Creating a better beer experience, the Molson Coors way
Mark Hunter thinks sharing a beer with friends is one of life's simple pleasures and as such should be a protected pastime. Unsurprising really,...
Archives for November 15, 2010
Adnams opens new distillery
Suffolk brewer Adnams has officially opened its new distillery at its Sole Bay Brewery in Southwold — believed to be the first brewery and...
Westminster Watch: Tax and Diageo-gate
So minimum pricing has finally been blown out the water in Scotland. The nail was hammered firmly into the coffin of minimum pricing last week, as...
Responsible drinks retailing — partnership is the key
It's hard to believe in the sincerity of government when there is such a contrast between rhetoric and reality, says Paul Chase.
Enterprise Inns to auction off more pubs
Enterprise Inns, which announces it annual results tomorrow, is auctioning off another clutch of London pubs as part of its debt reduction strategy...
A deal to suit both sides?
One doesn't often hear the names Rupert Murdoch and Enterprise Inns mentioned in the same breath. Both represent among the largest of their kind and...
Wetherspoon buys Weston-super-Mare venue
JD Wetherspoon has bought the freehold of a substantial leisure unit in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset for an undisclosed sum. Cabot 5 Bars is a...
Top TV chef takes on Enterprise pub
TV chef Richard Phillips is opening a pub in Whitstable, Kent — the Enterprise leased Pearson's Arms.
M&B shares rise on rosy outlook for managed pubs
Shares in Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) were outperforming the market today, boosted by good trade numbers across the managed pub sector and news...
Mark Daniels: Telling the real drunks from the fakes
Harrison Ford, he of Intergalactic fame, snogger of Princess Leia, pilot of the Millennium Falcon and best friend of a wookie, recently found himself...
M&B to sell off franchised pubs
Mitchells & Butlers is to sell-off the remaining 53 franchised pubs it owns — the news comes as it completes the sale of 333 pubs.
Pleisure pub boss: drinks specialisation is key
Pleisure scooped the award for Best Drinks Offer at the recent MA200 awards for the country's top independent multiple retailers. Managing director...
Saved pub is one of the greenest
A pubrescued from the threat of being turned into flats five years ago has been transformed after support from the Rural Enterprise Grant (REG)...
Solving the beer tie issue the Thornbridge way
I was interested to hear of the deal struck twixt Thornbridge Brewery, in Derbyshire, and the pubco behemoth that is Enterprise Inns. Thornbridge...
Exclusive: Slow progress on Stonegate/Town & City merger
Talks over merging Stonegate Pub Company with Town & City Pub Company are making very slow progress, sources indicate. Stonegate, backed by...
Hamish Champ: What can the internet do for your pub?
I experienced a couple of 'firsts' last week. It was the first time I'd ever attended the Federation of Licensed Victualler's Associations' (FLVA)...
Stats on 24-hour pubs are 'misleading'
New figures showing a rise in the number of pubs and clubs with 24-hour licences has been labeled misleading by one trade chief. The survey by...
Mark Hastings leaves BBPA
Mark Hastings has left his position as British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) communications director.
Milestone, Sheffield: reputation for innovation
The Milestone battled it out in the semi-finals of Ramsay's Best Restaurant and is a finalist in the MA's Top 50 Gastropub Awards.
Managed pubs record like-for-like lift in October
Managed pub, bar and casual dining chains, saw like-for-like sales grow 2.2% in October on last year — but recorded a 16.2% drop on September. In...
Autumnal sun shines on managed pub operators
Leading pub and restaurant chains across the UK continue to perform better than this time last year, according to new research. According to the...
Caroline Nodder: Is the British Stiff Upper Lip softening?
I am concerned this week that the famous British Stiff Upper Lip is softening somewhat. We Brits used to be famed for our steely resolve in the face...
One in three want family friendly pubs
One in three people expect pubs to be family friendly, according to the latest results in a survey by Greene King. As part of its Proper Pubs...
Enterprise to sell Michelin pub — plus 10 more
Enterprise Inns (ETI) is hoping to raise around £11m by undertaking a sale and leaseback on another 11 pubs, including one with a Michelin star.
BBPA says goodbye to communications chief
The British Beer & Pub Association has parted company with its director of communications, Mark Hastings. Hastings stepped down from the role on...
Pub Bitch: Stella Black (and white)
Black (and white) The prize for bizarre marketing stunt of the week goes to Stella brewer AB InBev which is giving competition winners the chance to...
Adnams launches own spirits range from custom-built distillery
Suffolk brewer Adnams has officially unveiled its distillery - which will be producing vodka, gin, and eventually, whisky. The company believes it...