Operations

Proud to be British

05-Aug-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Lesley Foottit explores ways pubs can get involved in British Food Fortnight, running from 17 September to 2 October.

Cooking up a good deal

04-Aug-2011 By Phil Mellows

Licensees thinking of franchising out their kitchen need to take into account a multitude of factors and potential pitfalls, reports Phil Mellows.

£2.5m British Gas fine 'not enough'

04-Aug-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees have welcomed the £2.5m fine issued to British Gas for not handling complaints from small businesses and domestic users appropriately.

Banking on holiday plans

03-Aug-2011 By Sonya Hook

Pubs that plan food and drink options and outdoor events well in advance of the August bank holiday will reap the benefits, reports Sonya Hook.

Pork of the town

01-Aug-2011 By Jessica Harvey

Jessica Harvey looks at how pub caterers are capitalising on the trend for British charcuterie.

Sky Sports and BBC to show Formula 1

29-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

Sky Sports and the BBC will broadcast Formula 1 in the UK between 2012 and 2018, under a new rights deal.

Leading by example is the way forward

28-Jul-2011 By Phil Thorley

Thorley Taverns boss Phil Thorley, who runs 25 pubs in Kent, offered his top tips on how to run a business to delegates at the recent MA250 business...

Premium brands drive on-trade spirit growth

28-Jul-2011 By John Harrington

Premium spirits are driving growth in the on-trade spirits category, fuelled by a growth in cocktails and premium drinking venues and the continued...

Fuller's graduate training

27-Jul-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Fuller's has launched a new graduate programme to equip young people with the skills to become managers in the future.

Sceptre: profits at lower end of expectations

26-Jul-2011 By Ewan Turney

AWP supplier Sceptre Leisure is in "great financial health" despite full-year profits being at the lower end of expectations.

When an inspector calls the shots

26-Jul-2011 By Robyn Black

Ruth Watson, the forthright star of TV shows including The Hotel Inspector, is now firmly focused on the pub trade. Robyn Black met her at the Suffolk pub-restaurant she owns with her husband.

Side kicks: pub condiments

25-Jul-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Lesley Foottit looks at how sauces and oils can help drive a price premium for dishes.

'Hotel and tourism sectors most affected by insolvency'

25-Jul-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The number of businesses on the verge of insolvency has risen 12% from three months ago, with the hotel and tourism sectors the most severely hit.

Remember, marketing is key to pubs' success

20-Jul-2011 By Philip Davison

The mindset that rolling up your sleeves and 'running the pub' will lead to success is often the fatal flaw behind many under-performing or failed independent operations, argues Philip Davison.

Getting into fighting shape

19-Jul-2011 By Sonya Hook

Chris Maskery, lessee of the Fighting Cocks, Horton Kirby, Kent, talks to Sonya Hook about investing £300,000 in his pub, building a new kitchen and...

S&NPC speeds up online recruitment

18-Jul-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company has set up a new recruitment website to speed up the process and personalise it to individual applicants.

Tripling trade turnover

18-Jul-2011 By Sheila McWattie

Licensee Jeff Veal talks to Sheila McWattie about being dog friendly, quiz and curry nights and loyalty cards at the Fox & Hounds in Sevenoaks,...

BrewDog share issue raises £500k in two days

18-Jul-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

BrewDog, the Scottish microbrewer and pub operator, has raised over £500,000 via a share issue in two days as it looks to raise £2.2m to finance a...

Whiting & Hammond in growth plan

18-Jul-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Whiting & Hammond, the award-winning south-east multiple led by Brian Whiting, is looking to eventually build an estate of 20 pubs and hopes to...

Johnson calls for VAT-cut campaign

15-Jul-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Luke Johnson, the serial restaurant investor, has called on the whole hospitality industry to come together to campaign for a VAT cut.

Miller Brands Miller to move on to Meantime

15-Jul-2011 By The PMA Team

Nick Miller, managing director of Miller Brands UK, is to leave the company in September to become chief executive of London brewery Meantime....

Fair Pinter keeps pub but has to pay £135k S&NPC debt

15-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

A founding member of Fair Pint, Mark Dodds, has three years to pay back around £135,000 he owes Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC)....

3663 reduces carbon footprint with electric vehicle

14-Jul-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Foodservice supplier 3663 has launched its first electric vehicle as part of a move to reduce its carbon footprint. The 12-tonne Smith Newton...

