All news articles for December 2011

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News > December 2011

23-Dec-2011

FLVA warns "much work remains" over pubco/tenant agreement

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) has warned “much work remains to be done” to ensure the industry can meet its agreement with the government over self-regulation of the pubco-tenant relationship.

Enterprise Inns raises £23.9m from 17 pubs

Enterprise Inns has raised £23.9m from the sale and leaseback of a portfolio of 17 freehold pubs located across the South of England to Hermes Property Unit Trust (HPUT).

Punch extends Gamestec deal

Punch Taverns has signed a two-year supply agreement with Gamestec, the country’s largest leisure machine operator.

HMRC: Warning issued over rogue "gangmasters"

Pubs who plan to take on temporary staff for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been warned to check their labour providers by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

ALMR luncheon raises £20K for LTC

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) annual Christmas luncheon raised £20,542 for the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) School for Autism.

Living Ventures to roll out pub concept

Living Ventures (LV), the north west-based restaurant and bar company led by Tim Bacon, is planning to invest c.£8m on new openings next year, including the rollout of its Oast House pub concept.

22-Dec-2011

BBPA publishes new Industry Framework Code

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has unveiled its newly strengthened Industry Framework Code of Practice (IFC), which is part of its self-regulation agreement with the government over the pubco/tenant relationship.

Snug bar sales to top £2.2m

Full-year sales at Snug Bars, the up-market bar operator led by Giles Fry, are set to top £2.2m an increase of 19.5% on the previous year.

Living Ventures secures new funding

Living Ventures, the North West-based restaurant and bar company led by entrepreneurs Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, has secured a new £4m funding deal, which it will use to further invest in its estate.

M&B opens landmark Toby/Harvester sites

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has opened the first dual-branded and combined sites under its Harvester and Toby Carvery brands and is set to launch its first Toby Sandwich Express unit.

BIS: Mulholland calls for legal advice clarification

The All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has written to Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) minister, Ed Davey, asking for more details on where the department sought legal advice on the implementation of the Industry Framework Code (IFC).

Opening party: Best pub launches of 2011

According to the latest figures from CGA Strategy, for every two pubs that close down, one opens. So as 2011 draws to a close, let’s accentuate the positives. Phil Mellows picks out some of the most successful new openings of the year

Thwaites opens new craft brewery

Daniel Thwaites, the Lancashire brewer and pub operator, has invested £200,000 in opening a new craft brewery in Blackburn.

70% of Punch pubs to open Christmas Day

Around 70% of Punch Taverns pubs - c.3,000 in total - will open to serve drinks on Christmas Day, according to a survey by the leased and tenanted operator.

Ombudsman investigates S&N pensions case

The Pensions Ombudsman is to investigate a complaint by thousands of members of Scottish & Newcastle’s (S&N) pensions fund brought against Heineken on commitments it made when it took over the UK brewer in 2008.

21-Dec-2011

Date set for High Court pub football hearing

The High Court hearing into how the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) ruling on the use of foreign satellite football systems in pubs applies in the UK has been set for 24 February.

Ex-Punch licensees publish book about life in pub trade

Two former Punch licensees have published a book recounting their time in the licensed trade, and giving an insight into life behind the bar.

Marston's launches single-hop cask ales

Marston’s hopes to satisfy consumer demand for different taste experiences with the launch of 12 craft-brewed single-hop cask ales made with hops sourced from around the globe.

Beer market suffers £2.2 billion decline

The beer market has suffered a £2.2 billion fall in revenue since 2006, according to the latest figures from market research experts Mintel.

Drake and Morgan eyes more openings

Drake & Morgan, the bar-restaurant operator led by Jillian MacLean, is looking to add a further two sites to its five-strong London-based chain next year.

Portman Group extends alcohol consultation deadline

The Portman Group has extended the deadline to its consultation on the Code of Practice for responsible alcohol marketing until 31 January 2012.

BISC: Pubco debate heads to the House of Commons

The decision to shun a Statutory Code of Practice for the pubco-tenant relationship will be debated in the House of Commons of 12 January.

20-Dec-2011

Staffordshire pub offering £1.99 Christmas meal

A Staffordshire pub is offering a traditional Christmas meal for just £1.99 to draw in customers over the festive period.

Diageo to extend Guinness Brewery

Diageo is set to apply for planning permission to expand its St James’s Gate brewery in Dublin as part of a proposed Eu100m (£84m) investment.

