News

Moleface Pub Company opens fifth pub in Nottingham

30-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Nottinghamshire based Moleface Pub Company is opening its sixth site next week (6 September).

Spirit launches academy for would-be kitchen workers in pubs

29-Aug-2012 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company, the managed and leased operator, has launched an academy for would-be chefs and kitchen workers in pubs.

Tourists find pubs and restaurants welcoming claims VisitBritain survey

28-Aug-2012 By John Harrington

Restaurants and pubs are among the locations where overseas tourists feel the most welcome during their stay in the UK, according to a survey of 9,000 departing overseas visitors.

Pipe & Glass's James Mackenzie's On the Menu recipe book shortlisted for award

23-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

A recipe book by Michelin-starred pub chef James Mackenzie is in the running for an award.

Big D Nuts urges pubs to get involved in charity finger footie competition

14-Aug-2012

Licensees could win a year’s supply of Big D nuts if their punters get involved in a new finger footie competition in aid of the Balls To Cancer charity.

The Good Food Guide names 'culinary golden age' with top 50 restaurant list

13-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

The consultant editor of The Good Food Guide believes we are in a “culinary golden age” following the release of the Guide’s top 50 restaurants.

The Plough Inn at Longparish, Hampshire is The Good Food Guide's Pub of the Year 2013

13-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

The Good Food Guide’s Pub of the Year 2013 is the Plough Inn in Longparish, Hampshire.

Livebookings secures two major pub group accounts

13-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Online reservation facility Livebookings has further consolidated its presence in the pub sector with two major contracts.

Booker launches second Indian product promotion for publicans

10-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

UK drink and food wholesaler Booker is offering customers discounts on Indian products until 11 September.

Brakes acquires £150m-worth of new business including DBC account and The Restaurant Group

10-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Foodservice supplier Brakes has secured £150m from new contracts since the start of the year.

Former Gordon Ramsay pub the Devonshire Arms back on the market

09-Aug-2012

The Devonshire Arms, Chiswick-based pub that was formerly owned by high-profile chef Gordon Ramsay, has been placed on the market with vacant possession at a guide price of £1m.

Living Ventures, Mitchells & Butlers and Young's all named in Shortlist Top Gastropub poll

07-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Living Ventures has topped a poll of the UK’s Best Gastropubs with Mitchells & Butlers and Young’s also front runners.

Birra Moretti teams up with Italian bread supplier Crosta & Mollica for summer promotion

06-Aug-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Birra Moretti has teamed up with a regional Italian bread supplier for a summer-long promotion.

Pork prices to rise by at least 10% in 2013

26-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pub chefs are being urged to increase the price of pork on the menu as the meat stands to rocket by at least 10% in cost next year.

Food Standards Agency urges attention to food safety over Olympic Games

24-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Three in four people take a chance with food safety when eating out, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Consumers eating out more but spending less per visit

24-Jul-2012

Consumers are eating out more often although they are spending less per visit, says new research from foodservice consultancy Horizons.

Chef and Brewer offers £1,000 to people who support Olympic talent

23-Jul-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Chef and Brewer pubs are running a campaign looking for people who give their all to support future sporting talent – and the pub chain is offering a prize package worth more than £1,000 to a true ‘Champion of Champions’.

Punch links up with Lavazza to serve coffee in its pubs

20-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Punch Taverns has embarked on a link up with Lavazza coffee to be served in its tenanted pubs.

Hot dogs predicted to become next food craze for pubs

19-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

A top Young’s manager has predicted that hot dogs will be the next craze to sweep through the British dining scene.

Pubs going 'hyper-local' as food miles shrink

12-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

The definition of ‘local’ is shrinking as pub chefs source produce even closer to home.

Whitbread's Brewers Fayre launches largest ever advertising campaign

05-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Whitbread has launched its biggest ever national advertising campaign for its Brewers Fayre brand.

£1.25bn trade boost for pubs and restaurants from spring/summer events

05-Jul-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The combined impact of the Diamond Jubilee, Euro 2012 and the Olympics is set to increase trading in bars and restaurants by about £1.25bn, according to estimates from accountancy firm BDO.

