Operations

Awards

Dogs: Two-thirds of owners put off pubs not friendly to animal

26-Aug-2016 By James Evison

Two-thirds of dog owners are put off a pub if it isn't dog-friendly it has been claimed as a new award has been launched to promote pooch-loving venues.

Film

New film about men saving pub from closure...by writing Chick Lit

25-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A director has released his film that was written in and stars his local pub in north Norfolk.

Learning from Mistakes

How I Learnt from My Mistakes

25-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

It’s never easy to admit you’ve made a mistake, but while people do feel stigmatised, fear of failure can often lead deeper ramifications. Here is some advice on why mistakes can often be a blessing in disguise.

Best of the bank holiday sport

25-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

From Lord's to 'the Lane', there is an eclectic variety of sport over the August bank holiday weekend.

Professional services

Never mind the paperwork, here's the way to get back to running the pub

25-Aug-2016 By Fiona McLelland

As a pub owner, you want to get on with what you do best... running your pub. You don’t want to worry about paperwork and licensing laws, or struggling to keep on top of the books. We take a look at how professional service providers can help take the...

Events

Enterprise Inns pub celebrates 150 years

24-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A family-run Warwickshire pub is celebrating its 150th birthday with a day-long event on Saturday 3 September, two days after its official anniversary.

My Pub

My Pub: The Rashleigh Arms, Charlestown, Cornwall

24-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

After winning Licensee of the Year at the 2016 British Institute of Innkeeping Awards, Rob and Lucy Brewer discuss the secret to their success and how far they’ve come since they first entered the site 10 years ago

Training

Wine courses that will make bar staff wizards of wine

23-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

Wine can be a daunting thing for bar staff if you don’t drink the stuff. When a customer asks for a full-bodied red or a fruity white, there is often panic in the eyes of the bar staff. We’ve found three companies that offer introductory wine training...

Plastic banknotes

13 things you need to know about the plastic banknotes

23-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

The year was 1995 and Radiohead were preoccupied with fake plastic trees. Well, 21 years later, we now need to turn our eyes to fake plastic notes.

Business

See the bigger picture: Why taking a macro view of your business is important

23-Aug-2016 By Greg Pitcher

A change in approach took Ashley and Kelly McCarthy from finalists to winners of the BII Licensee of the Year award.

Premium Pubs

Stand Out from the Crowd: How pubs can deliver a premium experience to customers

23-Aug-2016 By Nigel Huddleston

The lengthy shadows of global financial meltdown and austerity seem to fly in the face of prevailing trends in hospitality, where the products and service on offer have steadily improved with consumers seemingly happy to pay more to go out.

Training

Pubcos offer A-level graduates alternatives to university

22-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

After students received their A level results last Thursday (18 Aug), 424,000 university places have been offered to those who achieved the right grades. But for those who wish to enter the hospitality industry there are alternatives to university.

Best Sports Pub prepares for first East Anglian derby in 15 months

19-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

Norwich City and Ipswich Town are preparing to reignite their fierce rivalry for the first time in more than a year. Meanwhile, the landlord of 2015's Best Sports Pub at the Great British Pub Awards, Philip Cutter, is preparing to welcome both sets...

Technology

Pub renamed ‘Pokémon Arms’

19-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A pub in Pentraeth, north Wales, has followed the latest gaming phenomenon trend, augmented reality game Pokémon Go and changed its name to Pokémon Arms.

Community

Ministers to pull pints in pub to gather ‘diminishing flock’

18-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

An operator is aiming to bring the community together by working with the local church and inviting ministers to serve pints behind the bar. 

Virtual reality

Innis & Gunn brings virtual reality to UK pubs

18-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? It's hard to tell at 50 pubs dotted across the UK where Innis & Gunn is inviting drinkers to don a virtual reality headset when trying its beers.