Admiral reports "transformational year"

Admiral Taverns, the 1,300-strong tenanted pub company, wiped a further £76.7m off its debt in the year to May 2011, as it trimmed its estate by 16.3% and reported a 6.9% rise in turnover per pub.

Investigation: Stratford pubs feel the pinch from Westfield opening

Pubs in Stratford are feeling the pinch since the opening of the new Westfield shopping centre in September, with some licensees reporting a downturn of up to 70%.

GMB calls for trading standards action over 'under-filled' pints

The GMB has called on a range of trading standards offices to take action against pubs serving short pints.

Wadworth launches 2.8% ABV beer

Wadworth is launching a 2.8% ABV beer which will be on sale in their pubs during January.

Lewis ups stake in M&B again

Joe Lewis, the largest shareholder in Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has upped his stake in the managed pub operator for the second time in a week, further fuelling speculation that he will mount a further bid for the company next year.

19-Dec-2011

Carlsberg UK to increase prices

Carlsberg UK is to increase its wholesale prices by an average 7p a pint from January due to costs.

Diageo offers free water to Londoners for Xmas

Diageo GB is handing out tens of thousands of free bottles of water at central London Tube stations throughout the festive period as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting responsible drinking.

BBPA to host Olympics Logistics Summit

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is to host an Olympics Logistics Summit in January to discuss the challenges faced by operators.

Lansley: Minimum pricing not the answer

Minimum pricing on alcohol will not combat problem drinking in the UK, according to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Pub and restaurant sales up 2.1% in November

Sales across the UK’s eating and drinking out sector continued to prove resilient in November, up 2.1% on the previous the year, the sixth consecutive month of positive trading.

85 MPs sign up for shift behind a bar

The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group’s initiative to get MPs behind a bar has gained further momentum as 85 have now signed up to the scheme.

16-Dec-2011

Red Bull ploughs £1.5m into sugarfree campaign

Red Bull have ploughed £1.5 million into a promotional campaign for its Sugarfree variant as it looks to drive awareness of the product's low calorific value among calorie-conscious customers in the on-trade.

Buoyant Butcombe's bottled beer booster

West Country brewer Butcombe has launched a dedicated bottled beers website and a new retailer initiative in response to increased sales.

Hollywood glam for Aussie wine range

Jacob’s Creek Cool Harvest is the name of a new range of wines aimed at driving the ‘light and fresh’ market in the UK.

ALMR announces ops award winners

Virge Balthazard of McMullen & Sons has been named area manager of the year in the Operations Managers Awards 2011, held by the Association of Licensed Multiple Operators (ALMR).

BBPA launches unit awareness campaign

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has made a range of materials available for pubs to mark the launch of its unit awareness campaign this week.

SBPA calls for trial period for minimum pricing bill

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has called for the Scottish Parliament to include a trial period as a provision in the minimum pricing bill, if it goes ahead.

Bar staff rely on door staff for ID checks

Bar staff are still relying on door staff to make sure that they are not serving underage customers – that’s according to new research from test purchasing company Serve Legal.

Punch warning on outlook as sales increase

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub company, continued to see improvement in like-for-like trends across its core estate for the 16 weeks to 10 December, driven by its pubs in the South, which offset declines across its sites in the North, and disposals.

Like-for-like sales up at Spirit

Spirit Pub Company, the managed pub operator, has this morning reported a 6.2% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed estate for the 16 weeks to 10 December, and said it was on track to meet full year expectations.

Westminster parking charges delayed

Westminster City Council will delay plans to introduce evening and weekend parking charges until after the Olympics, due to a judicial review of the new parking rates.

15-Dec-2011

Sceptre reports drop in revenue

Sceptre Leisure, the amusement and gaming machines supplier, has reported a drop in revenue for the six months to 31 October, but said that it continued to trade “robustly”.

Business Focus: Shaws Booksellers, London

Licensee Adam Sykes, of Shaws Booksellers in the City of London, talks Star Wars, Toptable success and evening tapas with Sheila McWattie.

PM pledges to look at low-cost alcohol

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to look “very carefully” at the “broader question” of low-cost alcohol.

Pubwatch negotiates BII membership deal

National Pubwatch (NPW) has negotiated a 50% discount on the BII joining fee for pubwatch members.

Survival of industry at risk, claims new BBPA chairman

The “alarming rate” of pub closures and the decline in beer volumes is a “wake up call of epic proportions”, claims British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chairman and Molson Coors chief executive Mark Hunter.

