Health & Safety

Another cannabis farm found in second disused pub this month

18-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Two cannabis farms - one worth £1.8m and the other £130k - have been discovered within days of one another in disused pubs the Merseyside area.

Licensee wounded after confronting armed robbers

18-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A licensee was stabbed after confronting two armed robbers brandishing a spade and a knife who broke into his Lancashire pub in the early hours of Monday (December 18) morning.

Diageo secures 7m pledges to never drink and drive

15-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Diageo has secured more than 7m pledges never to drink and drive through its global programme Johnnie Walker's #JoinThePact, beating its 5m target a year ahead of its goal.

Disused pub used as £1.8m cannabis farm

12-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Almost 450 cannabis plants were discovered in a disused pub by Merseyside Police, worth an estimated street value of £1.8m.

Redcomb pubs to stop offering plastic straws and stirrers

12-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

In an effort to reduce plastic pollution, Redcomb Pubs will call time on offering plastic straws and stirrers in all of its pubs.

Police probe bottle attack in Rutherglen pub

12-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Lanarkshire Police are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured at the Wee Mill pub on Baronald Street, Rutherglen, in the early hours of Saturday 9 December.

Absolut creates song and dance over Uber journeys home

11-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

In a video campaign fronted by Absolut Vodka, brand owner Pernod Ricard UK has teamed up with taxi service Uber to take a different tune in its annual anti-drink-driving campaign by introducing Uber Karaoke.

How pubs can look after designated drivers over Christmas

08-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The number of drink-driving casualties is on the decline, and the amount of soft-drink options are on the up. This combination provides opportunities for pubs and means the heroes of Christmas – the designated drivers – can be looked after during the...

Police hunt white van man after fatal shooting of licensee

06-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Detectives would like to speak with the driver of a white Transit-style van after a murder investigation was launched when a publican was found dead inside his pub from a gunshot injury.

Festive appeal to remove fake banknotes from circulation

06-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Independent crime stopping charity Crimestoppers has appealed to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit notes.

Safe spaces play a vital role in night-time economy

05-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

According to a new report by MAKE Associates, safe spaces play a key role in alleviating pressure on police resources and local accident and emergency departments and could return over £100m per year to the NHS.

Deterring crime: How publicans can keep themselves and staff safe

04-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

It seems that we live in increasingly violent times. And with those threats coming from a wide variety of sources, the need for planning, training and an action plan is more pressing than ever

Pack mentality drives new Drinkaware scheme

30-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

New festive safety campaign urging party-goers to 'Stay with your pack' has been introduced in Nottingham.

Fruit machine raider could face jail

30-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

A thief who stole thousands of pounds from five bars and social clubs across Northumberland and Tyneside, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and was found guilty of a fifth after a trial.

Group of teenagers smash pub windows and beat up customer

28-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A group of youths carrying weapons caused a large scale disturbance at a pub in Greater Manchester after smashing windows and beating up a customer.

Arrests made after multiple car crashes at Kent pubs

27-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

Police were called to incidents at the Cinque Port Arms in New Romney and the Hare & Hounds in Ramsgate on Friday night (24 November) and the early hours of Sunday morning (26 November) respectively.

Drinkers' safety 'put in jeopardy' after shots fired in busy Greater Manchester pub

20-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Men in balaclavas showed "no regard for innocent people" enjoying a Saturday night in a busy Salford pub after firing a shotgun into the ceiling.

Landlord convicted of fly-tipping 'could not afford waste collection'

20-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A former pub owner who claims she "could not afford" to have her waste collected has been ordered to pay a fine and costs in excess of £2,000 for dumping rubbish.

Armed police make arrests during 'large scale' incident at pub

14-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Police swooped on a Middlesbrough pub following reports of a weapon inside and a "large scale disturbance".

Underage alcohol sales in UK pubs hit record low

06-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

A survey of more than 12,000 schoolchildren has revealed that the number of underage alcohol purchases taking place in the UK’s pubs is at an all-time low.

Pub prankster sparks major police response after entering site wearing 'fake suicide vest'

06-Nov-2017 By Georgina Townshend

An "idiotic" prankster, who sparked a major police response when he entered a Poole pub wearing a fake suicide vest and balaclava, has agreed to write a letter of apology to its owners after causing "alarm and distress".

Staffordshire pub receives zero food hygiene rating

12-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A Staffordshire pub has been given a zero food hygiene rating due to inadequately trained staff and lack of a documented food safety management system.

Pub CCTV leads to eight-year prison sentence for man found guilty of manslaughter

12-Oct-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A pub’s clear CCTV footage led to the sentencing of a man who killed a father-of-eight inside the premises with a “single punch”.

'Diverse, multi-generational crowd’ key to thriving night time economy

12-Oct-2017 By Helen Gilbert

Alcohol alone should not be the key focus of a thriving night-time economy (NTE), a new toolkit by the Portman Group has found.

'Pub fight' prompts Murder investigation after man dies

10-Oct-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Lancashire police have launched a murder investigation after a man died on holiday the day after he was allegedly involved in a pub fight between two groups of men.

