Finance

Number crunching: the average price of a pint of beer is £4.94, according the data from The Morning Advertiser (image: Getty/Rouzes

EXCLUSIVE: Average lager pint prices across GB

By Nikkie Thatcher

A survey of The Morning Advertiser readers has shown the difference in pricing of beer across a range of regions and has taken a closer look at the lager category.

Demand for parity: SIBA CEO Andy Slee says investors and Government are not listening to the sector

OPINION

OPINION: How are we viewed by the outside world?

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA)

I recently took a call from a broadsheet journalist wanting to do a piece on “Why all breweries are closing and why cask beer is dead?”

Sector impact: UKH boss Kate Nicholls says hospitality continues to suffer as collateral damage in the rail dispute (image: Getty/ coldsnowstorm)

Train strikes to hit sector for £387m

By Nikkie Thatcher

Industrial action on train services this weekend (Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April) is estimated to cost the hospitality industry £387m.

Pub operators urged to look for positives

OPINION

Trading is tough but we need to start sharing the positives

By Ed Bedington

It’s a little too easy to allow ourselves to wallow in pessimism, (particularly when you record a podcast with a fully qualified professional moaner), but sometimes we need to take a step back and appreciate some of the positives out there.

(image: Getty/georgeclerk)

Average hospitality salary drops

By Nikkie Thatcher

The average salary of hospitality workers has decreased this year when compared to 2023 a report has uncovered.

Menu changes: many chefs have started using lamb rump instead of a rack of lamb to help keep it at an affordable price (image: Getty/StockNinja)

Operators advised to put lamb on specials menu this Easter

By Nikkie Thatcher

With the cost of lamb high as a result of strong demand from across the globe and UK production reduced, one purchasing expert has urged operators to remove lamb from the main menu and offer it on the specials board instead.

Alarming rate: number of NTE firms in the UK drops by 15.5% (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Number of NTE firms drops by 'staggering' 15.5%

By Rebecca Weller

The number of night-time economy (NTE) businesses in the UK has dropped by a “staggering” 15.5%, new research from Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has revealed.

Business results: the trading update from JD Wetherspoon covered the 26-week period to 28 January 2024 (image: Getty/PeopleImages)

JDW ‘has potential for 1,000 sites’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) identified the possibility of increasing its estate by just under a quarter (23%), in its latest trading update.

Price increases: lager costs up 5.6% year-on-year (Credit: Getty/ Jack Andersen)

Beer prices up 5.6% year-on-year

By Rebecca Weller

The average cost of a pint of lager in pubs saw a 5.6% uptick in the year to February 2024, new figures have revealed.

Priced out: Breweries battle soaring costs and the cost-of-living crisis (Credit: Getty/MontyRakusen)

Insolvencies of breweries jump 82%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The number of UK breweries going insolvent has jumped 82% in the last year, according to audit, tax & advisory firm Mazars.

Trading update: Sarah Willingham-led Nightcap acquired The Piano Works in February 2024

Nightcap positive despite tough trading in 2024

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap – the operator of about 50 bars under brands including The Cocktail Club, Barrio Familia, the Adventure Bar Group and The Piano Works – expects trading to continue to be tough in 2024 but is positive for the future.

Hospitality grows 1.4% in February 2024

1.4% growth in Feb ‘disappointingly slow’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

Essential part of life: research shows consumers prioritise support for on-trade despite economic pressures (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Consumers prioritise support for pubs

By Rebecca Weller

Almost two thirds of consumers believe pubs play a vital role in their local community and continue to prioritise on-trade visits despite economic pressures.

Advice given: Nationwide Energy has outlined ways in which operators can improve their credit score, which can be beneficial when considering suppliers (image: Getty/Galeanu Mihai)

UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY

Find out the latest on the utility sector

By Nationwide Energy

With energy markets continuing to fluctuate and operators facing uncertain costs, the MA has teamed up with Nationwide Energy Consultants to provide our readers with a regular update to keep you one step ahead when it comes to the utility sector.

Corner plot: North Laine Brewhouse is stand-out pub in Brighton

Laine’s flagship Brighton pub building on market

By Gary Lloyd

The freehold site of Laine Pub Company’s flagship pub has been placed on the market – but the pubco insists the sale won’t affect the pub and it will be business as usual.

Drinks Tracker: economic challenges continue to damage drinks sales (Credit: Getty/DGLimages)

Economic climate slows drinks sales growth

By Rebecca Weller

Managed venues closed February with further year-on-year drops in drinks sales as “shifting dynamics” make growth more “challenging”, particularly for the spirits category.

Sector overview: The duo outlined challenges and future hopes

Hickory’s CEO ‘excited’ for future

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hickory’s founder Neil McDonnell and pub owner James Kowszun outlined the opportunities in the sector at the MA Leaders Conference in Liverpool yesterday (7 March).

Freeze ends: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (fourth from left) has taken no action on business rates (credit: UK Parliament/Maria Unger)

SPRING BUDGET 2024

Business rates to go up as freeze ends

By Gary Lloyd

Despite the hospitality sector’s calls for a reduced business rates burden in the Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s lack of action on the subject means companies in England will endure a combined tax hike of £1.66bn from 1 April.

Was there a hospitality VAT cut in the Spring Budget 2024

Gov ignores VAT cut pleas in Budget

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Despite pleas from across the hospitality industry, the Chancellor did not announce any changes to VAT in the Spring Budget today (6 March).

What's the story of Amy Lamé? The Morning Advertiser finds out

THE BIG INTERVIEW

The Big Interview: 'You only get one chance to be London's first night czar'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

On Saturday I’m cutting shapes at Fabric. On Monday I’m at City Hall to meet London’s night czar Amy Lamé. 15 minutes before the interview, I phone to get let in. After some confusion, the press officer double checks, “you are at Docklands right?” No....

Rally call: NTIA CEO Michael Kill has called for action on VAT from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (right)

NTIA: 5,000+ call for VAT reduction to 12.5%

By Gary Lloyd

Calls for the Government to slash VAT down to 12.5% from its current 20% level in the Spring Budget have poured into MPs’ offices, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Spotlight

(credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 S4 Ep. 14: Stars in bars! (Feat. James May, Candice Brown and more) Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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