14-Dec-2011

Magners exploits festive season

An in-store and in-outlet festive campaign to drive sales in the run-up to Christmas has been launched by Magners GB.

Guinness dreams of a white and black Christmas

A £2 million media campaign for Guinness forms the backbone of Diageo’s masterplan to drive festive beer sales and satisfy hard-to-please men in the prezzie department.

Lewis ups M&B stake

Joe Lewis, the largest shareholder in Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), has upped his stake in the managed pub operator, fuelling speculation that he could make a further bid for the company next year.

Aspall’s TV burp

Suffolk-based cider producer Aspall featured on Jimmy’s Grow Your Own Christmas Dinner, a programme aired by Channel 4 on 12 December and presented by Suffolk farmer Jimmy Doherty.

CAMRA unveils pub of the year finalists

CAMRA has unveiled the four finalists of its National Pub of the Year competition for 2011.

Mark Hunter is new BBPA chairman

Molson Coors chief executive Mark Hunter has replaced Ralph Findlay as the chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). Marston’s boss Findlay is stepping down after the completion of his two year term of office.

Pendle council in DBO warning

A local council in Lancashire has sent letters to people banned from pubs in Pubwatch schemes, warning them not to try and enter those premises over the festive period.

Punch licensee launches marketing service

A Punch Taverns multiple operator has launched a bargain marketing scheme that is helping to fill other Punch pubs with customers.

The Big Interview: Jim Fallon

He was the banker who funded Enterprise Inns as it grew to be the biggest pub company in the country. He advised on, backed and brokered countless deals during the industry’s M&A heyday.

'Minimum pricing will save lives'

A group of leading doctors and academics have said that thousands of lives could be saved if cheap alcoholic drinks were made more expensive and called for the Government to bring in a minimum price for alcoholic beverages.

Roberts joins Watson and Bruce in new pubco ventures

John Roberts, the former managing director of the Fuller’s Beer Company, has become a founder investor and non-executive director of two new pub companies alongside pub entrepreneurs David Bruce and Clive Watson.

Wine sales continue to fall

Volume sales of wine are continuing to fall and the pace of decline has increased over the last 12 weeks, according to the latest WSTA Market Report.

13-Dec-2011

Pub Mentors: Elephant trumpets its successes

Consultant Alastair Scott had plenty of ideas to help Ben Bartrip and Sarah Eskins, licensees at the Elephant in Bristol, improve performance when he last popped in, and he is pleasantly surprised by what he finds on his return visit.

BBPA welcomes Mary Queen of Shops Review

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed proposals to improve high streets and has called for the government to put the plans “higher up the political agenda”.

Pesto launches pub concept

Pesto, the Italian bar-restaurant chain owned by La Tasca founder Neil Gatt, has launched its first pub concept site in Cheshire.

Whitbread to meet FY expectations

Whitbread, the owner of Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, said this morning that it was on track to meet full-year expectations, as it reported a rise in like-for-like sales across all its divisions for the 13 weeks to 1 December, but warned that trading continued to be “variable”.

Sceptre to develop digital pub offering

Sceptre Leisure, the amusement and gaming machines supplier, has signed a new agreement with the Gauselmann Group, which will enable it to offer its pub customers a fully integrated digital solution and strengthen its position in the developing digital games market in the UK.

Titanic plans brewery expansion

Staffordshire brewer and pub operator Titanic is planning a major investment to expand its brewery or move to a new site.

Amber unveils latest openings

Amber Taverns, the fast-growing operator of wet-led freehold pubs, is to open its 72nd site on Monday after opening two outlets this week.

12-Dec-2011

Pub Mentors: Making Greet strides

Former BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) licensee of the year Phil Davison says Duncan and Natalie Entwistle, lessees at the Greets Inn in Warnham, West Sussex, have made good progress since launching their action plan.

Heritage to distribute for Darling

Independent wine importer and wholesaler Heritage Wines has secured a distribution deal with South African producer Darling Cellars to distribute its premium varietal wine in the UK

JDW runs all-day breakfast for festive revellers

JD Wetherspoon will be the place for punters with sore heads on New Year’s Day with its all-day breakfast.

GMB writes to Davey

The GMB has written to business minister Ed Davey calling for the Government to act over the “under filling” of pint glasses in the pub trade.

JD Wetherspoon starts food recycling trial

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has become the latest managed pub operator to start a food waste recycling trial as it looks to cut costs and improve it environmental performance.

