PUBLICAN AWARDS 2025
Publican Awards deadline extended
There’s still time to enter The Publican Awards with a week’s extension to the deadline.
News
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...
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.
Rising inflation and energy prices 'ominous warning'
Higher than expected inflation and energy prices an “ominous warning” of what could come in April, industry leaders have warned.
THE LOW & NO PROJECT
Star Pubs and Gov target young males in drink-drive campaign
Star Pubs and the Department for Transport (DfT) have joined forces to launch the THINK! 0% campaign in its pubs.
Managed groups see below inflation growth for fourth month in a row
Like-for-like growth across managed hospitality groups has remained below inflation for the fourth month in a row.
Wells & Co invests in French estate due to 'negative' Budget impacts
Wells & Co has will direct its capex funds overseas rather than the UK as a result of the autumn Budget, which will have a "prolonged negative impact on consumer confidence".
Sector 'in the doldrums' as insolvencies rise 5%
Hospitality firms are "in the doldrums" as company insolvencies across the sector rise by 5% year-on-year.
Oakman disposes of two pubs to avoid potential sale of business
Oakman Group has ended the potential sale of its business after it sold two pubs to McMullen that will give it funds to repay a debt by January 2025.
Welsh gov move to abandon DRS ‘extremely disappointing’
The Welsh branch of UKHospitality has labelled a move by the country’s Government to abandon the UK-wide deposit return scheme (DRS) as “extremely disappointing”.
Electric Shuffle to open third London site
Electric Shuffle is set to open its third London site with King’s Cross named as the location for the competitive socialising bar.
Greene King latest to face backlash for 'event' pricing
Greene King is the latest pub operator to come under fire for its use of 'event' pricing at peak trading times, insisting the increase is used to “cover additional costs”.
MY PUB
MY PUB: Victoria Oxshott, Leatherhead, Surrey
The Victoria Oxshott is a fine-dining pub-restaurant in a beautiful area of England.
North Brewing co-founders to step away from brewing arm
Co-founders of popular Leeds-based business North Brewing, Christian Townsley and John Gyngell have announced they are stepping away from the brewing arm of the company.
Josh & Holly Eggleton open new pub
Brother and sister Josh and Holly Eggleton have opened the Pelican in Chew Magna, Somerset.
Licensees recognised for two decades at pub
Licensees of Newcastle-under-Lyme-based pub, the Waggon & Horses have been awarded Star Pubs prestigious ‘dedication award’ to mark their 20th anniversary as operators of the site.
Budget blasted as 'anti-business'
A leading family brewer has blasted the Budget as “anti-business” and left his seventh-generation business facing the “greatest challenge of our lives”.
Plans to permanently cut business rates must 'level the playing field'
Industry leaders warn measures to permanently cut business rates must be part of a “bigger picture” to reduce the “unfair tax burden” on the sector.
Number of outlets grows but Budget threatens confidence
The number of licensed premises has increased for a second successive quarter, but the Budget threatens confidence in the sector and puts independent pubs at risk.
£3.4bn cost hike for sector needs rethink
The Government has been urged to rethink the £3.4bn worth of costs to hit the sector in April 2025, following recent figures having shown UK economic growth slowed to 0.1% between July and September.
UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY
Energy prices rising for festive period
A combination of factors has driven a significant spike in energy prices over the past few days.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
Festive licensing advice
With the Christmas festivities nearly upon us (or so the shops would have you believe) it is time to reflect on what you need to consider in terms of your trading hours over the festive period.
Churchill Arms: Christmas arrives at 'magical event'
Christmas has officially begun at one of Fuller’s “most recognisable” London pubs, famed for its festive décor.
Pub to rival John Lewis with Christmas spoof
A Norfolk-based pub operator is hoping to go head to head with John Lewis on the Christmas advert front with the launch of its own video card for customers.
OPINION
OPINION: Pub valuations as a going concern
When you're valuing a pub or other type of leisure and hospitality business, if it’s open and trading as a going concern (and, mostly, when it’s not), you value it as a fully equipped and operational entity, having regard to trading potential.
'We need a little more positivity'
The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Freespirit Pubs boss Mark Higgs for his take on the week's news.
World’s Best Steak crowned
Australia has taken the title of the producer of best steak in the world.
City nightclub facing closure due to lease expiration
Motion, a popular night-time live music venue located in Avon Street in Bristol, has announced it may be closing its doors come July 2025.
LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
Is it time to evaluate licensing review proceedings?
I get a lot of enquiries from people in the industry facing a review of their premises licence. For any operator, big or small, a review is bad news. The consequences can be severe, the outcome is unpredictable and the anxiety all too real.
NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP
Chouffe unveils new beer on draught
This month's round-up includes new products from Chouffe Brewery, Greene King, Rampur and more.
Brewery targets fast reopening after lorry crash
Black Country brewery has said it hopes to get a Shropshire pub reopened “as soon as is practical” after a lorry crashed into the building causing “major structural damage” earlier this week.
JDW switches from Spanish to Italian lager
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced it will be changing its core draught beer range.
Budget to cost Young’s £11m
The Government’s Budget will mean significant cost hikes for Young’s in the near term, the London-based business has stated in its interim results.
BrewDog’s loss before tax ‘balloons’ by almost £30m
A financial expert has described BrewDog’s loss before tax as “ballooning” from £30.5m in its 2022 results to £59.2m in its latest audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Pubs warned to 'tread carefully' with dynamic pricing
The use of dynamic pricing in the hospitality sector is “trickier” to navigate than other industries and risks creating “negative sentiment” with consumers, one expert has warned.
Wage inflation shows 'pressure' on margins
Wage inflation in Q3 2024 demonstrated “pronounced pressure” on margins while a drop in vacancies showed “shoots of recovery”.
Brewhouse & Kitchen to launch Craft House concept
Brewhouse & Kitchen (B&K) is to launch a new concept called Craft House, which will be rolled out to four of its existing high street locations over the next six months, with the potential for further conversions.
Fuller's reports 5.4% uptick in lfl sales, Xmas bookings up 15%
Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) has reported a 5.4% uplift in like-for-like (lfl) sales with Christmas bookings up by 15%.