Apprenticeship

A-level graduates urged to pursue careers in hospitality

18-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Students discovering their A-level exam results today (18 August) are being urged to pursue apprenticeships and careers in hospitality. 

New football season

Rachel Riley on pubs: 'I quite like an Aperol spritz and a shepherd's pie'

17-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

Jeff Stelling and co-presenter of Countdown, Rachel Riley, have been confirmed as presenters for the 10 Premier League football matches Sky Sports will be showing this season. The first Friday night match, Manchester United v Southampton, takes place...

Employment and Skills

Licensee champions youth employment in ‘poor’ Cornwall

17-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

An award-winning operator has spoken about his commitment to encourage young people into the hospitality industry in Cornwall. 

Travel

ALMR claims all-night Tube will benefit late-night sector

17-Aug-2016 By James Evison

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has welcomed the opening of London’s Night Tube service, claiming it will provide a boost to clubs and bars.

Awards

Britain's Best Beer Garden title up for grabs

16-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Britain’s pubs are being given the chance to be home to the nation’s best beer garden in a new summer campaign.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Neil Morrissey warns pub trade of ‘spontaneously exploding laundry’

16-Aug-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Men Behaving Badly star and licensee Neil Morrissey has issued a warning to the trade following a surreal incident that saw his Staffordshire pub dramatically evacuated this week. 

Exclusive interview

Budweiser will have more ‘surprise’ campaigns and product innovation

15-Aug-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Budweiser will launch more “surprise” customer-focused campaigns as well as new liquid and packaging innovation after its Euro 2016 beer giveaway strategy increased sales in some pubs and bars by more than 100%.

Technology

Snapchat your food and drink for better sales

15-Aug-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Operators must embrace newer social media outlets such as Snapchat and Instagram, and ditch older forms like Twitter to maximise food and drink pairings, a research organisation has said.

My Pub

My Pub: The Italian Job, Chiswick, London

12-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

After opening the UK’s first Italian craft beer pub in Chiswick last year, co-founders Giovanni Campari and Giuseppe Verdoni explain how they’re planning to bring a taste of Italy to London.

New football season

Top tips for the new football season

12-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

It would be easy to think of the 2016-17 football season as the hangover after the wild, unpredictable party that was last season. Yet with the new season comes the resurrection of Pep Guardiola’s managerial rivalry with José Mourinho; regular Premier...

New football season

Get ready for an extra night of football fun

12-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

Fans of the weekend never need an excuse to come to the pub on a Friday night, but this season brings with it an extra draw for punters: for the first time there will be regular Premier League matches on a Friday night.

New football season

The weekend action: the new Premier League season gets under way

12-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

The return of the Premier League is the central focus for a super weekend of sport, but multiple viewing cards will be needed to see all the huge clashes across the sporting world.

TripAdvisor

Customer 'ate 95%' of pub meal then left scathing review

11-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A West Midlands pub has hit back at a customer who posted a one-star review on TripAdvisor, criticising the site’s food and staff.

TripAdvisor

Licensee puts TripAdvisor 'bully' in his place after 'fairy tale' review

11-Aug-2016 By Oli Gross

A licensee has put a TripAdvisor ‘bully’ in their place with a scathing response to a ‘fairy tale’ review of his pub.

Training

Laine Pub Co issues heartfelt apology after disability row

11-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Laine Pub Company boss Gavin George has issued a heartfelt apology after one of his sites came under fire on social media by a mother who claimed her disabled daughter was “thrown out”.

New football season

Full-time Fletch... on the new Premier League season

10-Aug-2016 By Darren Fletcher

The return of the Premier League promises much, including the potential for the so-called smaller teams to make strides in catching the 'top four'.

My Pub: The Three Tuns, Sheffield

09-Aug-2016 By Liam Coleman

The unique size and shape of the Three Tuns is both a blessing and a curse. The manager of the Sheffield pub, Kate Major, explains how its iconic triangular shape draws customers in, but how it also presents its own challenges for the closely-knit team.

