All news articles for September 2017

Minority stake: Founder Dougal Gunn Sharp would remain the largest single shareholder

Innis & Gunn receives £15m investment offer

By James Beeson

Craft beer brewery Innis & Gunn has announced that a leading consumer-goods private equity firm has made an offer to buy a 27.9% stake in the business for around £15m. 

Hare and Hounds: Managing director Adam Regan talks about his Birmingham pub. Image by Wanye Fox Photography.

My Pub: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham

By Georgina Townshend

Around 10 years ago Adam Regan and his partners rescued the Hare & Hounds from disrepair. Since then, acts such as Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding have graced the pub – helping it to win Best Entertainment Pub at last year’s Great British Pub Awards....

Misleading: breweries said was “perfectly possible” to produce beer within one decimal place of a targeted ABV.

Is Molson Coors’ claim about Carling ABV variation reasonable?

By James Beeson

Several breweries have cast doubt on Molson Coors’ claim that small ABV variances are a normal part of large-scale beer production, after the global drinks giant denied misleading customers over the strength of its flagship lager Carling. 

Local focus: sausage and mash is just one new dish on the menu (photo credit: avlxyz)

JDW backs Welsh farmers in new menu launch

By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is supporting Welsh farmers and suppliers with its new menu, which it is launching across its 50 pubs in Wales tomorrow (6 September).

Spending more: consumers continue to buy less, but more premium alcoholic drinks

Posh plonk sales up in branded pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Brits are spending more to guzzle premium alcoholic drinks in branded pubs and fancy upmarket bars, CGA Alcohol Sales Tracker report data shows.

Check the fruit: one study found 70% of garnishes had bacterial growth

How to keep your garnishes clean and safe

By Nikkie Sutton

Keeping garnishes clean and ensuring bar staff keep their hands just as clean are two ways to prevent bacterial growth on the fruit that goes in drinks, according to experts.

MRO concerns: evidence given to PCA was 'comprehensive', says PAS in letter to BBPA

PAS slams BBPA response to PCA's MRO report as ‘utter rubbish’

By Claire Churchard

The Pubs Advisory Service (PAS) has written an open letter criticising the response from the head of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) to a report providing evidence that pub companies are blocking tied tenants’ access to the market rent only...

Boom: 520 new breweries opened in the UK last year

Number of beer trademarks rises by 19%

By James Beeson

The number of new trademark registrations in the UK for beer brands has risen by 19% during last year, as larger drinks companies seek to introduce ‘craft’ products. 

Thrown out: Raymond Blanc's plans for new pub refused by council (image: Google Maps)

Raymond Blanc's latest pub plans refused

By Nicholas Robinson

Raymond Blanc’s White Brasserie Company has had development plans for the historic King's Head pub in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire, refused by the local council.

Push: Vimto ceo Marnie Millard will push the brand further

Vimto CEO sees purple gold for soft drink's future

By Nicholas Robinson

Some see challenges that can not be overcome, while others, such as Marnie Millard, chief executive officer of multinational soft drinks business Nichols, see a chance to grow.

Changes needed: the pub required improvement in its food safety (photo credit: Jaggery)

Greene King pub gets zero rating for food hygiene

By Nikkie Sutton

A Greene King pub has been awarded a zero food-hygiene rating and has been required to make major improvement in its food safety management and food handling methods, just days after a new manager took on the site.

Sporting bonanza: international football leads the way as England face Malta in World Cup qualifying

England face Malta in World Cup qualifying action

By James Beeson

There might not be any Premier League football this weekend, but Gareth Southgate’s England team is in World Cup qualifying action, plus the Aviva Premiership London double header, a full day of T20 cricket action and the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix...

Expensive tastes: the Qatari owners of Paris St Germain stumped up £200 million for Brazil’s Neymar

What sports pubs need to know about the transfer window

By Tommy Leighton

Last night, Sky Sports’ Jim White loosened his bright yellow tie, took a long, deep breath and brought another hectic transfer window to a shuddering halt. But what will your customers be talking about in the coming weeks and months? And were your local...

New opening: BrewDog has sights set on more London venues

BrewDog to open more London bars

By Nicholas Robinson

Craft beer brewer and pub operator BrewDog has its sights set on opening a new London venue, according to reports.