All news articles for April 2019

On the up: rum sales in the on-trade are increasing

Rum sales now worth £1bn

By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of rum are continuing to rise with almost 35m bottles sold worth more than £1bn in 2018, according to new figures.

Inaugural review: Kelly Tolhurst (right) revealed the first statutory review of the pubs code and its adjudicator on 30 April

Government launches first pubs code review

By Stuart Stone

Small business minister Kelly Tolhurst MP has revealed that the Government has launched its first statutory review of the pubs code and pubs code adjudicator.

Tragic event: a customer died after choking while dining at the Barley Mow in Friskney, Lincolnshire (image credit: Alex McGregor)

Diner chokes to death on pub lunch

By Nikkie Sutton

A customer at a Lincolnshire pub died after he choked on his lunch earlier this year (13 January) a coroner has confirmed.

Big investment: JDW has pumped millions into an Irish venue (image: Ian S, Geograph)

JDW to open pub following €3m investment

By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is set to open a new site in Carlow, Ireland, after a €3m (£2.6m) investment alongside the creation of 65 new jobs.

Upcoming event: the next MA500 is on 16 May in Manchester

MA500 study tour for Manchester unveiled

By Nikkie Sutton

Next month, Manchester will play host to the MA500 business club conference and study tour and we can now reveal the vibrant venues included.

Bridge the gap: Amstel brand ambassador Jeff Bridges

Amstel signals millions of on-trade spend

By Nicholas Robinson

Heineken is set to spend millions of pounds to activate its Amstel lager in the on-trade as part of a £7m advertising campaign featuring actor Jeff Bridges, which launches today.

Inn on the act: The Coach & Horses will stage a play starring television actor Robert Bathurst (image: Tom Howard)

Soho pub to stage play amid battle over lease

By Emily Hawkins

A London pub will stage a play about a past patron to celebrate the site’s cultural presence as part of a campaign against Fuller’s plans to take back the lease.

Caffeine fix: one operator compared specialist coffee to the rise of craft beer

How important is it for pubs to offer specialist coffee?

By Emily Hawkins

With figures showing that two pubs have closed for every coffee shop that has opened in the past five years, industry experts and operators shared their thoughts on how pubs can draw coffee lovers into pubs for a caffeine fix.

More choice: fruit cider makers are looking to exotic flavours

What's next for fruit cider?

By Emily Hawkins

Fruit cider has been instrumental in driving sales in the cider category in the recent past. We look at what the sector can expect next.

Cash injection: Ei Group is pumping money into sites in the Midlands

Ei Group pumps £3m into West Midlands pubs

By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Ei Group has invested more than £3m into pubs across the West Midlands over the past six months, as part of the group’s capital investment of £80m a year across its estate.

Get a thirst on: a new podcast called MA Drinks features one-to-one interviews with people at the top of the drinks trade

MA Drinks podcast – in association with Diageo

How have drinking habits changed in 10 years?

By Nicholas Robinson

The future of alcohol consumption has never been more in focus, with habits changing on an almost daily basis driven by lifestyle choices that, in turn, determine innovation. But what’s next for alcohol?

'Sense of opportunity': 'We all have opportunities within our business to make them better. It may be a simple coat of paint or getting the garden tidier' according to Matt Slocombe of the Crown Inn

Guv'nor

Pubs must strive to be better despite cost pressures

By Matt Slocombe

Whether freehold, leasehold, tenanted or managed, operators have to keep looking at ways to get better, says Matt Slocombe of the Crown Inn in Woolhope, Herefordshire - winner of the best cider pub at the John Smith's GBPA 2018

Stay legal: Most councils will require you to have a pavement licence

Licensing Hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

Top tips if you’re planning to go alfresco

By Poppleston Allen

As the evenings grow longer and (we hope) the temperature rises, operators up and down the country will be looking to capitalise on the demand for alfresco drinking and dining.

Tackling licensing issues: Poppleston Allen advises operators to check game times at this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan against their premises licence conditions

Legal Q&A: Rugby World Cup screening

By Poppleston Allen

The latest legal Q&A from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen tackles operator questions around screening the Rugby World Cup.

Flag it up: Many areas with a cumulative impact policy have Purple Flag status, meaning they are recognised as diverse, safe and enjoyable at night

Licensing Hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

Stay on top of your stress areas

By Poppleston Allen

You may be familiar with the concept of cumulative impact policies, also known as 'stress areas', where the local authority has determined that the number of licensed premises in a particular area is having a negative impact on one of more of...

Joined forces: female operators gathered to talk about women's roles in the industry

In association with Knorr

How can we push sex equality in the pub trade?

By Nikkie Sutton

Equality is a hot topic on the lips of everyone at the moment but hospitality needs to encourage more women to get into the trade and ensure they are treated equally once they get there.

Harsher penalties: According to NFU Mutual there are more than 10,000 outlets with a food hygiene rating of one or zero

Average food safety and hygiene fine rises by £4,900

By Stuart Stone

New research by Government agency the Sentencing Council has found the number of fines and prosecutions for food safety and hygiene offences has more than doubled since the introduction of new sentencing guidelines.

No longer boarded up: the Extraordinary Hare has already received a £500,000 investment

Heineken promises £50m for 150 pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Brewer and pubco Heineken has ring-fenced £50m to pump into 150 of its Star Pubs & Bars sites, a record sum for the business, which is estimated to create 1,200 jobs in the sector.

Sweet sensation: this dessert will tickle the tastebuds

Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs

How to make: marmalade ice cream sandwich

By Nikkie Sutton

This stunning dessert comes from London’s only Michelin-starred pub, the Harwood Arms, which is run by head chef Sally Abé.

Premium league: spirits are driving growth in the alcohol category

£5bn growth opportunity for alcoholic drinks

By Nikkie Sutton

The alcoholic drinks category will see a rise in value of £5.2bn to £46.7bn in 2022, according to historic and predictive data, revealed in a new report.

Title race brewing: MatchPint’s Dom Collingwood has designed, brewed and launched The Match Pint with ETM Group

ETM Group and MatchPint team up for new beer debut

By Stuart Stone

Sport pub and fan network MatchPint has collaborated with London-based pub operator ETM Group to launch a beer that they hope will become a firm fixture in this season’s Premier League title run-in.

Big plans: Tiny Rebel's new site is across the road from its existing one

Tiny Rebel expands into 60,000sq ft site

By Nikkie Sutton

Welsh brewer and operator Tiny Rebel has announced it will be moving part of the business into a new site to accommodate its growing team and equipment.

Growth slows: the total number of breweries in Britain increased by just eight last year

Is the UK nearing peak craft beer?

By Robert Mann

The UK's craft beer boom has significantly slowed in the past year, with only eight more breweries opening compared to 395 launched the year before.