Stonegate Pub Company

Helen Charlesworth ‘stepping down one of the hardest things I’ve done’

28-Feb-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has announced Helen Charlesworth has decided to step down as managing director for its managed business.

The Big Interview

'I've got a ridiculous addiction to pubs' - Stonegate's Payne takes a look back

19-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

After more than 50 years in the pub trade, Stonegate founder and chairman Ian Payne is hanging up his bar blade. The MA met up with him to chat over 50 amazing years in the trade.

Review of the Week

'Our industry is an engine for social mobility'

14-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Adnams boss Andy Wood to get his take on the week's news, from pricing, to recruitment and wellbeing.

Stick or twist: Will Stonegate's dynamic pricing gamble pay off?

12-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

Stonegate’s decision to run dynamic pricing in some "select pubs" in its managed estate has opened up quite an interesting can of worms.

Stonegate launches dynamic pricing

12-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

The UK’s largest pub group has launched a new system of dynamic pricing, which could see prices increase in some pubs during busier periods.

McDowall 'I'm in my dream job'

23-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

For some of us, we’re lucky enough to enjoy our jobs, but for Stonegate boss David McDowall, he’s delighted to find himself doing the job he’d always wanted!

Stonegate looking to sell 1,000 pubs to pay off debt

01-Feb-2023 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Stonegate Group is looking to sell off around 1,000 of its pubs in order to pay down some of its £2.6bn debt pile, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Craft Union donates £37,000 to local projects

19-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Craft Union Pub Company, part of Stonegate’s managed pubs division, has donated more than £37,000 to local projects as part of its ‘Love your Local’ campaign.

gbpa 2022

Meet the finalists for Stonegate Pub of the Year

30-Sep-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

Ahead of the 2022 Great British Pub Awards in a just a few days time, here's the lowdown on the finalists in running to be named Stonegate Pub of the Year.

Pubs plan for Queen’s funeral

16-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Many pubs have opted to stay open next Monday (19 September), the day of the Queen’s funeral, to “celebrate” and “honour” her life and service.

Stonegate wins ‘Best Employer of the Year’ award

28-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large operator Stonegate Group has been awarded ‘Best Employer of the Year’ at the British Credit Control Awards 2022.

Jobs round-up

JDW hires general manager for Scotland, Stonegate forges ‘bar to boardroom’ pathway

06-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The latest news on people moves, jobs and training from across the pub sector includes updates from the sectors largest operators as well as bodies striving to tackle carbon emissions and homelessness.

RedCat’s 42 pub package from Stonegate ‘first step to differentiated pub company’

31-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The confirmation of investment vehicle RedCat’s acquisition of 42 pubs from Stonegate Pub Company for an undisclosed sum gets Rooney Anand’s venture off to 'an excellent start', he said.

Ei rent credits to stop at end of June

26-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Tied Ei Publican Partnerships licensees on substantive agreements in England will receive rent credits until 20 June but The Morning Advertiser understands the credits will stop after this date.

Stonegate registers £746m loss amid pandemic pub closures

18-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

The UK’s largest pub company revealed that the enforced closure of its sites has yielded a £746m loss and forced it to tap investors and debt markets for £1.4bn funding.

Stonegate reveals rent credits for tiers

09-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Stonegate Pub Company has unveiled three rent credit systems for its leased and tenanted arm – Ei Publican Partnerships – differing for each tier.

Pubs slashing ale pint prices to less than £1

03-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and Stonegate Pub Company have cut prices of real ale to under £1 in a bid to throw as little beer away as possible during the second lockdown.

Stonegate committed to LGBT venues as it rebases business

30-Oct-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Stonegate has said it remains committed to LGBT venues, after speculation over the future of the Admiral Duncan, Retro Bar and the Kings Arms.

Ei Publican Partnerships to give away 100,000 free drinks

01-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Ei Publican Partnerships has unveiled free drinks campaign ‘Here’s to the Pub’ offering a complimentary tipple to guests at more than 1,000 pubs throughout October.

Property round-up

Two pub groups saved from administration, Red Fox & Peacock invests £1m in first freehold

09-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Hospitality groups Out Of the Woods and East Coast Concepts have both found buyers after being placed in administration while north west pub operator Red Fox & Peacock is poised to open its first freehold site following a seven-figure investment.

Ei Publican Partnerships’ rent support spend passes £32.5m

21-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Ei Publican Partnerships, the leased and tenanted division of Stonegate Pub Company, has announced further subsidised rental payments of 40% throughout September – taking its overall support spend past £32.5m.

Stonegate offers mental health support training to aid wellbeing

14-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Stonegate Pub Company is on track to become mental health champions as it partners with the Licensed Trade Charity to tackle issues within the industry.

My Pub: the Kings Arms, Morecambe, Lancashire

21-Oct-2019 By Simon Longbottom

Adam Hulme took over the Kings Arms as general manager almost a year ago and has seen it through a million-pound transformation. Here, he tells Stonegate boss Simon Longbottom what makes the pub tick and where he’d like the pubco to invest in its future.

Five lessons from Stonegate’s success

18-Oct-2019 By Simon Longbottom

Five years and 12 major acquisitions after chief executive Simon Longbottom joined the business, Stonegate Pub Company is on the cusp of becoming the UK’s largest pub operator. Here he reveals five lessons underpinning the company’s growth.

CMA investigating Stonegate/Ei Group merger

14-Oct-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the anticipated acquisition by of Ei Group by Stonegate Pub Company.

Spotlight

Busting the myths around jobs in hospitality

14-Oct-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Guest editor Simon Longbottom sets the brief for this issue’s Spotlight feature, which looks at debunking the myths surrounding jobs in the hospitality sector.

