All news articles for April 2011

Police pub clampdown is 'abuse'

14-Apr-2011 By Graham Ridout

Licensees are being threatened with arrest and pubs with closure in a clampdown by police forces across the country, which has been labelled "an...

Carlsberg chief says forget about supermarkets

14-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

Licensees should stop worrying about cheap drinks in supermarkets and concentrate on what they can do to improve their own business — that's the...

Pubs targeted by new wave of rogue rates agents

14-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

A new wave of rogue business rates advisors has been targeting pubs over their rates appeals. The news has only come to light as the Valuation...

Barracuda to open 150th Smith & Jones

14-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Barracuda Group is to break the 150th site barrier for its Smith & Jones concept later this month. The numbers have been boosted by other...

Where have all the tenants gone?

13-Apr-2011 By Robert Sayles

In his first blog since the Publican merger, Robert Sayles gives his entertaining take on the tenanted pubco model and how tenants might feel.

Graham Jones named new COO at Stonegate

13-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Graham Jones, former operations director with Barracuda, has been appointed chief operating officer at Stonegate Pub Company.

Orchid chef is Maggi pub expert

13-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Orchid Group's senior development chef has been appointed as pubs expert for Maggi's Guest Chef campaign. Brendan Corder will be looking after 300...

Tailor Made Steaks takes third Brakspear pub

13-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Oxfordshire-based pub company Brakspear has let its third pub to multiple operator Tailor Made Steaks. A £250,000 redevelopment has seen the White...

Krombacher Dark set for pubs in UK

13-Apr-2011 By Robyn Black

Following a successful trial in UK bars, German brewer Krombacher has launched a dark beer on draught for UK pubs. "With the increasing interest...

Big ideas for pub trading

13-Apr-2011 By Tony Halstead

Pubs are under increasing pressure to come up with plans to boost business in a tough environment. Tony Halstead asks a range of licensees to name...

Harvester to run five-a-day sessions for children

13-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Harvester is offering school children the chance to visit their local outlet to learn all about fruit and vegetables. Mitchells and Butlers...

Coroner: drink in pubs not at home on cheap booze

13-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

A coroner in Norfolk has urged people to drink in the "sensible and sociable" environment of the pub rather than supping on cheap alcohol at home...

Bounty scheme pays off for Everards

13-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

A third of new licensees taking on an Everards pub last year were recommended by its current tenants.

Punch trials franchise-style agreements

13-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Punch Taverns is trialling a franchise-style agreement where the licensee takes a proportion of the sales and has to meet certain running costs....

Bars and restaurants 'are most distressed'

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

Bars and restaurants are showing the biggest signs of financial distress amongst UK businesses, according to the latest Red Flag Alert released by...

Serve Legal to address Euro conference on underage drinking

13-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

Test purchasing company Serve Legal is to address a major European conference on tackling underage drinking today. Serve Legal will give a...

Punch profits fall as Dyson heads up Spirit

12-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns' current chief executive Ian Dyson is to head the group's demerged managed division Spirit.

CAMRA member sets up brewery

12-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A former public sector worker has followed his dream of setting up his own microbrewery - Two Roses Brewery in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. James...

Use the royal wedding to raise pubs' profile

12-Apr-2011 By Dave McNulty

However you plan to commemorate the royal wedding, chances are you're looking forward to the bonus bank holiday on 29 April. If you work in the pub...

Pub food: business boosters

12-Apr-2011 By PubChef

Ideas for driving food and drink sales at your pub including £5 meals, beer-tasting plates and a two-for-one dining promotion. £5 meals Where:...

Pubs advised to be smartphone friendly

12-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Pubs and restaurants are missing a trick by not having websites that are designed to function properly with mobile phones, according to research from...

Mortgages rise by £1m, says lender

12-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Independent commercial finance specialist Crystal Mortgages has reported a £1m rise in pub lending in the first quarter of the year, citing better...

BrewDog aims to launch five bars

12-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Scottish microbrewer BrewDog is looking to open five new bars this year by asking customers to suggest sites in their home towns. This comes after...

Innventory rises from Milestone

12-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

A new accountancy firm, Innventory, has been set up in the wake of the collapse of accountants Milestone. The Bolton-based company features some of...

Win tickets to Wasps Vs Bath with Greene King IPA

12-Apr-2011 By Greene King IPA

Win tickets to the St George's Day clash between Wasps and Bath at Twickenham thanks to Greene King IPA. Greene King IPA, the Official Beer of...

