All news articles for January 2018

Cooking style: the Unruly Pig uses its Inka grill to blacken the beetroots

How to make: the Unruly Pig's grilled mackerel

By Nikkie Sutton

Brighten up a grey weekend with this recipe for grilled mackerel with hay-smoked beetroot and sunflower seeds courtesy of Top 50 Gastropub the Unruly Pig, in Woodbridge, Suffolk

Focus: Asahi MD Tim Clay will push premium beers

New Asahi UK MD sets out premium lager growth plans

By Nicholas Robinson

The super-premium beer market will continue to grow in the UK as consumers’ willingness to spend more on “beer worth paying for” kicks up a level, according to Asahi UK’s new managing director Tim Clay.

'Going great guns': the four-week festive period saw sales rise at Draft House

Draft House like-for-like sales up 5.9%

By James Wallin

Draft House, the Charlie McVeigh-led craft beer pub operator, is planning a return to the acquisition trail in the second half of the year.

Pub grub: according to Sargeant, 'at its best, a meal in a pub can compete with any restaurant'

Top chef Sargeant eyes pub rollout

By James Wallin

Michelin-starred chef Mark Sargeant has told MCA he is keen to secure a joint venture to increase his portfolio.

Changing face: the redesign focuses on Fentimans heritage

Fentimans unveils £1.2m new look

By Nikkie Sutton

Soft drinks supplier Fentimans has overhauled its image with a £1.2m rebrand, the biggest in its history.

Money worries: last year, 60% of January enquiries to the LTC were from people seeking financial support

How pub workers can beat the January blues

By Stuart Stone

In light of seasonal splurging and early December paydays, the Licensed Trade Charity has issued a short guide to help pub workers beat January money blues.

Investment: Molson Coors will boost Aspall's reach

Exclusive

Molson Coors to invest £7m in Aspall Cyder

By Nicholas Robinson

Molson Coors will pump millions of pounds into Suffolk-based Aspall Cyder to boost production and reach, The Morning Advertiser (MA) can reveal after the brewing giant announced its acquisition of the brand.

Good year: Beds and Bars has reported a 5% increase year on year on like-for-like sales

Beds & Bars reports 'another successful year' for 2017

By Georgina Townshend

Backpacker bar and hostel operator Beds & Bars has reported that like-for-like sales have increased 5% year on year, rising to £47.7m from April 2016 to March 2017 despite "political, social and economical obstacles hitting the businesses hard".

Record sales: Be At One noted the best trading figures in its history this Christmas

Be At One announces record festive trading

By Stuart Stone

Specialist cocktail bar group Be At One sold 500,000 cocktails during December – with best-selling cocktail, the Pornstar Martini, accounting for 67,252 of those.

£40m: Molson Coors buys Aspall Cyder

Molson Coors snaps up Aspall Cyder

By Nicholas Robinson

Brewing giant Molson Coors has snapped up family-owned cider brand Aspall Cyder for £40m, following a year of negotiations.

Record breakers: last season's FA Cup winners Arsenal have won the trophy a record 13 times

Big guns enter the FA Cup's third round

By Stuart Stone

Last season’s FA cup finalists Arsenal and Chelsea, winners and runners-up respectively, return to the competition this weekend against lower league opposition.

Who will win? Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2018 list to be revealed

Top 50 Gastropubs 2018 list to be revealed

By Nicholas Robinson

The greatest food pubs the country has to offer will be announced at the prestigious Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list reveal event in York on 29 January.

Well worth a butcher's: Farmer-licensee Barbara Cossins explains how the Langton Arms rose like a phoenix from a devastating fire

My Pub: The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton

By Phil Mellows

After a fire that would have been the end for some businesses, the 17th-century Langton Arms came back fighting with a stronger food menu and its own butchery. Farmer-licensee Barbara Cossins reveals the strategy behind the rise of the phoenix

Wave of cost rises: After an expensive year, it's worth setting aside time to prioritise cost management

Cost cutters: ways to reduce the 3 biggest pub costs

By Claire Churchard

As pubs battle ever-rising overheads and the ongoing uncertainty of Brexit, The Morning Advertiser looks at the three main costs for pubs and outlines some ways to cut them down to size

Recognising excellence: Ei Group has refreshed its national awards scheme

Ei Group launches revamped national awards scheme

By Stuart Stone

The pub company behind 4,600 sites across the UK is launching a revitalised awards programme in order to recognise the work of outstanding publicans in its estate, operational excellence and pubs that are the focal point of their communities.