Sales up at Novus Leisure

Novus Leisure, the privately-owned bar and club group led by Steve Richards, has reported a rise in full-year sales on the back of its pre-bookings and continued investment in its existing estate.

Marks-led group completes Luminar deal

A new group led by industry veteran Peter Marks, who was formerly chief executive at Brook leisure and Sports Café, has completed the acquisition of nightclub operator Luminar out of administration in deal worth around £45m.

Greene King launches new magazine for Pub Partners

Greene King has launched a new magazine to keep its Pub Partners licensees up to date on all business building activities and opportunities within the company.

'Bar health check' scheme rolled out in Camden

Pubs and bars in Camden were inspected as part of a pilot ‘bar health check’ scheme by the local council and police which led to a 37% reduction in violent crime in the borough.

Five more councils sign up to hygiene scheme

Five more councils have rolled out the national Food Hygiene Rating System bringing the total number of participating local authorities to 180.

Booker to stay open throughout Christmas

Food and drink wholesaler Booker is open throughout the Christmas period including Boxing Day and both bank holidays.

Innis & Gunn on the recruitment trail

Innis & Gunn, the Scottish brewer, is to double its workforce with the creation of 13 new jobs as it reports a 68% rise in turnover to £6.167m in the year to the end of September 2011.

Marston's to introduce "hybrid" BDMs

Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, is to introduce a scheme whereby business development managers (BDM) from the tenanted estate also handle freetrade and other accounts.

09-Dec-2011

Wetherspoon wins top loo accolade

JD Wetherspoon has given the top accolade as winner of the Hospitality sector in the Loo of the Year Awards 2011.

SIA cuts licence fees

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is reducing its charges to individuals and businesses from next month as part of its commitment to driving down costs.

Molson Coors urges MP barley farmers support

Molson Coors has written a letter to 60 MPs across the UK to encourage support for barley farmers and to highlight the crucial relationship between farming and brewing.

Landlords urged to prepare empty pubs for winter

Empty pub owners have been warned to prepare their property for the winter to avoid damage in harsh weather conditions.

My Pub: O'Marleys Red Lion

Mary Winter, co-tenant at O’Marleys Red Lion in Blackburn, Lancashire, tells Tony Halstead how a new name and increasing ale sales have helped double turnover at the pub

Noble Inns plans five sites

The operator of an award-winning London gastropub says he plans to run an estate of around five sites under his new company Noble Inns.

BHA steps up VAT campaign

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has stepped up its campaign for VAT to be cut to 5% for the sector by writing to members urging their support.

Losses narrow at Fat Cat

Fat Cat Cafe Bars, the 12-strong Derby-based pub company, saw losses narrow significantly in the year to 28 February 2011 as the rate of customer spending decline “slowed enormously”.

Pubs in Bedford join forces for anti-knife campaign

Pub, bars and clubs in Bedford town centre have teamed up to run an anti-knife campaign in the run up to Christmas.

08-Dec-2011

Negative outlook for pub food in 2012

Pubs are the only catering sector to see a decline in the number of meals served, according to a report from the British Hospitality Association (BHA).

Trade slams parking fee plans for West End

Plans to introduce evening and Sunday parking charges in Central London have been labelled as “the final nail in the coffin for the appeal of the West End” by a multiple pub operator.

Everards plans to relocate brewery

Everards, the Leicestershire-based brewer and pub operator, is considering plans to relocate its existing facilities and build a new state-of-the-art brewery in Leicester.

Healthy balance: Catering for health-conscious customers

The usual period of over-indulgence during the festive season, coupled with a rising consumer interest in healthier eating, means many of your customers may be looking out for lighter options in January and beyond.

A pub’s the place to be

I’ve only just got started, and already I’m editing the final issue of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser of 2011. As is common in the business media, because of the economics of publishing, we now take a Christmas break from producing the PMA in print for four weeks.

BII sets up scheme to accredit brokers

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is working with Punch Taverns to improve access to finance for licensees wishing to purchase the freehold of their pub, or to buy another pub on the open market.

PPL letter defends trade relationship

PPL, the music royalties collection firm, has hit back at accusations that it considers the pub trade as a “handy source” of revenue and is a “litigious bunch”.

Pubwatch’s early tickets

National Pubwatch is offering an early-bird discount to anyone wanting to attend its annual conference.

Seating complaint costs pub £6,000

A licensee in Norwich has slammed a local optician who he claims has cost him close to £6,000 by pursuing a complaint about the outdoor seating area at his pub.

