Operations

Business Booster

Business Boosters: Caribbean street food and brunch bingo

19-Mar-2015 By Alison Baker

Money making ideas for your pub or bar

Running a pub

Running A Pub: Trading up

18-Mar-2015 By Glynn Davis

In the second of our series on the challenges of running a pub, Glynn Davis looks at the practicalities of taking those first steps in expanding your horizons by running a large premises or more than one outlet.

CPL Training Group eyes acquisitions following security business disposal

18-Mar-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

CPL Training Group has disposed of its security business CDO Group to Kingdom Security for an undisclosed amount.

New ONS basket highlights changing spending habits

18-Mar-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

E-cigarettes and craft beer have been added to the basket of goods and services used to calculate UK inflation, by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Riverside pub with unique flood defences for sale

16-Mar-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

A riverside Oxfordshire pub, which has unique flood defences has been put on the market.

Business booster

Take Me Out: Outdoor furniture guide

16-Mar-2015 By Sheila McWattie

Five publicans describe the business benefits of transforming their outdoor areas. Sheila McWattie reports.

Pubs warned over business rates info request

16-Mar-2015 By Mike Berry

Licensees have been urged to respond quickly to requests for information from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about their pub’s trading performance, if they want to avoid fines and unnecessary red tape.

Video

Video: Running a pub - The Grafton

13-Mar-2015 By Charlotte Barnett

Licensees of the award-winning Grafton in Kentish Town, Joel Czopor and Susie Clarke, offer their tips to aspiring publicans on setting up a successful business.

Red Nose Day

Comic Relief: CPL offers 'digital selfies' for charity

13-Mar-2015 By James Evison

A creative twist on raising money for Comic Relief has been undertaken by CPL Online, with the firm offering digitally sketched 'selfies' for donations to the charity. 

Hospitality operators among "1000 Companies to Inspire Britain" in 2015

12-Mar-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Several hospitality operators have been named in the London Stock Exchange's list of 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain, celebrating some of the UK’s fastest-growing small and medium sized businesses.

Consumer survey reveals power of online review sites

12-Mar-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

The majority of consumers search for online reviews of pubs and restaurants before they choose where to eat, according to a new survey.

Sustainability and food waste tips: innovation and working with suppliers is key

12-Mar-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Hospitality and foodservice Industry figures have shared their experiences and top tips for cracking down on food waste.

Community Pubs Month 2015: Shout about the value of your pub

12-Mar-2015 By Mike Berry

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) has joined forces with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) ahead of April’s Community Pubs Month to encourage licensees to remind customers just what makes having a local pub so valuable.

Comment

Looking at the future through a soft-focus lens

12-Mar-2015 By Nigel Paine

There are only a few things in life I like more than a glass of red wine or a pint of ale.

Challenges of a lease

11-Mar-2015 By Jessica Mason

Carmel Daly-Fletcher, BII Licensee of the Year 1998, has been widely recognised as being one of the top pub managers in the country. But when she made the transition from manager to leaseholder, even with her first-class credentials, she found it a challenging...

Business Booster

Be in pole position for F1

10-Mar-2015 By James Evison

The 2015 season of the Formula One World Championship, starting this weekend, will make Grand Prix racing a compelling entertainment offer for licensees. James Evison explains.

Experience

Running a pub: Personal experience of starting out

10-Mar-2015 By The Publican's Morning Advertiser

When John Cavanagh took up a five-year lease at the Hamilton Russell Arms, in Thorpe Thewles, County Durham, four years ago, it had lost much of its trade following a fire.

Recruitment

Running a pub: How pubcos recruit publicans

10-Mar-2015 By The Publican's Morning Advertiser

Matthew Ralphs, recruitment marketing manager, for Enterprise Inns explains how the pubco recruits tenants and lessees into its business.

Legal tips

Running a pub: Five legal tips

10-Mar-2015 By Paul Mildenstein

Paul Mildenstein, chief executive of pub funding specialist Liberis, explains the crucial legal tips when starting out as a publican.

Business advice

Running a pub - part 1: Starting out

10-Mar-2015 By Glynn Davis

The first in a three-part series of looking into the enduring challenge of running a pub. Glynn Davis offers insight, practical advice and best-practice case studies with successful operators at key stages of their pub-operating journeys to give others in...

Business Booster

Pub to offer ‘wine and vine’ days

10-Mar-2015 By Mike Berry

A Kent pub has teamed up with a local vineyard to offer ‘wine and vine’ experience days to customers.

Foreign Satellite

Premier League takes action against Scottish pubs over illegal broadcasts

05-Mar-2015 By Mike Berry

The Premier League has commenced legal action against a number of Scottish pubs which have made unauthorised foreign broadcasts of its matches.

Money Makers

Making the most of the Cheltenham Festival

03-Mar-2015 By Phil Mellows

If your pub can establish itself as a destination for horse racing fans, there are thousands of chances to cash in every year.

TECHNOLOGY

Zonal launches 'slow service' technology solution

27-Feb-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Zonal Retail Data Systems, the provider of integrated hospitality management solutions, has launched Kitchen iQ to help operators improve speed, quality and accuracy of service and “transform the overall dining out experience”.

Comment

CAMRA must take action on sexism

26-Feb-2015 By Robyn Black

Despite spending almost my entire career as a champion of beer and pubs I am not, nor ever have been, a member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

London pub named UK’s most sustainable

24-Feb-2015 By Jo Bruce

The Truscott Arms in London’s Maida Vale has been named Sustainable Pub of the Year.