Technology

Using customer feedback: Be a positive part of the loop

08-Aug-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Online feedback is increasingly being used by consumers to research the best place to have a pint or enjoy a meal and it’s a trend that’s set to continue.

Charity

Pubs ‘challenged’ to take part in charity fundraising event for Prostate Cancer UK

05-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

Prostate Cancer UK is urging licensees to host a fundraising night after last year’s launch of the pop-up pub fundraiser, the Men United Arms. 

Interview

"I’ve still got a great deal of energy for the role": BBPA's Brigid Simmonds

05-Aug-2016 By Mike Berry

She’s been in post since 2009, but for BBPA boss Brigid Simmonds there is no seven-year itch and still plenty of enthusiasm for a job which, at times, has seen her subjected to levels of abuse that would see most people ducking for cover. Mike Berry reports

Productivity

Cash in with top tips

05-Aug-2016 By Greg Pitcher

Improving your pub’s profitability is the holy grail for operators, so what can you do to get more return from the effort you put in? Four experts give their top tips here

Marketing

Pub labelled sexist for 'hot girls eat free' poster

04-Aug-2016 By Oli Gross

A pub has been labelled sexist for advertising free meals for attractive women.

Beer

Stancill Brewery launches 'city's first craft lager'

04-Aug-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

The first craft lager to come from Sheffield has been revealed by producer Stancill Brewery, following the success of its 5% ABV pilsner and the opening of its first pub.

Sports

Sky Sports News HQ reports exclusively to the on-trade

03-Aug-2016 By James Evison

Sky Sports News HQ presenters Kirsty Gallagher and Ed Draper have recorded a special promotional broadcast for the on-trade, looking ahead to the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season.

Technology

App-ortunity calls for brewers

03-Aug-2016 By James Evison

Cask Marque has called on brewers to supply information and artwork for upgrade to CaskFinder app.

Technology

BII launches revamped website

03-Aug-2016 By James Evison

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has revamped its website including a new 'marketplace' for members.

Apprenticeships

The apprenticeship opportunity

03-Aug-2016 By Simon Tarr, chief executive, People 1st

Over the past couple of days, I’ve been exploring the potential staffing crisis facing hospitality businesses, and the ways in which businesses can improve productivity and retention to offset rising costs. Today, in my final article, I’ll be looking...

Interior Design

Five important things to consider when refurbishing your pub

02-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

The design of a pub is a method in which the business can draw customers in: its location, indoor and outdoor space, as well as décor, can all contribute to that important first impression. 

Marketing

Pub puts Trump in urinal

02-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A Dublin pub has decorated its gents' toilet urinal with a picture of US Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Licensing

The "endemic" of lock-ins: Good or bad for pubs?

02-Aug-2016 By Oli Gross

For decades pubs have extended their trading hours by locking the doors to turn the public house into a private party, typically for the venue’s locals. But licensees are split on whether lock-ins are good or bad for trade.

Training

Making sure staff stay – and stay productive!

02-Aug-2016 By Simon Tarr, chief executive, People 1st

In yesterday’s article, I looked at the staffing shortfall facing hospitality businesses, and how improving staff retention and productivity is going to be vital for profitability in the coming decade. 

Football

Greene King launches Bobby Moore beer

02-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Greene King has launched a new beer to mark the 50th anniversary of England’s 1966 World Cup victory named after winning captain Bobby Moore.

Awards

Shortlist announced for Beer Marketing Awards 2016

02-Aug-2016 By James Evison

The shortlist for the Beer Marketing Awards 2016, due to take place on September 8 at the Truman Brewery in London, has been announced.

Training

Starting with the end in mind - rethinking how we tackle our skill needs

01-Aug-2016 By Simon Tarr, chief executive, People 1st

Ask any publican or casual dining professional about the biggest people challenge that their business faces and the answer will almost always be the same – finding skilled staff.