Publican guilty of manslaughter jailed for seven years

09-Oct-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A former pub landlord, found guilty of the manslaughter of a man who died last year and perverting the course of justice, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Two pubs targeted by armed robbers in balaclavas in 24 hours

05-Oct-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Two pubs more than 150 miles apart have been struck in the space of 24 hours by armed robbers in balaclavas. Both attacks resulted in staff receiving injuries and cash being stolen.

Publican found guilty of manslaughter after punching man outside his pub

29-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A former publican from Leicester was convicted of manslaughter and perverting the course of justice on Friday (29 September) after he punched a man outside his pub, knocking him to the ground.

Millennials: 'getting drunk is pathetic and for older people'

28-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

'Festival mad' Millennials have called last orders on the 'boozy pub culture', with 'wellness in and alcohol out' as they look for a wider range of experiences other than getting drunk, according to a new survey.

Pub acid attack leaves woman ‘temporarily blinded'

27-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

An acid attack in a pub in Suffolk has left a woman, who was "not the intended target", temporarily blinded.

Burglars cause 'considerable damage' to North Bar site

20-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Intruders destroyed parts of a pub as they stole a safe at one of Publican Award winners North Brewing Co's arm of North Bar sites.

Best Bar None continues to soar

12-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Best Bar None (BBN) has continued to roll out new schemes across the country, and now operates in 70 towns and cities.

Burglar who 'deliberately' blocked toilet to distract pub staff 'stole £1.5k from behind the bar'

07-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A Lincolnshire licensee has said she now “feels nervous to be left in the pub on her own” after a man deliberately, and “disgustingly”, blocked a toilet to distract her and allegedly stole more than £1,500 from behind the bar.

Pest control called to JDW pub after maggots fall from ceiling

23-Aug-2017 By James Beeson

A Kent pub was forced to partially close on Tuesday (22 August) after maggots started to fall from its ceiling.

Regular pub binge drinkers 'more likely' to be violent

22-Aug-2017 By James Beeson

People who admit to regularly binge drinking at the pub are more prone to have acted violently in the past 12 months, according to new research.

Antisocial group prompts Cromer pubs to shut early

22-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Pubs in Cromer, North Norfolk, closed early on Saturday night to “avoid trouble” after several reports of anti-social behaviour and public disorder over the weekend.

Man who set fire to a Stonegate LGBT bar receives life imprisonment

08-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Staff from the Clapham-based Two Brewers, owned by pubco Stonegate, have been praised for their cooperation with the police after a man set fire to the bar in a “carefully calculated attack” – the second time he has tried to torch the venue.

Firefighters evacuate 20 people and save pet hamster from pub inferno

02-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Twenty people, including customers and staff, were evacuated from the Hampton Pub, Hampton, after flames were seen coming from the first floor of the property. 

Drinking alcohol ‘most days’ can reduce diabetes risk

28-Jul-2017 By James Beeson

Having a drink on three or four days per week may reduce the risk of diabetes by over 30%, according to a new study. 

JDW pub kitchen forced to shut after ‘pests’ found in nearby bins

26-Jul-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Pests, thought to be maggots were discovered in nearby bins to a JD Wetherspoon (JDW) pub in Gloucestershire, forcing the kitchen to close temporarily. 

How to avoid rat and other pest infestations in your pub

25-Jul-2017 By James Beeson

Preventing rubbish build-ups and filling up gaps in walls and floors are just two of the ways pub landlords can prevent rat and other pest infestations, according to a leading hygiene expert.

Alcohol sales clampdown call is 'rehash of old ideas'

25-Jul-2017 By Fred A'Court

A research organisation’s report calling for tighter measures on alcohol sales has been labelled a rehash of demands that campaigning groups have been making for the past 10 years.

Durham pub forced to evacuate 200 people due to ‘noxious substance’

10-Jul-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A Durham city centre pub was forced to close temporarily after reports of a "noxious substance being sprayed". 

On-trade serving 1 in 4 teens alcohol without asking for ID

30-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Operators sold one in four teenage mystery shoppers alcohol without asking for proof of age in 2016, according to new data.

How to avoid faecal bacteria in pub ice machines

30-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Ice machine suppliers have issued advice to help pub operators ensure ice equipment is safe from bacterial contamination.

One in five people in Wales drink more than guidelines recommend

30-Jun-2017 By Michelle Perrett

One in five (20%) people in Wales drink more alcohol than the recommended weekly consumption figure of 14 units, the National Survey of Wales has revealed.

Up in smoke: the rules of vaping inside pubs

30-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The smoking ban came into effect in 2007 but where does that leave the many people who now want to vape in your premises rather than smoke cigarettes?

Open house event launched to celebrate London Bridge and Borough Market

30-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

London operators and customers alike are being urged to come together in London Bridge and Borough Market this Saturday (1 July) in support of local businesses following the terror attack in the area.

‘We don't need to go back to the days of stinking like a rancid ashtray’: Your reactions to pro-smoking group’s call to review smoking ban

27-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Around this time 10-years ago pubs and punters were nervous for the future of their local watering holes – with good reason. The smoking ban was days away from coming into force which, as predicted, changed the dynamics of pubs permanently.

Drinkaware unveils five-year strategy as it focuses on older drinkers

26-Jun-2017 By Fred A'Court

A significant shift in drinking habits and falling sales have led the alcohol education charity Drinkaware to shift its focus from young to older drinkers.