Though West Yorkshire-based brewer Russ Clarke describes 2020 as ‘a dumpster fire’, it was also the year he fulfilled a dream by opening his own brewery.
By Nicholas Hack, co-chef and owner, the Cadeleigh Arms, Tiverton, Devon
The next in our series of reflections on 2020 in the on-trade, award-winning chef and pub operator Nicholas Hack looks back on a ‘yoyo’ of tiers and lockdowns and building his business on 12 months of shifting sands.
By Marc Hornby, co-founder, the Virgins & Castle, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Publicans Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby received the keys to their new pub on 9 March – less than a fortnight before the UK’s first national lockdown. Here Marc reflects on taking on a site during a pandemic.
While 2020 has been punctuated by restrictions, setbacks, tragedy and loss according to Boss Brewery director Sarah John, there have also been positive moments she will look back on fondly.
Kate Stewart from the Sandon – a firm fixture on matchdays at Anfield – describes the ‘heart-wrenching’ feeling of not being able to celebrate Liverpool’s first Premier League title with supporters due to Covid-19 restrictions.
By Jesse Dunford Wood, Parlour, Kensal Green, London
On the eve of his site's eighth anniversary, Jesse Dunford Wood spoke to The Morning Advertiser about the impact of Covid-19 on his west London pub Parlour.
Despite the company exhibiting symptoms of the Covid-19 crisis such as dented profits and sounding off job loss warnings, Marston’s Ralph Findlay argued the operator exits 2020 in better shape than it entered.
By Patrick Frawley, owner, East London Pub Company
Patrick Frawley, who owns and operates five pubs and bars in central London as well as five restaurants and bars in Ireland via the East London Pub Company, believes hospitality has been 'thrown to the wolves' in 2020.
This Christmas is set to be the quietest on record for pubs with 39m fewer pints and 5m fewer Christmas dinners to be served amid the coronavirus restrictions across the nation.
Comedian Al Murray, ‘The Pub Landlord’, has become an ambassador for national grassroots campaign group Campaign for Pubs and is calling on all pub-lovers to sign its latest petition.
In the final jobs round-up of 2020 The Morning Advertiser (MA) reflects on 18 of the biggest people move, job, training and company updates from the past year.
By Reverend Emily Kolltveit, St Mary‘s Church and the Chandos Arms, London
According to Great British Pub Award-winning operator turned ordained Anglican Deacon, Emily Kolltveit, 2020 has been ‘an extraordinary year of highs and lows’. Here she explains how she’s adapted to a new style of service.
Pub company Marston’s has announced it will operate SA Brain’s portfolio of 156 pubs in Wales on a combination of leased and management contract arrangements, safeguarding 1,300 jobs.
The UK’s hospitality sector has seen sales figures plummet by more than £53bn in 2020 – with more to come from collapsed Christmas trading – new research from CGA has found.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has voiced support for Leicestershire County Council after the authority pledged to double funds provided by the Government with an extra £1,000 for struggling rural pubs.
In the final pub property round-up of 2020 The Morning Advertiser (MA) looks back on 20 of the biggest deals, revamps and reopenings covered in the past 12 months.
In the third instalment of our series looking back on the past 12 months, we hear from Blind Tiger Inns’ Chris Tulloch and his reflections on opening a pub on the day the UK entered its first nationwide lockdown.
Tough restrictions on pubs will see more people break coronavirus laws to attend illegal house parties on New Year's Eve, the sector has told the Government.
UKHospitality (UKH) has written to the Prime Minister outlining the sector’s need for a “rolling back” of tiered restrictions and financial support similar to that provided by other countries.
New data from pay-at-table app OrderPay has revealed that potential sales of at least £2.6bn will be lost during December under the latest raft of Government-mandated trading restrictions and business closures.
Real estate service provider Colliers International has urged the Government to take advantage of the European Union’s increase in State Aid limits due to Covid-19 to support the UK’s ailing hospitality sector.
North east-based pub operator, the Inn Collection Group, has made its eighth acquisition of 2020 – a year of record growth despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
By Piers Baker, the Sun Inn, Dedham and Church Street Tavern, Colchester, both Essex
In the second instalment in our series looking back on the last 12 months, Piers Baker explains that 2020 hasn't necessarily changed his pub but highlighted the importance of people to both it and the wider industry.
The pubs code is not just about market rent only. I want to highlight code rights relating to insurance which apply each time the pub company signs a new tenant or buys and charges a tied tenant for insurance for the pub.
By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex
To kick off a series looking back at a turbulent 12 months in the on-trade, Debbie Baisden, a multi-tasking, performing publican, explains how she is confronting Covid-19 challenges with hopes to continue both her careers in the arts and hospitality.
Late-night operator Deltic has been taken over by nightlife group Rekom UK for an undisclosed sum, bringing 42 of the group's 52 bar and club sites out of administration.
The final new product round-up before Christmas 2020 includes a protest pour from Boss Brewing, a gin launch from TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst unveiling a limited-edition gin and whisky collection.
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced a further eight regions will be added to tier three from this weekend in an address to the House of Commons, while three areas moved down a tier.
Star Pubs & Bars has announced it is to appeal the fine imposed by pubs code adjudicator (PCA) Fiona Dickie for what she described as “seriously and repeatedly” breaching the rules over nearly a three-year period.
The operator of 67 bars under its nationwide Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands has reported sales significantly down in the first 24 weeks of FY21 as a result of “severe and constantly evolving trading restrictions.”
In addition to the release of Office of National Statistics figures for hospitality job losses, there have been updates from Heineken UK, Only A Pavement Away, Laine Brew Co and Ten Locks in the past week.
A Chester-based multiple operator has told The Morning Advertiser (MA) that he is pursuing a total of £26,335 in Covid grant funding from 15 different local authorities – with one yet to process any payments at all.
New lockdown measures have been enforced in Wales, including the closure of pubs, later this month (December), First Minister Mark Drakeford announced.
Some 20,465 of England’s pubs are now in tier three, alongside more than 16,000 in tier two, leaving fewer than 1,000 in the lowest tier, according to analysis from real estate adviser Altus Group.
With 2020 drawing to a close, and the last episode of the Lock In podcast for the year, the team take a look back at a year which has had few highlights, but plenty of challenges for the sector and more on the way. We take a look forward at what 2021...
In addition to updates on the sales of Welsh brewer and pub operator SA Brain, nightclub operator Deltic and London Cocktail Club, this week saw biggest ever investments from JDW and Tokyo Industries.
The UK Government could appoint a minister for hospitality after a widespread campaign garnered near 150,000 signatures, meaning the sector’s demand must now be debated in Parliament.
With wet-led pubs in tiers two and three able to claim a Christmas Support Payment of £1,000, The Morning Advertiser takes a look at eligibility requirements and how operators can access funding.
