Health & Safety

Advice

Staff abuse: How pubs react to racism, rants and rowdiness

18-Nov-2015 By Oli Gross

Abuse to pub staff can come in many forms, and whether verbal or physical it can have a damaging impact on employees’ lives and a licensee’s business.

Analysis

Will multi-million pound cuts to police budgets be bad news for pubs?

17-Nov-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Headlines have been dominated by news of a further wave of police cuts, with some critics warning forces will be stretched to breaking point. But what impact will the cuts- which stretch into the hundreds of millions-have on pubs?

Most shocking stories 2015

Pubs warned of "severe" risk after Paris terror attacks

16-Nov-2015 By Oli Gross

Pubs have been urged to be vigilant and to review security arrangements in the wake of the Paris terror attacks due to a “severe” risk of further incidents.

Food safety

How hygienic are pubs?

13-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs and bars outperformed restaurants, cafés and canteens in the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) food hygiene broad compliance report, a result spurred by increasing competition in the eating out sector.

Food Safety

‘Pubs not up to scratch on allergen labelling’

11-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs are lagging behind the rest of the food industry on food allergen labelling, experts have warned, following the release of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) latest local authority food law report.

Suffolk gastropub fire: owner describes trauma of seeing pub in flames

06-Nov-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The owner of a Suffolk gastropub that was devastated in a fire earlier this year has described the trauma of being woken up to discover his pub had been nearly destroyed.

Food safety

Government issues advice to limit ‘cancer-causing’ toxin in food

05-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Advice on how to limit the amount of the cancer-causing toxin acrylamide in starch-rich foods such as chips, toast, cake and coffee has been issued by the Government’s chief scientific advisor Professor Guy Poppy.

Rare burgers ‘not worth the hassle’, PMA readers say

02-Nov-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Serving rare burgers “is not worth the food safety hassle”, according to a Twitter poll of Publican’s Morning Advertiser readers.

Food safety

Rare burgers ‘not worth the risk’, warns expert

26-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Serving rare burgers is “not worth the risk or cost” to operators, a leading food safety advisor to the hospitality sector has warned.

Food safety

'Speedier fines' for law-breaking food businesses

26-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Law-breaking food businesses, including pubs, could expect speedier fines and prosecutions as a result of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) food law prosecution database and a strategy to improve the organisation’s digital technology.

Pub hygiene: creating a clean bill of health

23-Oct-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Having a clean pub is not only pleasant, it can be the difference between gaining an amazing reputation and being ordered to shut down. Michelle Perrett focuses on what an inspector will be looking for when visiting your premises.

The Guv'nor: Disgusting stance over my wingman

22-Oct-2015 By James Evison

I was recently asked by a local magazine to host a cookery demonstration at its Christmas fare, as I had done last year.

Enterprise tenants send emotional thanks to community who helped pub 'when we thought we would never recover.'

21-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Enterprise tenants have sent heartfelt thanks to the local community who helped them rebuilt their pub after it suffered extensive damage in a fire last year.

E-cigarette debate

Outside smoking ban consultation criticised for including e-cigarettes

19-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Swansea Council is facing criticism for asking if e-cigarettes should be banned in outside public spaces in a consultation which could impact pub gardens.

Food safety

New food safety qualifications launched

19-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Six new food safety qualifications to help food businesses prepare safe and legal meals have been launched by the British Safety Council.

Do not drink: "Shattering" bottles recalled

16-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Three beers from Staffordshire Brewery have been recalled after some of the bottles were “shattering” due to faulty glass.

Licensing officers

Exclusive interview: Police chief on horrific pubs, breathalysers and best practice

13-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

In an exclusive interview with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, the chief licensing officer at the Metropolitan Police described the best and worst practices he’s seen at pubs, and encouraged licensees to work “as a team” with police.

Pubs in the papers: Duck fights dog, Jurgen Klopp and a tragic killing

13-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

The Publican's Morning Advertiser takes a look at pubs hitting the headlines for good, bad, and downright weird.

Pubs miss out on free-from food market

13-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Big pub chains are failing to cater for thousands of UK consumers looking for free-from food options on menus, an expert in the field has claimed.

PUB FIRES

PMA research shows chimneys, arson, cigarettes most common cause of fire

09-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Fires can be devastating for pubs, not just the impact it has on business but damage to the homes and livelihoods of licensees.

Pub fires

Demolition warning for pubs neglecting fire safety responsibilities

09-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

Licensees have been warned not to neglect their fire safety responsibilities, or risk heavy fines and potential demolition of their pub.

