Finance

Brew news: the north has been most affected by independent brewery closures throughout 2023

SIBA: number of breweries down versus 2023

By Gary Lloyd

The number of active breweries in the UK at the start of the year has reduced from 2023 levels, according to new data released by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

Turbulent economic period: venues rise prices by 7.1% to combat inflationary pressures and staff shortages (Credit: Getty/NickyLloyd)

Venues rise prices by 7.1% to offset soaring costs

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality venues increased prices by an average of 7.1% in the year to December 2023 after being left with “little choice” in the face of rising costs and staff shortages.

Rekom shuts 17 nightclubs

Rekom shuts 17 sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rekom UK has closed 17 sites across its estate following the completion of a pre-pack administration.

Huge funding: the £3.8million raised is the equivalent of £434 every hour in 2023 and could fund up to 82,353 Macmillan nursing hours

GK celebrates £3.8m raised for Macmillan Cancer Support

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King is celebrating another record-breaking fundraising year for Macmillan Cancer Support after its pubs, breweries and support centres raised an amazing £3.8m in 2023.

Company history: Urban Pubs & Bars was founded in 2014

Urban Pubs & Bars ‘poised for expansion’

By Nikkie Thatcher

London-based multiple operator Urban Pubs & Bars has reported an upswing in sales and turnover in its latest trading update and is eyeing further growth.

Speaking up: Publicans can share their views in the PCA's new survey

PCA launches 2024 Annual Tied Tenant Survey

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) has announced the launch of its Annual Tied Tenants Survey, calling on tied publicans to share their views on the pub company and the PCA.

Cash injection: Admiral Taverns has invested more than £20m into its community pubs in 2023

Admiral pumped over £27m into 300 pubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Community pub company Admiral Taverns ploughed more than £27m into refurbishments and updates across its Proper Pubs and tenanted and leased estate in England, Scotland and Wales last year.

Company news: there was a significant jump in the number of insolvencies in the hospitality industry in the fourth quarter of 2023, RSM UK's Robyn Duffy says (image: Getty/Fentino)

Hospitality insolvencies up more than a third

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of firms in the accommodation and food services sector becoming insolvent has increased by 37% on an annual basis, official statistics have found.

Stark figures: almost 23,000 firms lost since December 2022 (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Almost 23k hospitality firms lost since 2020

By Rebecca Weller

Close to 23,000 licensed businesses across the sector have closed in the last three years, figures from the latest Hospitality Market Monitor have revealed.

Outlook for 2024: Scottish venues experienced a poor new year according to SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson

SLTA ‘deeply concerned’ over state of hospitality in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

Three out of four Scottish hospitality operators will need government support to survive this year while 96% say the Scottish government is out of touch with business community, according to the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association).

Impact of inflation: Heineken draught wholesale prices to increase 1.73% (Credit: Getty/Jonathan Knowles)

Heineken to increase draught prices by 1.73%

By Rebecca Weller

Heineken UK is set to introduce a 1.73% price hike for its draught wholesale products from next month, though the global brewer claimed it had made “considerable efforts” to “minimise impact of inflation” for its customers.

Remain alert: new border checks could 'put momentum back into inflation' (Credit: Getty/Photo_Concepts)

New border checks risk fuelling food inflation

By Rebecca Weller

New border checks could cause disruptions to supply chains and push foodservice price inflation, the latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) from CGA and Prestige Purchasing has warned.

Right thing to do: WSTA calls for duty cut in Spring Budget (Credit: Getty/Carlo Prearo)

WSTA: 'duty cut would offer much-needed boost'

By Rebecca Weller

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty to combat both falling sales volumes and reduced revenue to the Exchequer ahead of the Spring Budget in March.

Positive future: sales up 11.5% at Fuller's

Fuller's sales up 11.5%

By Rebecca Weller

Fuller, Smith & Turner has reported like-for-like sales growth of 11.5% in the 42 weeks to Saturday 20 January 2024.

Support an Independent Pub Day: London Pub Explorer urges people to support their local pub in the face of challenging economic headwinds (Pictured: Tuesday Roberts at the Northcote Arms)

EXCLUSIVE

Support an Independent Pub Day launched

By Rebecca Weller

The London Pub Explorer has launched ‘Support an Independent Pub Day’ in a bid to raise awareness of challenges and closures across the hospitality sector.

Property refurbs: this week's round-up features Brotherhood, Shepherd Neame and Inn Collection Group

PROPERTY

Brotherhood bars invests £500k into refurb

By Rebecca Weller

This week's property refurb round-up includes investments from sports bars operator Brotherhood, pub with rooms brand Inn Collection and Shepherd Neame.

Tim Martin: JDW has seen 'consistent but slow' recovery from pandemic

JDW reports 10.1% growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced financial growth in its trading update for the six months ending 28 January 2024.

Fleurets Survey of Pub Prices January 2024: pub numbers expected to continue declining (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Number of pubs expected to decline in 2024

By Rebecca Weller

The total number of pubs in the UK will “continue to decline” as more than a third of freehold sites sold in 2023 no longer operate as pubs, according to the Fleurets Survey of Pub Prices January 2024.

Ominous escalation: cost of a pint increases by 10% YOY (Credit: Getty/MarioGuti)

Pint prices jump 10% YOY

By Rebecca Weller

The Government “must act to secure the future of pubs” as the average cost of a pint of draught lager in the on-trade soars by more than 10% year-on-year (YOY).

No surprise: UKH urged Gov to mitigate costs for sector to avoid further fuelling inflation (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

UKH: 'inflation rise no surprise'

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms will have “no choice” but to pass further costs onto consumers without “action to mitigate costs”, further fuelling inflation.

Call on Government: BII CEO Steve Alton (left) with The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington

BII demands Gov support for pubs in Budget

By Gary Lloyd

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has demanded Government investment in pubs in the upcoming Budget as more than six out of 10 pubs reported revenues losses or flat trade in 2023.

Finding more ways to prosper: Professor Victoria Wells

OPINION

Pubs have had to diversify to survive

By Victoria Wells, Professor of Sustainable Management School for Business and Society, University of York

As a pub researcher I’m almost always given pub (or beer) related gifts for Christmas and birthdays – Christmas 2023 was no exception.

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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