Multi-Site Pub Operators

‘Policing is almost being pushed on to hospitality to do’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser news editor Nikkie Thatcher spoke with Martin Greenhow, managing director of Leeds-based multi-site business Mojo, to discuss the latest headlines.

Greene King wins award for diversity and inclusion work

26-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewery Greene King has won an award in recognition of its work to promote diversity and inclusion.

Arc Inspirations ‘actively exploring opportunities in new cities’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations is looking to grow its portfolio, it announced while revealing sales since 19 July were up by two fifths (42%) compared to the same period in 2019.

M&B records sales growth in past eight weeks after losses in financial year

25-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has recorded like-for-like sales growth of 2.7% in the past eight weeks versus 2019 since the end of its financial year, during which its like-for-likes dropped by 9.6%, impacted by Covid-related restrictions.

BII Licensee of the Year 2021 winner is crowned

25-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has crowned Jason and Chris Black from the Pityme Inn in Wadebridge, north Cornwall, as its Licensee of the Year 2021.

Greene King raises more than £10m for Macmillan

23-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Greene King has beaten its fundraising target to raise more than £10m in under a decade for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Property round-up

Popular bar Folk acquired by first-time buyers, Brunning & Price to reach 80 sites

23-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A busy time for pub purchasing and renovations has seen new kids on the block Sogbog buys its first site; Brunning & Price builds its portfolio; investments from pubcos including Star, Greene King and Admiral; and a former Great British Pub Awards...

Opinion

'VOA’s current valuation approach is flawed, producing inaccurate and routinely excessive valuations'

23-Nov-2021 By Joe Cussens, managing director, Bath Pub Company

The recent Budget announcement that pubs would receive a 50% reduction in their rates bill for the coming financial year was, of course, welcome, but stopped short of the fundamental review of the rates system many were arguing for.

Nightcap acquires Barrio Familia for £4.9m

22-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the acquisition of Barrio Familia, meaning its estate has expanded by five additional bars.

Have you ever wanted to run your own pub?

22-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Although pub operators have suffered in the past 18 months or so, the opportunity to run your own site or even expand is potentially greater than ever if you set your mind to it.

Cold River Cider offers the perfect balance

22-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

There’s a new cider on the block and it has the lot. Made by Sharp’s Brewery, in collaboration with Aspall, Cold River Cider offers “a unique blend of bitter-sweet and culinary apples creating a crisp, balanced, refreshing cider”.

Brunning and Price eyes 80 sites

18-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple pub operator Brunning and Price has acquired two new sites, taking its total estate to 79, with plans for an eightieth in the pipeline.

Promotional content

Are your products generating high profit levels to the till?

16-Nov-2021 By Venners, expert food and beverage stocktakers and compliance auditors

A recent report looking at the often undervalued and neglected topic of product yield within the pub sector has been launched by Venners, the expert food and beverage stocktakers and compliance auditors to the hospitality industry.

New study shows intense workload demands during pandemic affected employees mental and physical health

15-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Intense workload demands, unpaid work and concerns about catching Covid impacted the mental health of hospitality employees working through the pandemic, a new collaborative study by Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield University and the University...

Managed pubs, bars and restaurants rolling 12-month sales down 4.5%

15-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Managed pubs, bars and restaurants rolling 12-month sales were down 4.5% in October but overall sales were up 3% from pre-coronavirus levels, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Property round-up

JDW to dispose of site near motorway, £320k Star Pubs & Bars revamped scheduled

10-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

In the latest property news, JD Wetherspoon is looking to sell a site located just off the M40 motorway, Star Pubs & Bars has committed £320,000 to reopen a site closed for two years, a new taproom for Five Points and a £150,000 investment from Red...

Shepherd Neame reports strong trading since reopening

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported strong trading since reopening its 310 pubs for the 52 weeks ended 26 June 2021.

The history and business story of Young’s

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub company Young’s has been a household name in London and the surrounding area since before Queen Victoria took to the throne. Here The Morning Advertiser looks at its history, acquisitions and disposals.

Tell me your views on the free-of-tie process

05-Nov-2021 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

In a previous column in The Morning Advertiser, I wrote about how the market-rent-only (MRO) option process had become better for tenants, but was still far from perfect.

‘Christmas is an opportunity to put prices up’

05-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumers are likely to spend more than previous years this Christmas, due to missing out on eating and drinking in hospitality last year, one operator has predicted.

Running pub is like ‘putting on a show every day’ say Best Greene King Pub staff

03-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Running a pub is like “putting on a show every day”, where consistency is key and hard-won reputations are lost on a single visit, said senior staff at Surrey-based Greene King pub, the Rose and Crown.

Brakspear looking to expand managed arm by ‘at least 2 a year’

03-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

South east-based operator Brakspear has revealed is growth plans for its newly renamed managed division.

Property round-up

The latest pub openings and sites on the market

03-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Brakspear brands its managed estate, Redhouse and Star team up and Valiant takes on 17 SA Brain sites are among the latest property moves.

Licensees loaned £138m to pubs and bars during Covid

02-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Licensees were left with no option but to inject personal loans in excess of £2000,000 into their businesses last year as high street banks tightened lending criteria.