Glidden announces makeover winners

Two pubs have won £2,000 to transform their business-es as part of Glidden Trade’s ‘Paint and a Pint’ makeover competition, which was run in conjunction with the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

07-Dec-2011

BIS: IPC and Mulholland demand halt to code of practice

The Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) has demanded that the Government halt the self-regulation agreement over the pubco-tenant relationship.

BISC: Davey faces scrutiny over pubco-tenant decision

The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (BISC) will “not let it go” over the decision of the Government to support self-regulation of the pubco-tenant relationship, claims its chairman Adrian Bailey.

The Big Interview: Tim Bird

Finally free of the corporate shackles and running his own pubs, Tim Bird, one of the pub industry’s foremost operations people, has been marshalling the skills and experience accumulated over decades to tackle one of the trade’s knottiest problems. Dog policy.

Leasehold pub prices increase, says Fleurets survey

The average sale price of a leasehold pub has increased by 16% to £46,879, compared to £40,421 in 2010, according to a survey into pub prices by Fleurets.

BBPA: 'Be fair to pubs on machine game duty'

Pubs must be left no worse off by the new system of Machine Gaming Duty (MGD) announced by HMRC yesterday, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said.

HMRC to fight VAT gaming machine ruling

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will continue to contest the Rank Group’s claim for overpaid VAT on gaming machines.

Revolution targets 25% growth in food sales

Late-night high-street brand Revolution is planning to boost food sales by 25% in six months.

Mis-sold finance: check statements

Licensees who believe that they have been mis-sold a financial product attached to a mortgage or loan they took out before the recession have been urged to check their bank statements.

06-Dec-2011

BISC: Pubco tied model 'not working'

The tied pubco model “doesn’t seem to be working”, Business Minister Ed Davey told the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (BISC) today.

BISC: Brulines is covered by Weights and Measures

Brulines, the beer flow monitoring equipment, is covered by the Weights and Measures Act, Business Minister Ed Davey confirmed today.

Booker re-certified with the Carbon Trust Standard

Booker Group has been recertified with the Carbon Trust Standard for successfully measuring, managing and reducing its carbon emissions.

Dea Latis women switch from wine to beer in January

Members of Dea Latis, the beer in women group, are set to switch from wine to beer in January in a bid to cut alcohol intake and shift the extra pounds from Christmas.

Brakspear eyes London pubs

Oxfordshire-based pub operator Brakspear has seen beer volumes double after spending £500k revamping three of its central London pubs and said it would like to take on more sites in the capital.

New pubco targets 50 sites

Cirrus Inns, a new pub company featuring Mark Askew, outgoing executive head chef at Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) and Polly Dyson, former finance director at Geronimo Inns, has been set up with plans to create an estate of up to 50 pubs with accommodation across the UK countryside.

Brulines sees half-year results hit by pub closures

Brulines, the beer flow monitoring company, has reported falls in turnover and pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 September 2011, on the back of pub closures and disposals.

UCL to open five sites in 2012

Urban & Country Leisure (UCL), the group led by entrepreneur Ross Sanders, plans to open five sites in 2012 as it announces its latest disposal.

The sandwich celebrates 250 years

The humble sandwich is 250 years old next year and the British Sandwich Association is celebrating with a year-long national campaign.

Sambuca supplier questions rival's authenticity

The authenticity and legality of a rival drinks brand is being called into question by South West London drinks company Hi-Spirits, supplier of Antica Sambuca.

Government launches Christmas drink-driving campaign

More than 8,000 pubs and student union bars are taking part in the Government’s THINK! Christmas drink-drive campaign launched today.

Licensee fears drop in trade after breathalyser licensing condition

A licensee in Wales is worried about a drop in trade at his pub after he was forced to install a breathalyser as a condition on his licence.

05-Dec-2011

Pub Mentors: Top marks for College girls

Jay Smith is upbeat by what he found on a return visit to see Jo Arevalo and Marilyn Herdman at the College Arms in Lower Quinton, Stratford-upon-Avon.

BBPA calls for extended jubilee hours

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called on the Government to allow pubs to open extra hours on the Sunday and Monday of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.

BIS: Information demanded over BBPA deal

The All-Party Save the Pub Group is demanding information from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on its negotiations with the industry and the subsequent deal to self-regulate the pubco-tenant relationship.

