All news articles for May 2019

One for all: Cornerstone Inns founder Damon Horrill on employee ownership

MA500

Employee ownership – good for pubs?

By Nicholas Robinson

Allowing employees to buy into and own the pub they work in can, according to one operator immersed in the movement, help turn around struggling or closing sites.

Operators’ viewpoints: (left to right) panellists Alice Bowyer, Nicola Arrow and Pete Hughes on vegan options

MA500

3 operators on evolving a vegetarian offer

By Nicholas Robinson

The trend towards reduced or no meat intake among consumers is set to continue and even grow, but getting the offer right can be tricky, explained three leading operators with a keen eye on the trend.

Force for good: CAMRA wants its new campaign to unite businesses to promote pubs for summer

CAMRA wants a ‘summer of pub’

By Emily Hawkins

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has written to pubs across the country to participate in its ‘summer of the pub’ campaign.

Ice cool: Vimto is hoping to move its frozen drink into pubs and bars

Vimto targets the on-trade to stock frozen slush

By Robert Mann

Vimto Out of Home is spearheading a celebration of all things ‘slush’ this month after recent consumer research revealed one in three adults bought a frozen drink last year.

Looking ahead: Marston's CEO Ralph Findlay outlined the pubco's plans for the future

Marston’s to open 9 new pubs in next 12 months

By Nikkie Sutton

Pubco Marston’s is looking to open nine new pub-restaurants and adding three new sites to its accommodation offer, its CEO Ralph Findlay told The Morning Advertiser.

Roasting the competition: according to Nisbets, a Sunday roast is number one for pub diners

What is Britain’s favourite pub dish?

By Stuart Stone

Almost one in five Brits have identified a Sunday roast as their favourite pub meal according to research by catering equipment supplier Nisbets.

Summer loving: the good weather over Easter helped drive drink sales (image credit: omgimages/gettyimages.co.uk)

Easter heatwave boosts pub sales

By Nikkie Sutton

The high temperatures of the 2019 Easter weekend helped push sales in pubs and bars by 5.3% but restaurants saw a 19.4% drop when compared to last Easter, new research has found.

Team goals: retaining staff is good for business and offers a career

People power rules at Free Spirit pubco

By Nikkie Sutton

One award-winning licensee reveals his secrets to success after becoming a multiple operator – and they begin with staff who love what they do.

Steady as a rock: the Rockpoint Leisure project aims to regenerate the British high street

The lowdown on Rockpoint Leisure

By Nikkie Sutton

Ahead of Manchester MA500 where he will be speaking about his new venture, Daniel Davies gives a preview of his Rockpoint Leisure project, which aims to regenerate high streets with retail and licensed sites.

Mums welcome: JDW said the employee’s comment was an ‘error in judgment’

JDW sorry after breastfeeding demand

By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has apologised after a breastfeeding mother was asked to cover her baby’s head by a member of staff.

Fit for a king: the pub group saw sales rise across the board

Greene King sales crowning

By Nikkie Sutton

Greene King’s pub arm saw like-for-like volume sales for the 52 weeks to 28 April 2019 rise by 2.9%, the pubco revealed in a trading statement.

National stage: pubs like the Griffins Head in Northamptonshire are up for a public vote

Pubs recognised by small business awards

By Emily Hawkins

Pubs can enter to win the Pub of the Year title at this year’s SME National Business Awards, with a public vote being factored in for the winning entry.

Juicy: fruit cider sales on the increase

In association with Westons

Fruit cider sales rising faster than expected

By Nigel Huddleston

You can tell a drinks market category has reached genuine scale when experts talk in terms of the number of Olympic swimming pools its annual sales could fill.