Big interview

'Please judge us on our track record' says Stonegate boss

11-Oct-2019 By Ed Bedington

It’s been a tumultuous year in the pub trade on the acquisition front but the news that Stonegate was bidding for the much larger Ei Group still caught many by surprise. One of the leading architects of the deal Simon Longbottom reveals all.

Opinion

Government help is vital for pubs

07-Oct-2019 By Simon Longbottom

For centuries, pubs have constantly demonstrated their ability to evolve and adapt to reflect the changing needs of society, according to Stonegate Pub Company chief executive Simon Longbottom.

Stonegate chief listed among UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs

18-Mar-2019 By Stuart Stone

Stonegate Pub Company’s chief executive Simon Longbottom has been elected to the annual Maserati 100 list of the UK’s top entrepreneurs.

Stonegate plans more ‘targeted’ acquisitions

12-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Stonegate will seek more acquisitions in the year ahead, after growing its portfolio to almost 800 sites, the pub company’s latest financial results state.

Punch returns to the acquisition trail

03-Aug-2018 By MCA

Punch has made its first individual pub acquisitions for 11 years, as it continues to grow its Mighty Local and Champs formats.

Should pubs charge more during World Cup games?

03-Jul-2018 By Claire Churchard

Pubs have been criticised for charging more for their beer during World Cup games after an investigation by The Sun newspaper.

Stonegate team scale three peaks for mental health charities

19-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Stonegate’s 18-strong ‘Team North’ have completed the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for mental health charities.

Pub luminary recognised in Queen’s birthday honours 2018

11-Jun-2018 By Claire Churchard

Ian Payne, founder and chairman of Stonegate Pub Company, has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to the hospitality and pub industry with a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award.

Wet-led pubs boost February like-for-like sales

05-Mar-2018 By Stuart Stone

Despite harsh weather that struck the UK towards the end of the month, February saw strong trading for many hospitality operators.

My Shout: Simon Longbottom, CEO, Stonegate Pub Company

10-Oct-2017 By Simon Longbottom

Our industry is facing unprecedented inflationary and political challenges, and many are in the area of people and employment, the national living wage, the apprenticeship levy and the potential post-Brexit shortfall in labour to name but three.

Be at One completes £20m refinancing

02-Oct-2017 By Mark Wingett, MCA

Be At One, the Piper-backed cocktail bar group, has completed a £20m refinancing, and ended the sales process it started earlier this year.

Publican Awards: Pictures of the winners

16-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Here are all the winners collecting their trophies from awards host Jonathan Ross at this week's Publican Awards.

Publican Award Winners: Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), sponsored by CPL Training Group - Stonegate Pub Company

15-Mar-2017 By The MA

Stonegate Pub Company, the managed operator with about 700 pubs in its estate, stood out for its continually evolving people-led culture and its ability to operate numerous different and successful concepts across town and city centres.

Pub employment key to robust UK economy, says Stonegate chair

10-Mar-2017 By Ed Bedington

The hospitality industry is the third largest employer in the UK, ministers and MPs were told during an apprenticeship showcase at the House of Commons this week (7 March).

Pub company finalists unveiled for Retailers' Retailer awards

30-Jan-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Stonegate and the New World Trading Company are among the finalists for this year’s prestigious Retailers’ Retailer of the Year as compiled by The Morning Advertiser's sister title MCA. 

Great British Pub Awards

Pub Awards: Best Live Entertainment finalist - Salsa!, Charing Cross, London

30-Sep-2016 By MA

Well-known South American-inspired bar, restaurant and late-night venue Salsa! is located a stone’s throw from Leicester Square.

Apprenticeship Levy

Pub boss calls for rethink on apprenticeship plans

08-Sep-2016 By Ed Bedington

The government’s plans to impose an apprenticeship levy could put the brakes on the ability of the industry to train efficiently, a leading pub operator has warned.

Gallery

Pictures: Pub openings - March 2016

05-Apr-2016 By Oli Gross

The Publican's Morning Advertiser looks at pubs which were opened and renovated up and down the country in March 2016.

Stonegate acquires Maclay Inns portfolio

06-Jun-2015 By M&C Allegra FS

Stonegate Pub Company has announced a re-strengthening of its estate with the acquisition of 15 sites formerly operated by the Maclay Group, the Scotland-based pub, bar and hotel operator, which was placed into administration earlier this year.

Zonal complete Stonegate EPoS rollout

09-Feb-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Zonal, the Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) provider to the hospitality industry, has completed the rollout of its Aztec software to the 614-strong Stonegate Pub Company estate in record time.

Bramwell Pub Company sites up for sale through Christie & Co

12-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

The 35 former Bramwell Pub Company sites that have been placed on the market with Christie + Co are located in a fairly even split across the country.

Bramwell faces uncertain future as Stonegate eyes core estate

30-Oct-2013 By Mark Wingett

Bramwell Pub Company, the c180-strong managed operator, is in talks to sell the better performing parts of its estate to rival operator Stonegate Pub Company, a little more than a year after undergoing a financial restructure and appointing a new management...

Pubs minister Brandon Lewis backs Perceptions Group scheme offering 15k work placements

23-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Community pubs minister Brandon Lewis MP is set to launch the Pub and Bar Careers scheme which aims to offer 15,000 work placements to young people today.

Video: Consumer campaign celebrating Britain’s passion for pubs unveiled

15-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A national consumer campaign to celebrate Britain’s passion for pubs was unveiled to the trade at the British Institute of Innkeeping’s (BII) Annual Lunch in London on Tuesday.