All news articles for April 2017

New site: Innis & Gunn opens its fourth venue

Innis & Gunn launches largest Beer Kitchen

By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish brewer and pub operator Innis & Gunn has launched its fourth and largest Beer Kitchen concept in Glasgow’s West End, with its own onsite microbrewery.

All smiles: having a child-friendly pub can bring with it additional trade opportunities

Nine ways to child-proof your pub ahead of the Easter bank holiday

By Liam Coleman

With new figures showing that there are two claims a week for children being injured at commercial properties, according to data from NFU Mutual, Graeme Cushion at legal expert Poppleston Allen shares nine ways to make sure your site is child safe.

Cheers: Stonegate launches Gancia Leggero Prosecco

Stonegate launches low-calorie Prosecco

By Georgina Townshend

As the demand for diet and low-calorie drinks continues to rise, Stonegate has released a light Prosecco across its traditional pubs and Slug & Lettuce venues, and claims it is as close to “clean drinking” as you can get.

MA500 Member Profile: Andrew Stones on why Liverpool is a good bet

MA500 Member Profile: Andrew Stones on why Liverpool is a good bet

By Nikkie Sutton

After its inception in 1998, Be At One now has more than 30 bars across the country. After opening its Liverpool site just six months ago, operations director Andrew Stones outlines why operators should consider the thriving city and what it has to offer...

Born in the USA: Barbecue food takes inspiration from overseas

Brits go gaga for US barbecue

By Daniel Woolfson

Pub gardens are perfect for barbecues. But barbecue cooking is more complex than slapping some flaccid meat on a smouldering grill.

Music in pubs: playing to win

Music in pubs: playing to win

By Nikkie Sutton

Music maestro Ethan Allen will be giving delegates the benefits of his expertise in helping pubs tap into live music at the next MA500 meeting on 18 May in Liverpool. He shares some of his top tips ahead of the event. Nikkie Sutton reports. 

Clean break: beer hygiene is under the spotlight

7 day beer line cleaning rule ‘not strictly true’

By Nicholas Robinson

Cleaning beer lines every seven days is not necessarily the tell of good hygiene, on-trade cellar sanitisation firm Avani has claimed after a report outed the ‘dirtiest’ beer in Britain.

Smoke and mirrors: the law around selling vaping products will change from mid-May

Q&A on the new vaping laws

By Liam Coleman

With new laws around selling e-cigarettes coming into force on 20 May, here is what licensees need to be aware of.

Late-night levy: the consultation will run until 7 May

BBPA responds to Hackney levy consultation

By Liam Coleman

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has officially responded to Hackney Council’s consultation on introducing a late-night levy at a time where the House of Lords looks to abolish the order all together. 

Making a difference: the licensees honoured at the event

Punch honours seven pubs for community spirit

By Liam Coleman

Punch has praised tenants from the company’s Mercury division in the north of England and Wales in a special awards ceremony to celebrate top performance.

Go West: Marston's MD Richard Westwood talks cask debate

Big Interview

The man behind the cask: Marston’s MD on real ale

By Nicholas Robinson

Controversy is following cask ale of late. Brewers, fans and critics have all condemned the rise of substandard pints in pubs, as well as the fact much of the trade is selling the beverage too cheaply.

Pricey: expensive alcohol drives booze value up

Pricey booze steadies wet sales in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Expensive alcohol is helping pubs, bars and restaurants to increase or maintain profits from wet sales as consumers look for more premium experiences.

Another way: Stonewall is encouraging licensees to introduce gender-neutral facilities

How to approach the sensitive issue of transgender customers

By Liam Coleman

Taking the sensitive approach to transgender customers is what all pub operators would like to think they would do. But after a Sussex licensee asked a transgender woman to use a disabled toilet, it begs the question of what approach licensees should...

My Pub: The Cartford Inn, Lancashire

My Pub: The Cartford Inn, Lancashire

By Daniel Woolfson

Julie and Patrick Beaume’s Lancashire pub the Cartford Inn was named Best Inn at 2016’s Great British Pub Awards, ahead of celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The couple discuss their journey and the secret to the inn’s success

Fundraising: Some of the ACI Charity Leaders who helped raise the £21,000 total with more than £10,000 going to Macmillan

ACI raises more than £20,000 for local charities

By Georgina Townshend

Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has accomplished a year-long goal after deciding to “do something special” during its 20th birthday year - raise £20,000 for local charities across its seven outlets in Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

A plan: Cask Marque will launch a training scheme for pubs

Cask Marque’s first bar staff training plan

By Nicholas Robinson

Real ale champions at Cask Marque have revealed plans to produce the pub trade’s first comprehensive training scheme to help the sector serve cask ale at its best.

Grand National: which of the 40 runners and riders will emerge victorious?

Grand National takes place this weekend

By Liam Coleman

The eyes of the horse racing world will be on Aintree for one of the world's most famous races, but that's not the only sport to be showing in the pub this weekend.

Bad beer: where's the best place to go for a pint?

Where are the ‘dirtiest’ pints in Britain?

By Nicholas Robinson

Operators in the south-west of England have been called out by this year’s Beer Quality Report as the most likely in the UK to pour pints from unclean lines.

Damning: beer quality at a low

Bad beer puts pubs at risk of ruin

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs face potential ruin if they do not improve the quality of their beer, especially in an environment of increased costs and competition from the likes of coffee shops and fast-food outlets, sector experts have warned.

Pub properties: March's big deals and sales

March's done deals

By Liam Coleman

A first-time buyer securing a recently refurbished site and a two-acre pub near Bosworth Battlefield are a part of our monthly roundup of the biggest and best pub sales.

Refit: Kim Beresford has high hopes for his brewery's fifth pub

Fifth site for Ashover Brewery

By Liam Coleman

Ashover Brewery has taken on the lease at the Royal Oak, Old Tupton, Derbyshire, with a major refurbishment planned for the village pub.

My Pub: The Shack 68, Twickenham

My Pub: The Shack 68, Twickenham

By Liam Coleman

After retiring from rugby union, former England and Harlequins back Ugo Monye decided to turn his hand to running a pub a stone’s throw from Twickenham Stadium. He and business partner Adam Saword discuss swapping rucks for the ruckus of running a pub.