DRINKS MASTERCLASS
Christmas cocktail recipes for pubs
In this special festive edition of The Morning Advertiser’s (The MA) Drinks Masterclass series, we’ve taken a look at some Christmas cocktails that are sure to impress customers.
News
Marston’s ‘filled with confidence’ for 2025 as like-for-like sales rise 4.8%
Marston’s has reported a 4.8% uptick in like-for-like sales with Christmas bookings ahead of last year despite “additional pressure” from the autumn Budget.
MY PUB
MY PUB: The Lamb Inn, Little Milton, Oxfordshire
Located in a thatched roof property, the Lamb Inn in the Oxfordshire countryside provides a blissful sight.
Cost of a pint rises 2.8%
The average cost of a pint of draught lager in pubs jumped 2.8% in the year to October 2024, the latest official figures have revealed.
Drinks sales down 9% year-on-year
Cold and stormy weather alongside “patchy” consumer confidence pushed November drinks sales back in the red after weeks of flat or marginal growth.
EXCLUSIVE
Spike in demand causes supply issues for Guinness ahead of Christmas
Concerns are rising over the supply of Guinness in the run up to Christmas, as owners Diageo report “exceptional” consumer demand.
Pub owners urged to ‘remain calm’ amid flood concerns
Advice has been issued for pub operators following recent flooding caused by storms Bert and Conall.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
Insolvency & licence implications
Insolvency of a licence holder has an immediate and critical effect on the premises licence, Poppleston Allen associate solicitor Suraj Desor writes.
Loungers backer Canaccord votes in favour of £350.5m sale
A major backer of Loungers has issued a letter of intent to vote in favour of the group’s acquisition offer from Fortress Investment Group subsidiary CF Exedra Bidco (Bidco).
Valiant appoints new managing director of operations
Valiant Pub Company has appointed Andy Parker as its new managing director of operations.
JDW among pubs to drop Conor McGregor's stout
London-based, Irish-inspired pub company Windmill Taverns has dropped Forged Irish Stout following the civil rape verdict against the brand’s founder Conor McGregor.
‘Excellent progress’ for Loungers as revenue and EBITDA grows
Loungers CEO Nick Collins has claimed the business has enjoyed “excellent progress” as revenue rose by 19.2% and adjusted EBITDA climbed 25.0%, in its latest results.
Loungers to be acquired by Fortress for £350.5m
Loungers will be acquired by Fortress Investment Group – which owns Punch Pubs – for a cash offer of about £350.5m.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
Can local authorities help with pub closures?
In this Q&A, Poppleston Allen partner James Anderson evaluates if local authorities can help “redress the balance” of pub closures.
Anglian Country Inns: ‘We still have opportunities to grow’
Anglian Country Inns (ACI) will continue to look for growth opportunities within its existing estate as it seeks to mitigate the impact of October Budget.
DRINKS LIST 2025
Why the Drinks List 2025 is a ‘must-have’ to help stock your bar well
The Morning Advertiser is launching its latest Drinks List so you know the most popular brands in the UK on-trade and how well each one is faring at pubs and bars up and down the country.
Lucky Saint teams up with Greene King pubs for beer giveaway
Alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint has teamed up with Greene King to give away 10,000 of its bottled beers at pubs across the UK.
DISH DECONSTRUCTED
How to make: Cote de Boeuf for two
For this edition of The Morning Advertiser’s (The MA) Dish Deconstructed series, we look at how to make Cote de Boeuf for two.
NIC rise will have bigger impact than changes to Employment Rights Bill
Increased Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) will “immediately impact” employment more than changes to the Employment Rights Bill, one trade body has warned.
M&B posts ‘very strong profit recovery’
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has announced it has had a “very strong profit recovery” in its full year results ended 28 September 2024.
UKH CEO cites benefits of Get Britain Working plans
UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has said the introduction of the Get Britain Working white paper will be beneficial to the on-trade by bringing more people into jobs.
Peroni launches gift wrapping service at London pubs for Black Friday weekend
Asahi UK has announced the launch of an exclusive gift-wrapping service at two London pubs over Black Friday weekend.
Four-day work week could ‘improve mental health’ for hospitality workers
A four-day working week could hugely benefit hospitality workers, according to 4-Day Week Campaign director Joe Ryle.
