News

General News

All the latest news concerning the pub trade from our team of dedicated industry journalists

BII chief Peter Thomas claims Brewdog-Diageo debacle "unfortunate" and "regrettable"

11-May-2012 - BII chief executive Peter Thomas has responded to the Diageo - Brewdog debacle claiming the incident was “unfortunate, regrettable, disappointing”.

Jonathan Neame to become BBPA chairman

11-May-2012 - Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Kent-based family brewer Shepherd Neame, is to be the new chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) from the end of June.

Cornwall and Herefordshire reigned supreme at CAMRA National Cider and Perry Championships

11-May-2012 - Cornwall and Herefordshire reigned supreme at the Campaign for Real Ale National Cider and Perry Championships 2012.

Lower VAT rate for Ireland to stay until 2013

11-May-2012 - The Irish Government has confirmed that the 9% VAT rate for tourism services will remain in place until the end of 2013.

BII unveils provisional list of experts for its newly slimmed council

11-May-2012 - The BII has provisionally named the half-dozen ‘experts’ who will take six of the places on the organisation’s slimmed-down national council.

Sussex police accused of 'demonising' pubs ahead of Euro 2012

11-May-2012 - Sussex Police has been accused of demonising pubs ahead of Euro 2012 after contacting licensed premises in the county and urging them to introduce anti-disorder measures or risk facing enforcement action.

Surrey pub landlord slams industry ‘apathy’ over beer duty escalator petition

11-May-2012 - A licensee has blasted the sector for its “apathetic” attitude towards the industry petition calling for an end to the duty escalator.

Thwaites brewer celebrates 37 years with his own brew

11-May-2012 - Thwaites head brewer Steve Fielding is celebrating leaving the business after 37 years with his own beer, Stevie’s Wonder Brew.

National Pubwatch launches online tool to map local pubwatch schemes

11-May-2012 - National Pubwatch (NPW) has launched an online mapping tool to help the organisation draw up a list of pubwatch schemes across the UK.

PPL boss urges industry to shop pubs and bars dodging music fees

10-May-2012 - The boss of music licensing body PPL has urged licensees to report pubs and late-night venues that are dodging paying music fees.

Government promises to cut red-tape burden on businesses

10-May-2012 - The Government has promised to reduce red tape for businesses and introduce powers to let shareholders hold binding votes over directors’ pay.

British public wants Gov't to act on supporting pubs with tax breaks

10-May-2012 - The majority of the British public want the Government to do more to support pubs by granting tax breaks, a new national study of 2,000 adults has found.

IFBB rejects Mulholland calls to expel Young's from the organisation

10-May-2012 - The Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) has rejected calls from Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland to expel Young’s from the organisation.

Punch Taverns backs industry summit on pub training and apprenticeships

10-May-2012 - Punch Taverns has pledged its support to pub apprenticeships by signing up to a cross-industry event on training, and supporting and establishing professional careers in the pub trade, using the BII Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality.

Diageo apologises for stripping Scottish pub firm BrewDog of Bar Operator of the Year 2012 award

09-May-2012 - Global drinks firm Diageo has apologised after a “serious misjudgement” on stripping Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog of Bar Operator of the Year 2012 at the BII Scotland annual awards.

Two pub landlords ordered to pay over £30,000 for illegal domestic use of Sky

09-May-2012 - Two licensees have been convicted for illegally televising Sky programmes in their pubs without a commercial agreement, and ordered to pay over £30,000 in fines and costs.

JD Wetherspoon joins BBPA

09-May-2012 - Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has joined the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Peter Thomas urges more Government funding for pub apprenticeships

09-May-2012 - BII chief executive Peter Thomas has spoken out against Government spending cuts, which he said will directly hit the pub industry’s plans to develop career paths for young people and get unemployed people into jobs in pubs.

Pubs warned to follow rules on temporary staff for summer events

09-May-2012 - Pubs planning on hiring extra staff for the summer celebrations could face tribunal claims, negative PR and hefty fines unless they are fully up to speed with the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), a recruitment specialist has cautioned.

Fair Pint asks for document disclosure on self-regulation deal in letter to business minister

09-May-2012 - Fair Pint has written to business minister Norman Lamb under a freedom of information request, asking for the disclosure of documents on the self-regulation deal between the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Government.

Home Office admits missing key deadlines on alcohol licensing changes

08-May-2012 - The Home Office has admitted that it has missed key deadlines for introducing changes to alcohol licensing and scrutinising the industry.

Mahdis Neghabian of the Camden Eye is BII Licensee of the Year 2012

08-May-2012 - Mahdis Neghabian of the Camden Eye in London has been awarded BII Licensee of the Year 2012.

BII members approve restructure that will reduce council from 40 to 16

08-May-2012 - BII members have voted in favour of implementing a restructure of the organisation that will see it slimmed down in a bid to save money.

MP Greg Mulholland slams October enforcement of new pub Industry Code as 'embarrassing'

08-May-2012 - Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, Greg Mulholland MP, has slammed the announcement that the revised Industry Framework Code (IFC) governing tenant-pubco relations will not come into force until the end of October.

Treasury gives All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group more time to complete Duty Fraud inquiry

08-May-2012 - The Treasury has agreed to give the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) more time to complete inquiry into beer tax fraud as part of Government consultation on the issue.