All news articles for January 2018

Taking the strain: Thwaites will absorb additional costs rather than pass them on to pubs and their customers

Brewer announces price freeze for 250 pubs

By Nikkie Sutton

Lancashire-based brewer and operator Thwaites is freezing the price of its beer sold to its tenants across its 250 leased and tenanted estate, for the second year in a row.

Lessons in beer: the taproom will also function as a training centre for Cave Direct’s customers in the on-trade

Beer Merchants Tap announces opening date

By James Beeson

The Beer Merchants Tap, the new Hackney Wick taproom, bottle shop, training centre and blendery from beer distributors Cave Direct, is to open its doors on 24 February.

Good egg: chefs will compete against each other to be Scotch egg champion

Scotch Egg Challenge returns for 2018

By Nikkie Sutton

The Scotch Egg Challenge will return at Young’s pub the Canonbury in Islington, north London, next month (21 February).

Rumour quashed: Colin Valentine dismisses 'chaos' claims led to retirement

CAMRA chairman is not 'bailing out'

By Nicholas Robinson

Outgoing Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chairman Colin Valentine has dismissed rumours he is "bailing out" on the organisation, saying he is "quietly" confident the Revitalisation Project will succeed.

Parliamentary reception: winners will be announced on 5 February at a reception at the House of Lords

Finalists announced in National Best Bar None awards

By Stuart Stone

Bolton, Sheffield, Plymouth and Torquay have made it through to the final of the ‘National Best Bar None awards’ to be presented at a reception at the House of Lords on 5 February.

Unlocking potential: Ei Group is constructing a coffee offer that can help pubs take on high street coffee chains

Ei Group licensees to take on coffee chains

By Stuart Stone

Ei Group has unveiled a tailored ‘Beerista’ coffee offer to support publicans across the country tap into the UK’s coffee market – worth £3.7bn per year.

The rise in staycationing in 2018 is set to provide a boost for the south west

Regional focus on...the south-west

By Stuart Stone

Our regional focus on the south-west takes a look at the best pubs available in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire

Cultural and economic assets: the Government has pledged to help protect Britain's music venues

Government backs 'agent of change' rollout

By Stuart Stone

The pub industry has reacted positively to the news that an agent-of-change principle, protecting the UK’s live music venues from property developers, has received Government backing and will be written into planning law.

Committed: Punch is the latest pubco to turn its back on single-use straws

Punch becomes latest pubco to stop using straws

By Georgina Townshend

Punch has become the latest pubco to join the war against plastic straws by eliminating their use across its 70-strong retail pub estate, while encouraging its circa 1,200 leased and tenanted pubs to follow suit.

Blue Monday: the Bucket List attempted to cheer people up with its fake parking tickets (Image: Google Maps)

Pub claims 'fake parking ticket' campaign was a success

By Georgina Townshend

A pub has apologised for any offence caused after it placed fake parking tickets on cars around the site advertising 50% off its new menu but claims although it was a "headache", it was also a success.

Conversion chance: Rugby union fans make a real event of going to the pub with friends, especially when the Six Nations is taking place

Get on a winning streak: harnessing the Six Nations

By Stuart Stone

This year’s Six Nations marks the 19th instalment of the competition in its current guise after Italy joined the Five Nations in the year 2000. As a staple in the sporting calendar, how can pub owners convert the championship into profits?

Super Bowl LII: Last season's winners, the New England Patriots, will contest Super Bowl 52 against the Philadelphia Eagles

Born in the USA: how pubs can cash in on American football

By Stuart Stone

The National Football League is becoming big business on this side of the Atlantic and you don’t have to be ‘like, really smart’ to see the American game is only going to get bigger and better on these shores

A new look? CAMRA to ask members if they're happy with proposals

CAMRA ‘widens scope’ to cover all beers and outlets

By Nicholas Robinson

Beer and cider campaign group the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) will aim to broaden its reach to cover all “quality” beer and cider types, and will move its focus from traditional pubs to more on-trade outlets.

Straw debate: life is plastic, but it's not fantastic

7 alternatives to plastic straws

By Nicholas Robinson

More pubs and their customers are speaking out against the use of plastic straws and seeking alternatives to the environmentally hazardous tubes we’ve, for decades, grown accustomed to drinking from.

Long heritage: the King Arthur pub doesn't take plastic payment and only serves two beers

My Pub: The King Arthur, Worcestershire

By Phil Dixon

A new pub that doesn’t take plastic payment and only serves two types of beer – it can only be a Bathams pub. The Morning Advertiser journeyed to the Black Country to see how the brewery, which trades on its long heritage, has taken what it does best...

Cost increase: Molson Coors and AB InBev have announced price rises for this year

Big brewers announce 2018 price hikes

By Nikkie Sutton

AB InBev and Molson Coors will raise beer prices to above inflation over the next 12 months, making some beers and ciders up to 3.9% more expensive than in 2017.

Final four: the remaining teams in contention for this year's Super Bowl will be determined on Sunday night

The NFL’s final four fight to reach Super Bowl LII

By Stuart Stone

Make the most of this Sunday night’s American football action as the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings contest divisional finals to reach this year’s 52nd Super Bowl in Minneapolis.

Good news: drink-led businesses had the best of festive trading

Christmas and new year sales drop for pubs

By Nikkie Sutton

Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales down by 0.1% over the six week Christmas and New Year period, according to research.

Positive outlook: Christie & Co's Business Outlook report 2018 has an upbeat tone for the year ahead

Property specialist upbeat about pub trade for 2018

By Stuart Stone

Adviser for buying and selling businesses in the hotel, pub, restaurant sectors Christie & Co launched its annual Business Outlook report with a positive attitude towards the year ahead and embracing change.

Cheers: Judi Newman with Terry Stork outside the shop

Pub is home to first village shop in over 30 years

By Georgina Townshend

After an absence of more than three decades, a village in Suffolk is welcoming the launch of a new village shop at the Oyster Inn, boosted by a grant from People’s Postcode Lottery.