Willock: Teetotal wipe-out

19-Feb-2015 By Rob Willock

Anyone who has completed day one, module one of business school, will know that a SWOT analysis identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats your business faces, while a PEST study explores the potential impact of political, economic,...

Advice: When did you last review your business plan?

17-Feb-2015 By Paul Pavli

When did you last take time to step away from the ‘day to day’ and review your business plan?

Robinsons launches new subsidised training courses

13-Feb-2015 By Mike Berry

North-west brewer and pub operator Robinsons is launching a series of low-cost training courses for local licensees and people interested in working in the hospitality industry.

Business Booster

Money makers: movie and martini nights, breakfast club

13-Feb-2015 By Sheila Mcwattie

Aimed at achieving a regular following at otherwise quiet time, the Saturday morning Breakfast Club is seen by tenants Emma & Wesley Chamberlain and some locals as a “perfect hangover cure”.

Expert insight

Marking those Hallmark days

13-Feb-2015 By Mark McCulloch

When planning my marketing calendar for most clients, non religious festivals and events seem to be the starting point.

Pub people will decide the General Election outcome

12-Feb-2015 By Rob Willock

In 34 days – on Wednesday 18 March – George Osborne will stand at the despatch box and deliver this government’s final Budget. But can publicans influence the manifestos for the General Election?

Allergen laws: Food businesses concern over staff misinformation

12-Feb-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Operators are fearful of members of staff passing on the wrong allergen information to customers and keeping on top of daily allergen information to communicate to diners in food and beverage outlets.

Viewpoint

Youth unemployment: How can hospitality help?

11-Feb-2015 By Laura-Jane Rawlings

Youth unemployment figures are still too high. But how can the hospitality sector help with the crisis? Laura-Jane Rawlings explains.

New pub microbrewing technology launched in UK

11-Feb-2015 By Mike Berry

New technology that enables pubs to brew their own craft beer at a fraction of the cost of installing a microbrewery has been launched in the UK.

What does a pubco mean by 'reasonable' and 'fair'?

10-Feb-2015 By Robert Sayles

Pubcos always appear keen to reassure demands placed on licensees are both ‘reasonable’ and ‘fair’. However, these terms are vague and ambiguous - needless to say, there’s invariably a very good reason for this dearth of clarity, writes Robert Sayles.

Six Nations: licensees' promotional ideas for Rugby extravaganza

09-Feb-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Operators nationwide are using various promotional strategies and events to drive profits for the remaining three rounds of the Six Nations tournament.

Zonal complete Stonegate EPoS rollout

09-Feb-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Zonal, the Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) provider to the hospitality industry, has completed the rollout of its Aztec software to the 614-strong Stonegate Pub Company estate in record time.

Try January: How operators embraced the campaign

06-Feb-2015 By Jessica Mason

With many customers traditionally shunning the pub in the first month of a new year, Jessica Mason reveals how the #TryJanuary campaign really took off in 2015.

Business booster

Money makers: promotional and event ideas for your pub

05-Feb-2015 By Alison Baker

Old School Bar and Kitchen is hosting a design-your-own burger night

Charles Wells to enrol new tenants on Passport to Profit

05-Feb-2015 By Mike Berry

Charles Wells is to automatically enrol all new tenants onto its Passport to Profit scheme following its success across selected sites in its pub estate.

Editor's Comment

Price hikes defy logic

05-Feb-2015 By Rob Willock

Pub customers are understandably confused. And so are licensees. And so am I, frankly.

My pub: Late Knights Brewery & 5 pubs

05-Feb-2015 By Sheila McWattie

Late Knights Brewery boss Steve Keegan has worked in the trade since he was 14. Sheila McWattie finds out how hard work has led to his continued success.

More than 80% find modern toilet signs 'irritating'

04-Feb-2015 By James Evison

Ambiguous toilet signs are driving British consumers ‘potty’, according to new research.

Fuller's enjoys two bumper Christmases

04-Feb-2015 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny has said that the company has enjoyed two bumper Christmases, which saw like-for-like sales rise 15% over the period.

Bocuse d'Or Team UK leader unwinds after world final

03-Feb-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Bocuse d’Or finalist and Team UK leader Adam Bennett, head chef at Charles Wells’ outlet the Cross, Kenilworth, was treated to a “home away from home” party after taking place in the prestigious culinary showdown.

Event ideas

...and pancakes for all: events and promotional ideas

30-Jan-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Pancake Day is fast approaching and pubs across the UK are preparing for some serious flipping. Let’s hope too many don’t end up stuck to licensees’ ceilings. 

Try January: Pubs are to schmooze in, not just booze in

28-Jan-2015 By Lee Price

I have spent the greater part of January laughing at the dependable regulars debating the pleasurable after-effects of low alcohol beer.

Event ideas

Chinese new year: events and promotional ideas

23-Jan-2015 By Sheila McWattie

Kung Hei Fat Choy! (Happy Chinese New Year!)

Six Nations Rugby: Making the most of it

20-Jan-2015 By Phil Mellows

As England prepares to host the Rugby World Cup next September, the Six Nations tournament, which kicks off in February, is set to be even bigger than usual, and pubs could find themselves entertaining a whole new demographic.