Property Law

Campaigners launch crowdfunding scheme to buy heritage pub

19-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

A community group has launched a crowdfunding campaign to buy a Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) heritage pub in Leeds.

Greene King opens 14 new Farmhouse Inns

13-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Greene King has opened 14 new Farmhouse Inns sites over the last 12 months and has recruited 1,000 staff to fuel the expansion. 

Introduce agent-of-change principle to ‘balance’ Licensing Act, say Lords

06-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Proposals to change the Licensing Act have called for the inclusion of an agent-of-change principle to make licensing laws fairer for businesses and residents.

CAMRA fights to reopen last pub in Norwich suburb

03-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Plans to turn a closed suburban Norwich pub into flats have faced strong opposition from the Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).

Pub success: Going multiple

03-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

You’ve squeezed everything you can out of your site and are now ready to move on up and run a second site. What challenges await you on the journey to becoming a mighty multiple operator?

BrewDog hits back at pub name debacle

29-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

BrewDog pleads “please don’t steal our trademarks” in a blog post following the dispute over a Birmingham pub name that left the brewer and pub operator criticised by consumers.

PM Theresa May asked to help save Maidenhead pub

28-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Campaigners have called on Prime Minister Theresa May to help save a pub in her Maidenhead constituency from closing.

BBPA concerns ‘addressed’ by latest amendment to permitted development rights

27-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Government’s latest proposal to change ‘permitted development rights’ (PDR) has “addressed concerns” that food-led pubs could have been disadvantaged under Lord Kennedy’s proposal, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said.

Government supports amendment that protects pubs from change of use

24-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has confirmed the Government will support an amendment that will make it harder for big chains and developers to buy out individual pubs.

MP shines spotlight on pub development laws

23-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Simon Danczuk MP has asked a Government minister to clarify the effect permitted development rights have had on pub closures.

Pub success: Stepping up a gear

22-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

You’ve realised the dream and have the keys to your own pub. Now that you have your foot in the door, it’s time to think about how you can make the most of the site.

Be At One talks multiple city sites as it opens second Leeds pub

16-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Cocktail bar operator Be At One has acquired a second site in Leeds increasing its total number of sites to 32.

Calls for Newby to quit mount in protest outside PCA office

15-Mar-2017 By Claire Churchard

A group of tied-tenants renewed calls for the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) to step down during a protest right outside the PCA’s head office in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Exclusive

Almost a third of pubs in England ‘exempt from rates payments’ from April

14-Mar-2017 By Claire Churchard

Almost 30% of pubs in England won’t pay any business rates over the next five years, starting from April 2017 when new property valuations come into force, according to figures from rates experts CVS.

Regional focus on... The Home Counties

13-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Home Counties offer a similar appeal to operators as London, but also offer something that little bit different to the capital. Here's a selection of the best pubs available in the area.

All Southwark pubs given ‘extra layer of protection’ by council

10-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Southwark Council has added an 'extra layer of protection' for 188 pub sites across the borough by altering a planning condition that had allowed developers to change the use of the site.

Pub success: Starting out

09-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Owning a pub is the aspirational dream for a significant minority of people who regularly soak up the atmosphere in a pub. But just what do you need to know about the trade before starting out and what challenges lie ahead for first-time operators?

Liberation Group buys two pubs from British Country Inns

02-Mar-2017 By Mark Wingett, MCA

Liberation Group, the Caledonia Investments-backed company, has acquired two freehold pubs from British Country Inns 2 PLC - the Lime Kiln Inn, Knole, Somerset and Beambridge, Samford Arundell for an undisclosed sum.

BBPA and CAMRA divided over planning law amendment

01-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) have weighed in over potential changes to permitted development rights for pubs.

Bravo Inns takes estate up to 40 sites

28-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Bravo Inns has taken on two town centre pubs, bringing its total number of sites up to 40.

Faucet Inn shelves plan to buy iconic gay pub

20-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Faucet Inn has pulled out of talks to takeover iconic Lambeth pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern – a move that has been welcomed by campaigners.

MA500

Pubs with rooms are 'not like Fawlty Towers now'

16-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Visitor numbers across Britain are expected to rise further as the weaker pound makes it more attractive to foreigners and Brits alike, according to Dominic Worrall, owner of the Bull in Ditchling, East Sussex.

Campaigners' new plan to save ‘vital’ gay pub

14-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Campaign group The Black Cap Foundation will issue a revised business plan to reopen the iconic gay pub the Black Cap in Camden.

Stonegate takes on more JDW pubs

10-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Ever-expanding pub company Stonegate has bought two more JD Wetherspoon (JDW) pubs, meaning that it has now acquired a dozen JDW sites in the past four months.

Are ACVs an asset to the pub trade?

06-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

With the law around assets of community value set to be reviewed. Here’s what the industry needs to do to make the legislation of real value to pubs.