Man who bulldozed own pub escapes charges

07-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A business man who demolished his own pub by driving a digger into it has been let of the hook - because he was destroying his own property.

sustainability

Government must reward sustainable businesses, says top gastropub operator

07-Oct-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Sustainability must "become the norm" rather than the “eccentric oddity” for food businesses, a top operator has urged.

Pub in clear over oyster poisoning

06-Oct-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

There is no evidence that oysters served at a pub were responsible for an outbreak of illness among several customers last month, an investigation has revealed.

Licensee fined £30,000 for 'firetrap' pub

01-Oct-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The licensee of a Brick Lane pub that was branded a ‘fire trap’ has been hit with a £30,000 fine for breaking fire safety laws.

Pub investigates after it is invaded by hundreds of flies

29-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

An Aintree pub is investigating the cause of a swarm of flies that descended on the pubs dining room.

Hampshire pub goes completely gluten-free

29-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The Compass Inn, Winsor, has made the transition to an entirely gluten-free menu.

Environmental damage

Pub hit by £150k fine for polluting stream in Cleveland

29-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

A Cleveland pub has been hit with a £150,000 fine after its sewage treatment works polluted a stream.

Rare burger rules ‘won’t keep diners safe’

28-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Food businesses won’t be able to guarantee consumer safety when serving rare burgers, even after implementing the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) new guidance, experts have warned.

ALLERGEN LEGISLATION

Pubs and restaurants struggling with "unreliable" allergen warnings, report claims

28-Sep-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Pubs and restaurants’ claims that meals ‘may contain’ traces of various allergens are often based on unreliable information, according to new research.

Most shocking stories 2015

VIDEO: Barman brutally mowed down by angry customer in stolen car

24-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

An angry customer who mowed down a barman in a stolen car after an argument about a drink has been jailed for 13 years.

Most shocking stories 2015

Liquid nitrogen cocktail case: Wine bar fined £100,000 after woman has stomach removed

18-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A wine bar has been fined £100,000 after a woman had to have her stomach removed after drinking a liquid nitrogen cocktail.

Birmingham venue hangs onto licence by searching own staff for weapons

17-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Birmingham nightclub has clung on to its licence by offering to search its own staff for weapons.

Freedom of Information

Exclusive: National rise in violent crime at pubs

16-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

Exclusive figures obtained by the PMA indicate a national trend of increasing violent crime in pubs.

Local pub news

Thief hid in Wetherspoons pub while staff locked up before stealing £3,500

16-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

A thief hid in a Cambridge pub until closing time, stayed out of sight while staff locked up, before stealing £3,500 from its slot machines.

BBPA

Industry commended for responsible drinking initiatives

16-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

Responsible drinking initiatives driven by the industry have been commended in a report released by the British Beer and Pub Association today ahead of the first ever Global Beer Responsibility Day on Friday (18 September).

Pubs in the news

Pubs in the papers: Corbyn, arson, mass brawl...and Man U player eats at Wetherspoons

14-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

The PMA looks at the good, bad, weird and wonderful action that publicans handle on a daily basis up and down the country.

Publican calls on trade for help after devastating fire ravages his pub

14-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Dorset publican has appealed for the trade’s help after a fire ravaged his pub, potentially leaving his family homeless.

Five-second rule is false: scientists

14-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Scientists have debunked the myth that food dropped on the floor for five-seconds or less is still safe to eat.

Leisure

All work and no play for 80% of licensees who are concerned at shortage of free time

04-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Publicans are increasingly worried about the pressures of the job, with almost 80% reporting that they are ‘concerned’ at the shortage of free time they have.

Nightmare children top complaint from pub goers

02-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Unruly children top the list of complaints from pub goers according to this year’s Good Pub Guide.

Pub that banned children says business is as good as ever

01-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

An East Staffordshire pub says trade is as good as ever despite taking the controversial decision to ban children under the age of five.

Shepherd Neame blamed for sewage-like stench upsetting Faversham locals

24-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Brewery Shepherd Neame is trying to get to the bottom of a persistent smell that is getting up the noses of Faversham locals.

Legal advice

The impact of public health in the licensing process

24-Aug-2015 By Poppleston Allen

The Government is anxious for public health authorities in England and Wales to be more involved in the licensing process following their establishment as a responsible authority in 2012.

Police

'Vexatious' PC aims to sue after burglar alarm gives him tinnitus at break-in

24-Aug-2015 By Oli Gross

A licensee fears for the relationship between operators and police as an officer is trying to sue him - claiming a burglar alarm gave him tinnitus when attending a break-in.