the award.

Michelin Guide 2015: Editor praises ‘best generation’ of chefs

26-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Michelin Guide editor Rebecca Burr has praised the pubs awarded stars in this year’s edition for embracing “a generation of the best chefs the UK has ever had”.

VIDEO: Spirit Pub Company brand Wacky Warehouse releases official song

26-Sep-2014 By James Evison

Spirit Pub Company firm Wacky Warehouse has released its first official song “It’s Wacky” by children’s pop group, the Little Singers.

MA300: Glendola boss says venues that tell a story will thrive

26-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Glendola Leisure managing director Alex Salussolia said operators must rise above the temptation to drive trade through offers and focus instead on creating a story for their product.

Operators say Tax Equality Day boosted sales

26-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The second Tax Equality Day saw sales rise as much as 11% according to some of the operators taking part.

M&B bemoans 'difficult' August

25-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the managed operator, has reported a 0.1% rise in like-for-like sales in the nine weeks to 20 September following “difficult” trading conditions in the pub sector in August.

Three new pubs awarded Michelin star

25-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Three new pubs have gained a Michelin star in the latest edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland, which hails the “enormous richness and variety of the UK’s restaurant scene”.

Griffiths in the frame as hunt for new Punch CEO begins

25-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Punch Taverns chief operating officer Neil Griffiths is a “strong candidate” for the role of chief executive, and the group would look at candidates with retail skills from inside and outside the pub sector, executive chairman Stephen Billingham has said.

Publican Awards 2015: previous winners' testimonies

25-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

What do previous winners of the Publican Awards have to say about the impact of winning on their businesses?

The Publican Awards 2015: The judging process

25-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

All the information on the judging process for the Publican Awards 2015, which are now open for entries.

All-night weekend Tube to launch next September

24-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Transport for London has announced underground trains will run all night at weekends from 12 September 2015.

UK leisure spend grows 2% year-on-year

24-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The average British household spent 2% (£5) more on leisure in August than in the same month last year, driven by growth in eating out (+11% to £98.09) and mitigated by a 2% fall in drinking out spend (to £50.35).

BrewDog unveils hotdog concept and reveals new sites

24-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The new BrewDog bar opening in Islington will be called Dog Eat Dog and will focus on hotdogs and craft beer.

Shepherd Neame says sales boom proves drinkers and diners are returning to pubs

24-Sep-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 8.9% rise in like-for-like sales across its managed pubs and hotels division in the year to 28 June 2014 and said that it had made a good start to the new year, maintaining recent...

Spirit Pub Company rejected 'undervalued' Greene King bid

23-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company said it rejected a 100p-per-share offer from Greene King because it “undervalued” the firm.

Wear Inns sets out acquisition plans on back of strong performance

23-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Wear Inns has set a target of a 40-strong estate as it reported positive results.

Co-Op to build stores on 63 ex-Marston’s sites

23-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The Co-Operative Group has agreed a deal to build 63 Co-Op stores on ex-Marston’s pub sites.

The Publican Awards 2015: Open for entry

22-Sep-2014 By Jo Bruce

The Publican Awards 2015, organised by The Publican's Morning Advertiser, is now open to entries from small and large pub companies. Find out all the information about the event, and how to enter, here.

Miliband pledges to cut business rates but Cable stays silent on reduction for pubs

22-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The Labour Party is set to commit to a 1% cut in business rates if it wins next year’s general election.

Upham grows pub estate to ten

22-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Hampshire-based Upham Pub Group has grown its estate to ten with the acquisition of the Peat Spade in Stockbridge from Miller’s Collection.

Great British Menu chef targets food after £500k Lincolnshire pub investment

19-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Great British Menu winner wants to “set a new standard” for pub food in north Lincolnshire after ploughing £500,000 of his own money into a pub devastated by last winter’s floods.

Greene King gives £15k to Pub is the Hub

19-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King has donated £15,000 to Pub is the Hub for the second year running to support rural pubs who want to help their communities.

Seven Brooklyn-style bars for new Ruth & Robinson concept

19-Sep-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Imbiba Partnership, the investment company behind Drake & Morgan and Hamilton & Bond, is launching a new concept called Ruth & Robinson to roll out seven new bars inspired by Brooklyn, New York, the Publican's Morning Advertiser's...

Hartlepool brewer and operator Camerons buys Whitby site

19-Sep-2014 By John Harrington

Camerons, the Hartlepool brewer and pub operator, has bought another site for its managed estate.

Punch Taverns offers £5m of giveaways for tenants at its 2014 roadshows

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Punch Taverns has revealed the dates for its 2014 roadshows and urged tenants to take advantage of the special discounts and deals on offer.

Upham says pubs can benefit from sponsorship deal with London Irish

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Upham Brewery has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with London Irish rugby club and wants publicans to share the benefits.

Chef & Brewer crowns its 2014 'Masterchef' champion

18-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Chef & Brewer, the 130-strong Spirit Pub Company brand, has named the winner of its annual chef competition.

Robinsons to offer innovative new tenancy agreements

18-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Robinsons, the Cheshire brewer  and pub operator, is to offer drinks discounts at selected pubs based on competition in the local market and what consumers are prepared to pay.

Stonegate launches loyalty card for students

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Stonegate Pub Company has launched a student loyalty card that offers rewards for money spent on food and drink across its pubs.

Pubs lead boom in hospitality recruitment

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Pubs dominated the growth in hospitality recruitment in the last quarter with a 50% hike, according to a new report.

Peach Pub Company secures £500,000 boost from Molson Coors

17-Sep-2014 By John Harrington

Peach Pub Company has secured a further £500,000 in funding from brewer Molson Coors to expand its operations, M&C Report has learnt.