Stonegate acquires trio of London pubs

03-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Stonegate has increased its portfolio to 693 sites after exchanging contracts to take on three London venues from Faucet Inn.

Top gastropub the Falcon Inn on the market for £1.4m

03-Feb-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Historic gastropub the Falcon Inn in Fotheringhay, Peterborough, is on the market with Christie & Co for £1.4m.

UK’s oldest gay pub saved by mixed use classification

02-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Iconic gay pub the Royal Vauxhall Tavern has been granted a mixed use (sui generis) classification, protecting it against development.

Route clear for Heineken's Punch pubs takeover

01-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Heineken is now the only remaining bidder for a portfolio of 1,900 Punch pubs after rival bidder Emerald Investment confirmed that it would not pursue its bid further.

Regional focus on... Birmingham

01-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

In our latest look at the pub property market across the country, we cast our eyes on the best pubs available in Birmingham.

Licensee wins planning case against NewRiver Retail

27-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

A pub in Leek was celebrating after quashing its owners’ plans to build two residential houses in the car park. 

UKIP MEP slams NewRiver over pub demolition plans

25-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

The UKIP Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the West Midlands has blasted NewRiver Retail’s plans to demolish a Dudley pub to make way for a Co-operative supermarket. 

The best-laid plans - what more can be done to protect pubs?

20-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

All too often pubs close down and are turned into houses and shops, so are beloved and valued community pubs being given enough protection by legislation? 

Lords to debate change in pub planning laws

19-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

The end of permitted development rights on pubs could be in sight after it was confirmed that the House of Lords would debate changing the regulations as part of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill.

Property

Five out of every six pubs sold in 2016 remained as pubs

13-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

Christie & Co has reported that 83% of pubs sold in 2016 remained as pubs – with only 6% being converted into houses.

BrewDog

BrewDog hits out at council over land price row

13-Jan-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

BrewDog has slammed Aberdeenshire Council after claims the price of land BrewDog had earmarked for development was more than “60 times fair market value”.

ACV

ACV granted in battle to save boozer from supermarket conversion

12-Jan-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

A Somerset pub bought by supermarket group Tout’s Budgens has been granted asset of community value (ACV) status after locals campaigned to save it. 

Bed tax

Local authorities urged not to consider bed tax

12-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has urged local authorities to avoid new tax burdens on operators.

Historic Pubs

Historic England launches campaign to save post-war pubs

09-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Historic England is to launch a new campaign to save pubs built post-1945, following the success of its inter-war pub campaign in 2015.

Property

Liquidation loses Yorkshire pub group 18 sites

05-Jan-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A raft of pubs in Leeds, Bradford and Keighley have been lost by a Yorkshire pub group that went into liquidation

2017 predictions

2017 predictions: Leading pub property agents forecast continued high demand

05-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

Despite business rates and Brexit uncertainty, the pub property market is buoyant with - if anything - too much demand for sites. Four leading licensed property experts give their insight into the market.

Property

Pub to be converted into flats to help tackle ‘chronic shortage’ of affordable housing

05-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

A pub in in South Oxhey, near Watford, Hertfordshire, risks being demolished and transformed into new flats, if a planning application is approved. 

Property

Pop sensation Robbie Williams' pub home for sale

05-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

Robbie Williams's former pub home is up for sale with a guide price of £150,000, but could be turned into flats if no buyers step forward.

Property

Pubs being sold for alternative use on the decline

05-Jan-2017 By Liam Coleman

The percentage of pubs that are sold for non-pub use decreased by 25% in 2016, according to the annual Fleurets survey of pub prices.

Property

‘We couldn’t see another pub go to waste’: Brighton brewery to save 200-year-old pub

03-Jan-2017 By Sara Hussein

A Brighton brewery has announced today (Tuesday 3 January) plans to save a 200-year-old pub from closing.  

2017 predictions

2017 predictions: Fleurets forecasts one more pubco exit from tied lease model

21-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

Fleurets has predicted that at least one tenanted pub company will exit the tied lease operating model in 2017.

Legislation

Mulholland accuses BBPA of misleading parliament

19-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group chairman Greg Mulholland has made a stinging attack on the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) accusing it of misleading MPs in a vote on development rights for pubs.

Legislation

Save the Pub Group fails to get change in planning law through Parliament

15-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

The Save The Pub Group's bid to scrap permitted development rights for pubs has failed to make it through Parliament.

Legislation

‘Targeted by supermarkets’: Save the Pub Group could protect pubs under amended planning law

13-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has put forward an amendment to planning proposals that would give more protection to pubs. 

Property

How to save a pub - The story of the Duke of Marlborough

06-Dec-2016 By Liam Coleman

In December 2014, the last pub in the Suffolk village of Somersham closed its doors. Less than two years later, the pub has been bought by the local community and is on the verge of reopening. Here’s the story of the Duke of Marlborough.