Sky price freeze for pubs

14-Jul-2011 By MA Reporters

Sky is freezing prices for the next football season to help publicans gain more "certainty" over costs. The broadcaster said it is also offering a...

Simmonds appointed Tourism Alliance chairman

13-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

Brigid Simmonds OBE, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), has been appointed as the new chairman of the Tourism Alliance.

Brewdog launches second fundraising campaign

13-Jul-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

BrewDog has launched a second round of fundraising as it looks to raise £2.2m to finance a new eco-brewery and the opening of more bars across the country.

Coulson: Peers playing it long in Bill talks

12-Jul-2011 By Peter Coulson

There are still major issues to be debated on licensing, but I do not get the impression that many peers are up for the fight, writes Peter Coulson.

Top Pub Golfers Crowned

12-Jul-2011 By Jo Bruce

A team from Ghyll Grove Social Club in Basildon, Essex, has won the Publican Golf Tournament 2011. The team comprised of club members Paul...

Dress to impress

11-Jul-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Set the tone It is important that all staff in your pub follow the same rules, so if you have a uniform then every member must stick to it. But...

Plate mates

08-Jul-2011 By Jo Bruce

Jo Bruce headed to the Czech Republic with the MA's Pub Chef of the Year 2011 to discover what makes Budweiser Budvar a perfect match for pub dishes.

Music-ale wares

07-Jul-2011 By Tony Halstead

Garry Hewitt, co-owner of the Quakerhouse, Darlington, Co Durham, talks to Tony Halstead about making a successful pub business out of cask ale and...

Get a grip on gripes

06-Jul-2011 By Phil Mellows

If your staff can deal with complaints as soon as they arise, then you should be able to send your customers away as happy advocates of your business, Phil Mellows reports.

Smile, I'm a customer!

05-Jul-2011 By Gerry Price

Things are tough at the moment but we have to remember that we are on stage and the theatre goers want a performance, says Gerry Price.

BISC: BII claims self-regulation is delivering

05-Jul-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The BII claimed self-regulation is "delivering" what it promised to the previous committee to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. Its...

Budweiser Budvar to launch Facebook campaign

05-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

Czech Brewer Budweiser Budvar has launched its first Facebook campaign to highlight the taste difference between Budvar Original and American...

BII launches new range of services

30-Jun-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced three initiatives to further professionalise the sector and help its licensee members.

BII: police urged to show restraint

30-Jun-2011 By Tony Halstead

Police and local authorities have been urged to show restraint in the way they use the enormous new powers being given to them when the Police &...

Admiral announces £5m capital investment programme

29-Jun-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Admiral Taverns has announced plans to spend £5m on capital investment programmes at around 165 pubs this summer.

Jeremy Allen memorial service announced

29-Jun-2011 By Michelle Perrett

A memorial service for Jeremy Allen will take place on Thursday, 7 July at 2.30pm at St Mary's Church, High Pavement, The Lace Market, Nottingham....

Crunk Juce complaint lodged with The Portman Group

29-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

The Portman Group has confirmed that it has received a complaint about new 'turbo-charged' energy drink Crunk Juce. This comes after the UK arm of...

A topping idea

28-Jun-2011 By Phil Mellows

Pizzas can provide canny operators with a simple way to create a highly lucrative revenue stream, Phil Mellows reports.

A cut above the rest

24-Jun-2011 By Phil Mellows

He introduced the tailor-made steak to Britain, but it has been a rocky road to success for South African Ted Docherty, as Phil Mellows discovers.

Creating happy customers

23-Jun-2011 By Sheila McWattie

Hayley Bayes, licensee at the Ram in Firle, East Sussex, tells Sheila McWattie about kids, dogs, horses, muddy boots, excellent beer, great wine and...

First all-woman team completes Everards' Gold Course

21-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

A team of seven female licensees has become the first ever all-woman team to complete Everards' prestigious Gold Course and create its own beer.

Sizzling Pubs launches second TV campaign

21-Jun-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Mitchells & Butlers brand Sizzling Pubs has launched a second TV campaign to run until mid August. Two adverts will run on ITV for three months...

Capital pre-tax profits up 48%

21-Jun-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Capital Pub Company, the London-based manage pub chain, has reported adjusted pre-tax profits up 48% to £6.8m for the 52 weeks until 26 March. The...

Women 1st secures funding for training workers

21-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

Women 1st has secured new government funding which will enable an additional 300 female workers within the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism (HLTT) industry to receive specialised training and mentoring.