EXCLUSIVE DATA
After effects of the Budget continue to cause ‘tough trading’ conditions
Trade in pubs and bars has continued to battle “tough trading conditions” as firms digest the after effects of the Budget.
LTC forecasts 30% rise in helpline calls after Budget pressure
The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has predicted there will be a 30% rise in calls to its helpline year on year following increased cost pressures on the sector since the Budget.
TOP 50 BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Top 50 Boutique Hotels list 2024 revealed
South-west countryside estate in Somerset, The Newt, has been named the top boutique hotel for third time.
Storm Bert floods UK pubs
Storm Bert damages and floods pubs over ‘scary weekend’.
The Low & No Project
Theakston launches alcohol-free version of Old Peculier
T&R Theakston, has launched an alcohol-free version of its flagship beer, Old Peculier, as demand for low and no beers continues to grow.
Loungers opens fourth Brightside site
Loungers has announced the opening of its fourth road-side dining venue.
THE CASK PROJECT
CAMRA vents anger as CMBC delists 11 beers from pubs
Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has argued it remains “passionate” about cask ale after CAMRA accused the brewer of “wiping out UK brewing heritage”.
Gov's Industrial Strategy 'overlooks pubs and breweries'
The Government’s Industrial Strategy “overlooks pubs and brewers” and risks economic growth, industry leaders have warned.
OPINION
OPINION: Discovering beer’s bright future in a changing world
After some tough years, the beer industry is finally approaching pre-pandemic revenues and volumes – and we can see ahead of us a new horizon of opportunity.
Trade bodies welcome ‘critical milestone’ in fight against spiking and violence
Trade bodies have welcomed a Government pledge to keep “women and girls safe at night” with a crackdown on spiking that will see it become a new criminal offence.
The Lock In Podcast
Bar room betrayal: How to avoid falling for fraud and theft
‘Good local pub’ is top priority for house hunters
House hunters are ranking a ‘good local pub’ as more important than schools, gyms and places of worship, according to new research from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).
PUBLICAN AWARDS 2025
Publican Awards deadline extended
There’s still time to enter The Publican Awards with a week’s extension to the deadline.
Phil Thorley wins top honour at BII NITAs
Thorley Taverns managing director Phil Thorley picked up the coveted Franca Knowles Live Your Life award at the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) National Innovation in Training Awards 2024 (NITAs).
Trade bodies share ‘deep concern’ after Ofgem increases energy price cap
Sector trade bodies have shared “deep concern” the increase to the energy price cap in 2025 will “compound” the already “severe pressures” faced by firms.
Drinks sales edge into growth ahead of Christmas rush
Hopes raised for a strong festive season as drinks sales see “modest growth” after a “tough autumn”.
UKH Scotland calls for 40% business rates relief ahead of Budget
Firms in Scotland will be “significantly” worse off than their English counterparts without business rates support in the upcoming Scottish Budget, one trade body has warned.
Roseacre grows pub portfolio to 10 sites
Midlands-based Roseacre Pub Company has taken its seventh pub with Star Pubs, increasing its estate to 10 sites – and it has plans to expand further.
BBPA warns extra costs could stop pubs employing new staff
Pubs employ more than 350,000 people aged under 25 but may be forced to halt further recruitment or push up prices, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.
OPINION
OPINION: Dynamic pricing is a quid-pro-quo situation
Pricing is always a challenging topic, and never more so than at the moment, with pubs forced to look at ways to square away escalating costs from the recent Budget.
THE CASK PROJECT
New cask products for pubs
The Morning Advertiser (MA) has taken a look back at some of the new cask products released for the on-trade over the past few months.
OPINION
OPINION: How hospitality is a force for good in prison reform
Following the Autumn Statement, I, as the CEO of Only A Pavement Away – the national charity supporting people facing homelessness and those wanting to rebuild their lives through employment – called for a more holistic approach for those coming out of...
The Alchemist to step up overseas expansion
The Alchemist plans to open a site “further east” next year, the next step in its international expansion plans, according to CEO Simon Potts.
The MA has got a new website
We are excited to launch our brand new website!
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Chester Pub receives £500k investment
This week’s property round-up includes sites involving Hydes, Parker Pub Co, Roxy Leisure, The George IV, Sixes and more.
Gen Z more likely to drink cocktails than beer
Some 35% of Gen Z consumers in the UK would be more likely to choose a cocktail than a beer in the on-trade, new research into on-trade cocktail trends has found.