All news articles for April 2011

Charles Wells unveils tenant incentives

04-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Charles Wells is encouraging 50 of its community pubs to drive trade during March and April by offering them a chance to "win a Wells for a day"....

May is mild month for CAMRA

04-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The Campaign for Real Ale is once again preparing for a month of campaigning in May to celebrate the mild beer style. CAMRA will target consumers...

Greene King enters new debt facility

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

Greene King has entered into a new five year £400m revolving credit facility with its banking partners, starting this month. This replaces the...

Capital spends £1.55m on 33rd pub

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

London-based pub operator Capital Pub Company has bought its 33rd site, a freehold in Dulwich for £1.55m. The 3,000 sq ft Mansion pub on Gypsy Hill...

Hook Norton holds pub Gold Awards

04-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Oxfordshire based Hook Norton held its Gold Awards on Friday to reward its best tenants. The awards aim to reward the high standards and excellence...

Wetherspoon to turn cinema into pub

04-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

JD Wetherspoon is taking on another unusual venue in the form of an historic grade-II listed cinema in Northumberland. The Wallaw Cinema in Blyth...

Scottish ministers clash over 'booze and blades' crisis

04-Apr-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Two senior Scottish ministers have clashed over how to tackle the country's 'booze and blades' crisis. According to a report from the Press...

Duke of Kent kicks off Marston's Royal Wedding beer

04-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The Duke of Kent has given his royal seal of approval to Marston's special beer brewed to celebrate Wills and Kate's wedding. The Duke visited...

CPL Training expands online courses offer

04-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Pub training provider CPL Training has added courses in equality and diversity and disability awareness to its online qualifications. The Equality...

Giants repeat long mixed drinks drive

01-Apr-2011 By Robyn Black

Following the success of last year's joint campaign, drinks giants Diageo and Coca-Cola Enterprises are joining forces to push long mixed drinks.

Sykes attacks licensing reform

01-Apr-2011 By Graham Ridout

Tim Sykes has made a strong attack on proposed Licensing Reform during his outgoing speech as chairman of the ALMR. Novus Leisure chief executive Steve Richards has now taken over the reigns.

M&B: Opportunity to grow market share

01-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Food is increasingly the main driver of out-of-home occasions and there is plenty of market share for pubs to capture. That was the message from...

Greene King eyes 70 more Hungry Horses

01-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Hungry Horse, the Greene King value brand, is set to increase by another 70 or so sites, according to chief executive Rooney Anand. The brand has...

Bravo set to take estate to 28 pubs

01-Apr-2011 By The PMA Team

Bravo Inns, the Warrington-based pub operator, is set to complete on four new sites by mid-May to take its estate to 28 freeholds. Managing...

Maclay Inns to expand this year

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

Maclay Inns, the Scottish pub operator, plans to add two or three sites to its estate in the coming year after reporting a 26% rise in operating...

Three Swans up for Good Food Guide award

01-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

Three gastropubs called the Swan are among the front runners in nominations for the Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year 2011 Award. There is a...

Call for Chef of the Year entries

01-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

Pub chefs are being encouraged to enter the National Chef of the Year competition. The closing date for entries is 12 May and entrants must submit...

Taking the Bull pub by the horns

01-Apr-2011 By Tony Halstead

Licensee Karen Hunter tells Tony Halstead how she turns over £280,000 a year at the remote Black Bull, in Etal, Northumberland, despite business...

Proper marketing and planning key to success

01-Apr-2011 By Graham Rowson

With plenty of time, effort, planning and marketing, pub events can't go far wrong, says Graham Rowson.

New foodier format for Ember Inns

01-Apr-2011 By Jo Bruce

Mitchells & Butlers has launched Ember Pub & Dining. The new format moves Ember's traditional pub offer to a more premium food and family...

Pub host urges caution over energy bills

01-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee is urging others to keep an eye on their bills and bank balance, after encountering an ongoing energy nightmare with several suppliers....

Pub regulars save their local licensees

01-Apr-2011 By Graham Ridout

People power has helped secure the future of licensees at two Greene King outlets who were at risk of losing their pubs. Regulars at the Red Lion in...

Brewing industry's Bridgett passes away

01-Apr-2011 By Tony Halstead

One of the brewing industry's best-known personalities, Alan Bridgett, has died following a short illness at the age of 82. His trade career, which...

Drake & Morgan's MacLean wins accolades

01-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The woman behind Drake & Morgan has won the Outstanding Entrepreneur award at the Women 1st Shine Awards. Jillian MacLean was also named as one...

JDW is a top employer for 8th year running

01-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

JD Wetherspoon has been named as one of Britain's Top Employers of 2011 for the eighth year running. The accolade is based on independent research...

Stonegate plans patriotic promos

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

Managed pubco Stonegate has announced a surge of promotional activity to tap into a series of high-profile national events across April and early...