Opinion

Pub companies must do something about unviable rent offers

01-Nov-2021 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

As Monty Python famously recorded: “Though there was trouble at the mill they didn’t expect ‘The Spanish Inquisition’.” There is trouble in the pub sector mill and there needs to be an inquisition into the behaviour and transparency of pub-owning companies.

Protecting your premises against violence

01-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

There are many ways publicans can protect their business, staff and reputation against violence, including CCTV, no drugs policies, stay up to date with health and safety regulations, provide extra staff training, use plastic bottles where appropriate,...

PCA sets December deadline for views on making MRO option easier

29-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Fiona Dickie, the pubs code adjudicator (PCA), has asked for views on a series of measures aimed at removing potential barriers to tied tenants seeking a market-rent-only (MRO) – or free of tie – option for their pubs.

Liberation Group refurbishment programme ‘forging ahead at speed’

29-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A pub refurbishment programme by Liberation Group that takes on board its tenants’ ideas is “forging ahead at speed”.

Trade ‘decimated’ by vaccine passport scheme in Scotland

27-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Trade in the night-time economy has been decimated during the first week of the Scottish government’s controversial vaccine passport scheme, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Property round-up

Latest openings in the sector and sites for sale

26-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

New openings for Coppa Club, Manahatta and Bulldog Gin are among the sector’s new openings. Meanwhile, estate agent Savills’ Paul Breen looks at the future for city centre-based businesses.

JDW’s pub deals and history

26-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

From unique carpeting at each of its sites to the grandeur and historic locations of some of its pubs, managed operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is one of the best-known brands across the UK on-trade.

Big Interview

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company celebrates first year of merger

26-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A year ago, brewing giants Carlsberg UK and Marston’s joined forces to become Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC). Here, CMBC chief executive Paul Davies tells The Morning Advertiser what’s been achieved in the year and what’s yet to come.

BrewDog announces biggest site ever as ‘new type of venue’

25-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish bar operator BrewDog will open a mammoth flagship site at the revamped Waterloo Station, London, in summer next year.

Promotional content

Increase your bottom line by mapping customers’ journeys

22-Oct-2021 By Zonal

Technology provider Zonal explains the customer's journey through hospitality interactions via its mapping checklist.

How to make your pub more 'Instagrammable'

21-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Social media has always been an important tool for the hospitality sector but following several lockdowns and the nation getting used to the ‘new normal’, a strong social media presence is more important than ever.

GBPA 2021

Were you spotted at the GBPA winners' lunch?

21-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The best of the best in the pub world gathered for the Great British Pub Awards winners' lunch at The Pem restaurant In central London where the overall winner was named and category winners received their trophies.

Red Oak Taverns secures growth funding

20-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site pub operator Red Oak Taverns has received a £15m acquisition facility from OakNorth Bank.

Property round-up

New site openings, big renovations and what’s on sale fill the property market

20-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Loungers opening 150th site, Star Pubs & Bars makes double move and GK collaboration reopens site after £400k investment are among the latest news in the pub property world.

Hall & Woodhouse sees turnover drop of more than a third

20-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Dorset-based brewer and operator Hall & Woodhouse reported a fall in turnover of 38.7% to £71.5m for the year ending 30 January 2021.

GBPA 2021

Ring my Bell - GBPA winner announced

19-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The pub sector has fought its way back from the brink of disaster and now a stunning transformation against the odds has seen one pub crowned champion of champions.

Publican Awards 2022

Entries open for Publican Awards 2022

19-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The hunt is now on to celebrate the best companies in the pub and bar sector with the launch of the Publican Awards 2022.

Food prices rise by 1.2%, further increases predicted into 2022

19-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Food prices were pushed up by 1.2% in August and further increases are likely in the coming months, according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.

Soaring energy prices pose new problems for pubs

18-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

A potential surge in energy costs poses a new struggle for pubs already facing a multitude of problems such as staff shortages supply issues and rising tax.

Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 showcases exciting opportunities

18-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Trade association UKHospitality has urged the sector to use upcoming Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 to champion the diverse and exciting careers on offer.

Loungers announces plans to open further 10 sites

15-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Loungers is looking to expand its 181-strong estate by 10 venues in the current financial year, it has revealed.

Marston’s sales now better than in 2019 for most recent quarter

13-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Marston’s has seen a continuous improvement in trade since reopening in April, resulting in higher sales versus 2019.

Property round-up

The latest pub openings and sites on the market

13-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

This week’s property round-up includes openings for The Inn Collection Group and Roxy Lanes while BrewDog agrees a franchise deal for six bars in Italy.

Pubs and bars enjoy 43.5% boost during September

12-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs, bars and clubs benefited from a 43.5% boost during September while entertainment saw its strongest growth in more than two years with an increase of 28 % owing to new film releases, gigs and theatre shows encouraging Brits back to venues.

Admiral Taverns through the years

12-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser examines the history of Admiral Taverns and its mergers and acquisitions activity throughout the years.

Where are black leaders in the pub and brewing sector?

11-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The hospitality industry provided work for some 1.8 million people when the pandemic struck last year, of which 17% of the total workforce from the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) category was represented.