Marston's Supporters Club pushes sport

12-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Marston's Inns and Taverns has created the Supporters Club, to promote its 125 pubs showing sport. Consumers can sign up via their local pub or...

Kensington and Chelsea urge pubs to join Best Bar None

12-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Kensington and Chelsea borough council is urging bars, pubs and clubs in the area to join the Best Bar None (BBN) scheme.

Black's Booze Blog: reading the pub marketing runes

11-Apr-2011 By Robyn Black

Robyn Black gets to the bottom of marketing speak and finds out what consumers really want.

Scottish MPs clash on minimum pricing

11-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

Scottish politicians have clashed once again about introducing a minimum price on alcohol — on the Politics Show.

Everards to open two more Project William sites

11-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

Everards is opening two new Project William sites this week — the scheme under which it partners a local brewer.

80 former Laurel pubs to hit the market

11-Apr-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Over 80 properties that were part of the former Laurel Pub Company are set to come to the market over the next 12 months as investment opportunities....

Providing pub employee references and recruiting

11-Apr-2011 By Kimbells Solicitors

Kimbells Solicitors clear up the confusion over providing employee references and recruiting now that the job market is picking up again.

Mulholland presses for shadow pubs minister

11-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Greg Mulholland has written to Labour leader Ed Miliband reiterating earlier requests for the appointment of a shadow pubs minister. The call came...

M&B rolls out Crown Carvery breakfast buffet

11-Apr-2011 By Lorraine Helller, Big Hospitality

M&B is rolling out a self-service buffet breakfast across its Crown Carveries estate, following a successful three-month trial. Over 90 Crown...

Enterprise's £250k royal wedding promo spend

11-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Enterprise Inns has introduced a £250,000 programme of support for its pubs to help them promote the Easter and royal wedding celebrations.

Pubs roll out Royal Wedding menus

11-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

Licensees and managed pubs are running a range of food offers to drive trade around the Royal Wedding. Marstons Inns & Taverns is running a...

Pub leaders warn Chancellor over Budget

11-Apr-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Over 30 leading brewing and pub company executives have signed a letter to the Chancellor George Osborne demanding that he reconsider the tax...

Revealing research from Pernod Ricard

08-Apr-2011 By Robyn Black

New research reveals 90% of drinkers stick to the same drink all night and 52% have not decided what to order by the time they reach the bar.

Lawson Mountstevens: conduit for innovation

08-Apr-2011 By Phil Mellows

Heineken UK has brought tied pubs and freetrade under the same boss — Lawson Mountstevens. He talks to Phil Mellows.

Protection money for pubs

08-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Adequate insurance is absolutely vital for pubs. Michelle Perrett finds out how to obtain the best cover at a good price and avoid the pitfalls.

RBS hit by £5m loans blow

08-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The Royal Bank of Scotland looks set to suffer a shortfall of more than £5m in respect of its loans to bar group Cougar Leisure.

Admiral wipes out £47m of debt

08-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Admiral Taverns has wiped £47.2m off its debt as it trimmed its estate by 11% and reported improved trading in its turnaround division.

Senior staff leave Punch

08-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Two senior staffers in Punch Taverns' leased division, Suzy Jackson and Ian Ronayne, are set to leave in the wake of last week's strategic review.

Thorley Taverns posts profit surge

08-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Thorley Taverns has revealed a "significant improvement" on operating profit in its most recent year.

GK's post-graduate training for BDMs

08-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Greene King Pub Partners, the leased and tenanted pub division of Greene King, is claiming a first for the leased and tenanted sector by sending all its business development managers (BDMs) on post-graduate training in multi-site skills.

Capital Pub Company continues acquisitions drive

08-Apr-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Capital Pub Company has agreed to acquire the Rye in Peckham for £1.37m — it will become its 34th pub.

Tenants boosted by Deloitte drink deal

08-Apr-2011 By Ewan Turney

Deloitte, the administrator for Retail & Licensed Properties, has agreed a new supply deal for tenants.

Enterprise 'sale and leasebacks finished'

08-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Enterprise Inns has probably completed its sale and leaseback programme, having raised £274m through the sale of 176 pubs, according to house broker...

Alcohol causes 10% of cancer in men

08-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

A report by the British Medical Journal has found that one in 10 cancers in men are caused by alcohol and one in 33 in women. Alcohol awareness...

Still time to tee-off in Publican Pub Golf Tournament 2011

08-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

There is still time for your pub to get involved in this year's Publican Pub Golf Tournament and win a golfing trip to the five-star La Manga resort....