Legislation

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.

Honoured: Tim Martin, Adam Handling and Stuart Broad

New Year’s Honours roll call review

By Gary Lloyd

The New Year Honours list always attracts attention and the recent awards were no exception as JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin received a knighthood for his services to hospitality and culture.

Pub support: The second reading of the private member's bill will take place on 19 Jan (Credit: Getty/G Trade)

BBPA supports licensing hours extension bill

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) was proud to support an MP’s drop-in event ahead of the second reading of her bill that will help pubs extend opening hours during national events.

Too late: tube strikes suspended at the

Tube strike cancellation 'too late' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The damage done to hospitality businesses by tube strikes is “undoubtedly too late to reverse” as planned tube strikes in London are cancelled at the “eleventh hour”.

Hitting the target: darts is enjoying a boost in popularity and Alex Tomlinson (right) has advice for pubs (credit: Getty/Jovan Doncic)

Darts – what are the rules for pubs?

By Alex Tomlinson, solicitor at Poppleston Allen

This week, we saw 16-year-old Luke Littler compete in the PDC World Darts Championship final before losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries.

De minimis nonsense: operators brand the introduction of pints of wine in pubs as

Pint of wine sales 'distraction from real issues'

By Rebecca Weller

Operators across the sector have branded the concept of selling pints of wine in the on-trade as a “peculiar distraction” from more pressing issues and an attempt to “scrape” some “benefit” to Brexit.

How has the pub sector fared in 2023?

Farewell 2023, here's to 2024

By Ed Bedington

There's a strange feeling of deja vu as I sit down to write my thoughts on the year and hopes for the year ahead.

Looking back: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie reflects on the past 12 months

OPINION

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As we approach the new year, it is an opportunity to review some of the key milestones for the pubs code and the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) during 2023.

What's in the news December 15?

Review of the Week

'We have a vital role'

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Frederic Robinson's William Robinson to hear his thoughts on the week, from Christmas trade to changing of the political guard.

Legal experts: Poppleston Allen advises ways to mitigate falling foul of the law around children in pubs (image: Getty/lisegagne)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips - children in pubs

By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The busy Christmas trading period and families with children in pubs can increase risk of falling foul of the law around children in pubs

What's in the news 1 December

Review of the Week

Better Government leadership needed

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's CEO Simon Emeny to get his take on the week's events, from the Covid Inquiry to the death of a footballing icon.

(image: Getty/carlosgaw)

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Reminder to check your licence for Christmas trading

By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

Be careful, it will not have escaped people’s notice that this year both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday.

Salary rise: since its introduction in 2016, the national living wage rate has increased by almost 60% (image: Getty/jax10289)

A look at NLW rises since it began

By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Autumn Statement 2023: operators share their thoughts on the Government's fiscal plans (Credit: Getty/sturti)

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.

Continued demand: UKH calls for VAT reduction to help boost tourism (Pictured: Kate Nicholls)

UKH calls for VAT cut to boost tourism

By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to address the UK’s lack of competitiveness on the global tourism market, beginning with a cut to VAT for hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

What did Hunt say about business rates in Autumn Statement 2023

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Business rates discount extended

By Rebecca Weller

On Wednesday 22 November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extension to the 75% discount for business rates up to £100k for the sector as part of the Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement 2023 (Credit: Getty/	Luis Davilla)

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Hunt confirms alcohol duty freeze

By Rebecca Weller

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday 22 November Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a freeze to alcohol duty until August next year.

Time to act is now: NTIA urges Gov to support sector in Autumn Statement (Credit: Getty/andresr)

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

Worrying sign: number of pub and bar insolvencies soars by 66% YOY (Credit: Getty/ilbusca)

Number of pub and bar insolvencies jumps 66% YOY

By Rebecca Weller

The number of pub and bar company insolvencies soared by two thirds in the year to September as high inflation and interest rates make turning a profit “impossible”.

What's in the news November 17

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Business rates support ‘is the big one’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke to Oak Taverns managing director Simon Collinson to get his thoughts on the week's news and the upcoming Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.

CAMRA calls for unlawful pub demolition to be made illegal

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Trouble brewing: advice from Poppleston Allen on dealing with drunk customers (credit: Getty/dusanpetkovic)

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Ho! Ho! No! How to deal with festive drunkenness

By Alex Tomlinson, licensing solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Now that we’ve seen the back of Halloween and Bonfire Night, and the annual debate has started over whether the John Lewis advert is the best campaign on TV, it must be fast approaching Christmas.

Gov help: Organisations call for business rates freeze (Credit: Getty/simarik)

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

On the market: all 25 former Wear Inns pubs are up for sale (credit: Getty/Shaun Taylor)

Administrators appointed to former Wear Inns pubco

By Gary Lloyd

The property company that operated north-east-based pub business Wear Inns after it was acquired in August 2018 has gone into administration meaning all 25 sites are now on the market.

Government action is vital: Sacha Lord says pubs are at breaking point

Lord: Gov must make major statement on 22 November

By Gary Lloyd

The Government must make positive changes in the upcoming Autumn Statement because pubs are already in a precarious position says night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord.

Christmas come early: RMT confirms members will vote on a new deal (Credit: Getty/Monty Rakusen)

Christmas hopes pinned on rail strikes deal

By Rebecca Weller

Christmas will “come early” for hospitality businesses if RMT members vote in agreement of a new deal that could see the end of rail strikes.