Pubs are facing cost pressures ‘similar to the 1950s’

02-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pub and restaurant businesses are facing the same cost pressures as 60 years ago, reveals Livebookings’ European Dining Index.

Leading hospitality companies sign up to cut food waste

27-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A group of 68 leading pub chains, hotels, restaurants, contract caterers and industry bodies have signed up to a Hospitality and Food Service Agreement, whch aims to cut food and associated packaging waste by 5%.

Whitbread brings in food supremo from Wagamama

26-Jun-2012 By Mark Wingett

Whitbread has made a further move to strengthen the food offer across its c.390-strong pub-restaurant estate, with the appointment of its first food director, Ronald Lento.

St Austell opens Devon pub after £1.8m spend

26-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

A St Austell Brewery inn has reopened after an 18-month £1.8m restoration project in Chagford, Devon.

Menu allergen labelling plans to be revealed soon by Government

18-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pubs and restaurants can expect Government action on allergen labelling “reasonably soon”, according to the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

Sandwich bars could offer an extra revenue stream for pubs

14-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Publicans should consider adding sandwich bars to capture more of the lunch-time market, advises the British Sandwich Association (BSA).

Pub chains and social media get blame for difficult diners

14-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pub operators have blamed chains that allow people to tailor their meals and the spread of social media for a rise in demanding diners.

JD Wetherspoon among pub chains under fire for high-salt children's meals

14-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Children’s meals at several pub and fast food chains contain more salt than is recommended for a whole day.

Treat kids well and grow your business

13-Jun-2012 By Tim Abbott

When deciding to go out to eat with the family, it’s not as easy in practice as many people may think. Not only do you have to bring all the usual clobber for the kids — you need to go somewhere where a) the food is good and b) somewhere the kids can...

Older customers: Don't ignore the 'grey pound'

08-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

The number of over-65s now outnumbers those under-16 and the UK’s ageing population is only going to become more pronounced. We can blame the post-war baby boomers for our current predicament, or rather their parents...

Older customers are good for pubs with higher food spend and more frequent visits

06-Jun-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pubs can benefit from the UK’s ageing population as younger consumers turn to quick-service options.

How to pep up those cheaper cuts of meat

31-May-2012 By James MacKenzie

Using cheaper cuts of meat is, I believe, an essential part of making a modern-day kitchen perform efficiently in regards to GP costs and making your menu more interesting to your customers.

Alastair Sawdays guide: Tradition draws in the punters

31-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

David Hancock’s observations in compiling the Sawday’s guide this year all run along a common theme — a return to tradition.

Alastair Sawday Pubs and Inns' editor says pub diversification growing

31-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Successful food pubs are those focusing on diversification, according to the editor of Alastair Sawday’s Pubs & Inns guide.

Consumer spending on eating out expected to stay stable

28-May-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Two-thirds of consumers say they intend to spend the same amount of money on eating out over the coming 12 months as they did in the previous year, with over 40% of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they will spend more, according to new figures from research...

Wholesaler Booker sales up 7.3%

24-May-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Booker, the food and drink wholesaler, has reported a 7.3% rise in sales in the 52 week to 23 March as it announces plans to open another five of its Classic on-trade specific wholesaler stores in this current year.

Pubs turning to bring-your-own-food to boost revenues

21-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pubs are turning to bring-your-own-food to boost their revenue and combat increasing prices.

Half & Half gets pizza the action with Domino's tie-up

21-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

I am impressed with Half & Half Lounge Bar’s ingenuity in approaching its local Domino’s franchise in a mutually beneficial deal.

Geronimo Inns plans pop-up Calf bar at Westfield Stratford shopping centre

21-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Geronimo Inns is gearing up for the Olympics with a pop-up pub at London Stratford’s Westfield shopping centre.

$Tex Mex is ideal for pub menus$

Tex Mex is ideal for pub menus

14-May-2012 By Lesley Foottit

As our British taste buds continue their education in the greater flavours of the wider world, more exotic cuisines continue to be integrated into the pub sector.