Pubs to be consulted on gaming machine review

Pub and bar operators will get a chance to have their say on a government review of stake and prize limits for gaming machines during a public consultation next year.

Pubs reap rewards of eating out trend

Pubs are taking the second largest market share of drinking and dining out occasions, according to The Taste of the Nation survey by Deloitte and BDRC.

Surrey pub wins top Fuller's award

The Queen’s Head in Farnham, Surrey, has been awarded the top accolade by Fuller’s in the London brewer and pub operator’s Pub of the Year awards.

02-Dec-2011

Pub Mentors: Turning the Lyde tide

Ali Carter had lots of ideas when she last met up with Ben Scott, manager of the Great Lyde, in Yeovil, Somerset, to assess his pub operation and advise him on improving profitability. She is pleasantly surprised by what she finds on a return visit.

Pub chefs warned over undercooked chicken liver

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reminding publicans to cook chicken livers thoroughly when making pâté.

Diageo launches responsible drinking campaign

Diageo GB has teamed up with Transport for London (TfL) to support free New Year’s Eve travel for the next three years as part of its Responsible Drinking campaign launched today.

Win £3K for your pub — week left to enter Freehouse Business Innovation Competition

Freehold pub owners have just a week left to submit new business ideas for their pub, for the chance to win a top cash prize.

PMA contributors win top beer accolades

Three Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) contributors received top accolades last night at the British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards Dinner.

One week left for Publican Award entries

Pubcos have one week left to enter the Publican Awards 2012.

Revolution food promotion doubles revenue

Vodka bar Revolution, operated by Inventive Leisure, has seen a 110% increase in like-for-like revenue since introducing a loyalty offer.

RBS sells 918 pubs to Heineken

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has sold 918 freehold pubs, the portfolio known as the Galaxy estate, to Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC), a subsidiary of Heineken, for £422m, in the largest deal in the tenanted pub sector for eight years.

Licensees urged to check loan details

Licensees are being urged to check any financial products they have attached to their mortgages or loans as they could find themselves facing huge financial costs.

01-Dec-2011

Licensees fined £17,000 over Sky screening

Angela Briscoe and Edward Geater of the Bold Privateer Public House in Shipley, West Yorkshire, were ordered to pay £17,014 in fines and costs last week for showing Sky Sports with a domestic card.

Enterprise: 'Tenants being misled in lease disputes'

Enterprise Inns has hit out at organisations and individuals who, it claims, are giving misleading advice to tenants over lease disputes.

Call for more apprentice deals

A multiple operator has called for the Government to issue more incentives to pubs and restaurants to employ apprentices.

Wadworth attracts customers through to new year

Wadworth pub company is encouraging trade this Christmas with vouchers and free drinks for designated drivers.

Tim Martin "perplexed" by Ted Tuppen's tax claims

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin has described comments made by Enterprise Inns chief executive Ted Tuppen on tax and regulation as “confused thinking”.

In at the deep end

So there I was, all set to write a gentle comment piece to mark my official first week as editor of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, saying what an honour it is to be joining the industry and thanking those I have so far met for making me feel welcome… and then the Government issued its response to the Business, Innovation & Skills Committee’s Report into pubcos’ relationships with tenants.

Masterchef finalist joins pub

A finalist of a national TV cooking competition has taken the post as head chef of a Newcastle pub.

Pub Profile: Drapers Arms, Islington

Nick Gibson, licensee of the Drapers Arms in Islington, north London, shares insights on his £1m-turnover business with Sheila McWattie.

Greene King revenues pass £0.5bn

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has reported H1 revenues of more than half a billion pounds for the first time, with the managed division and food sales in particular being credited for the growth.

BII NITA winners revealed

Caroline Goodwin, manager at the Lounge Bar and Hotel in Penrith, Cumbria, has been awarded Licensee Trainer of the Year at the BII (British Institue of Innkeeping) 2011 National Industry Training Awards.

Nottingham pubs get street ambassadors

Pubs, bars and restaurants in Nottingham city centre are getting an extra boost to pull in the punters as street ambassadors provide recommendations to tourists.

Trade slams bring-your-own alcohol nights

Proposals for bring-your-own alcohol nights at a nightclub in Durham have been branded irresponsible by the local pubwatch.

BIS: An Interview with Brigid Simmonds

The Government’s response to the controversial Business, Innovation & Skills Committee (BISC) report into the pubco-tenant relationship last week revealed that it would not introduce a statutory code of practice overseen by an adjudicator.

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