All news articles for August 2017

Innovative taste: Big Drop's Sour is a 0.5% ABV version of a popular trend in craft beer

7 low-alcohol beers for 'mindful' drinkers

By James Beeson

While many new craft brewers are seemingly chasing numbers and producing ever-stronger beers, there are a whole range of great lower-strength ales and lagers available for more mindful drinkers.

Sleep deprived: pub chefs have to work unsociable hours

9 problems only pub chefs will understand

By Nikkie Sutton

Pub kitchens are stressful places with lots of yelling, sweltering heat and a whole load of other pressures. But there are a few things that can really get a chef's back up.

Feeling the heat: pub chefs could be affected by TV shows

'Perfect' TV food puts chefs under too much pressure

By Nikkie Sutton

Pub chefs are under increased pressure to compete with TV cookery programmes and present their food in the 'perfect' way, exclusive research from The Morning Advertiser has shown.

Cost-saving: CAMRA national chairman Colin Valentine assured members there was no cause for concern

CAMRA implements emergency cost-saving measures

By Nikkie Sutton

A potential shortfall in income has lead Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) leaders to take evasive action and put cost-saving measures in place, the organisation revealed in a letter to members.

Geese revived: the journey to get the pub reopened was a long one

Dorset village pub to open after long closure

By Fred A'Court

Traditional village pubs are here to stay and can still bring great rewards providing owners adapt to changing consumer needs, according to property specialist Christie & Co.

Have the competition licked: dog friendly pubs are quids in

Pubs are a dog owner's best friend

By Fred A'Court

‘Walkies’, it seems, means more than just taking the pooch for a stroll. Almost all dog owners (95%) pay a visit to their local pub and more than a quarter (26%) drop in more than once a week, according to the latest research.

Turn it up: improved performance at Deltic is 'down to refurbishments and rebranding'

Deltic results show trade ‘continues to improve’

By Fred A'Court

Clubs and bars operator Deltic Group says its trading performance continues to improve and there will be future improvements from a continued refurbishment programme of its premises.

Full integration expected: Heineken completes acquisition of 1,900 Punch pubs

Heineken completes acquisition of 1,900 Punch pubs

By Georgina Townshend

Heineken has said it will 'fully integrate' the 1,900 Punch pubs into its existing Star Pubs & Bars estate after completing the acquisition, as part of a back-to-back deal with Patron Capital, yesterday (29 August).

Impact: BrewDog co-founder James Watt said the initiative was an attempt to 'redefine industry itself'

BrewDog to give away 20% of profits

By James Beeson

Craft beer brewery BrewDog has announced today (29 August) that it will give away 20% of its profits every year, with half of this money going to charity. 

Help and guidance: the new brochure aims to help pubs optimise their wine offer

Wine brochure launched by Molson Coors

By Nikkie Sutton

Drinks giant Molson Coors has launched its 2017 wine brochure, which aims to help licensees boost wine sales by building the right range for their customers.

Rising trend: rum sales have soared by 6% in volume in pubs over the past five years

Rum to break £1bn sales barrier this year

By Nikkie Sutton

Rum sales are expected to top the £1bn mark this year if current consumption trends continue, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has said.

Fake: Europol seized wine purporting to be a famous and protected red wine from Italy

APPG set up to probe illicit trade

By Fred A'Court

MPs will investigate illicit trade across a range of sectors, including alcohol, as part of a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) formed to push the problem up the political agenda.

Revenue stream: Families can be a valuable source of income for pubs

More than just child’s play

By Emma Eversham

You don’t have to install a state-of-the-art soft play centre, radically adjust your menu or ignore other customer groups to attract the family market to your pub

Delighted: Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood said it has been a 'long road' and is 'delighted' that the deal is moving forward with clarity

Patron completes £1.8bn deal to buy 3,200 Punch pubs

By Claire Churchard

Investment firm Patron Capital has completed its £1.8bn acquisition of 3,200 Punch pubs and has announced that the second part of the deal, to sell 1,900 of these pubs to Heineken, will complete next week.

Holidays: staycations are more popular

Staycations grow hospitality sales by more than 8%

By Nicholas Robinson

Brits are now more inclined to holiday in the UK, providing the on-trade with a substantial boost, although the uncertain economic climate is preventing them from really splashing the cash.

Scores on the doors: five-star food hygiene ratings can be challenging

How to get a five star food hygiene rating

By Nikkie Sutton

Food safety issues can seriously damage a pub's reputation but, a five star food hygiene rating can improve it and The Morning Advertiser takes a look at how this can be achieved.

Trend one: cocktails will be sustainable

Four cocktail trends that will shake the world

By Nicholas Robinson

Cocktails meet food as bartenders turn to cheffing, but they must be kind to the environment and be individual, according to a panel of the world’s best cocktail makers.

Spirits offer: new publication launched by Crown Cellars

Crown Cellars launches spirits guide

By Nicholas Robinson

Carlsberg UK-owned Crown Cellars has broken its spirits portfolio away into a separate segment of the business following the launch of a new focused magazine – Spirits.

What to do with truffles: 6 tips to make them go further

6 ways to make black truffles go further

By Nicholas Robinson

They are potentially the most expensive fungi known to man, with prices regularly exceeding £30 per gram, but there are ways to extend the use of truffles beyond thinly shaving them over a dish.

Sign of the times: Pete Brown asks whether the Great British Beer Festival is still relevant

Opinion Pete Brown:

Great British Beer Festival is 'same old, same old'

By Pete Brown

Did you go to the Trade Day at the Great British Beer Festival this year? Pete Brown shares his experience and it's not as glowing as the organisers might have hoped.

A lot of Love: Owners of the Boot talk about life at their pub

My Pub: The Boot, Sarratt

By Georgina Townshend

Zoe Eliasson’s parents met at the Boot, which dates from 1739, and she worked there as a teenager. Since taking over in 2010, she and her chef partner Nick Idle have invested heavily in the pub, which won a Great British Pub Award for Best Family Pub last...

Fight night: Floyd Mayweather (left) will take on UFC's Conor McGregor

Spoiled for sporting choice this weekend

By James Beeson

Test cricket, a Premiership clash, the Belgian Grand Prix and a highly controversial boxing match between Mayweather and McGregor all make for an unmissable weekend of sport.

Dealing with complaints: Fred A'Court shares the dos and don'ts

Need to know: how to deal with complaints

By Fred A'Court

Complaints are an occupational hazard in the pub trade – no matter how good you are – so what are the best ways to deal with them constructively?

Trading places: customers often think they know best

Bar staff insider: know-it-all customers

By Bar staff insider

When you’ve been working in the trade for as long as I have, there’s not much worse than ‘teaching your grandmother to suck eggs’.