All news articles for December 2021

Why is Plan B bad for pubs?

Sector once again scapegoated

By Ed Bedington

So with the whiff of scandal in the air the Government lurches into distraction - sorry I mean action - to announce the launch of Plan B.

Almost 90,000 job losses since the start of the pandemic: One in five bouncers have left the security industry (Credit: Getty/ iunderhill)

One in five bouncers leave the industry

By Rebecca Weller

One in five bouncers have left the security industry and staff levels were at 80% compared to pre coronavirus levels, a City Hall report into London’s night-time economy has found.

Previous history: Carlsberg bought London Fields Brewery in 2017

CMBC closes London Fields Brewery with view to sell

By Nikkie Thatcher

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has closed London Fields Brewery (LFB), shutting the taproom and stopping brewing immediately, and is looking to sell the site and brand.

Looking to the future: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie says she is looking forward to the progress she can make in 2022

Making change to achieve more progress in 2022

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As 2021 draws to a close its end is marked by the latest step I have taken to improve the way the pubs code works for tenants, and it is a big one.

25 Years of Responsible Alcohol Regulation: A new spotlight report by the Portman Group (Credit: Getty/ NataliaAlkema)

Portman Group launches new guidance for Hard Seltzer and CBD drinks

By Rebecca Weller

Following a 10% increase in requests for advice regarding hard-seltzers and alcoholic drinks containing CBD, the Portman Group has released new guidance in those categories through a new spotlight report, 25 Years of Responsible Alcohol Regulation.

Present measures: current rules include face coverings in shops and on public transport (image: Getty/JohnnyGreig)

Christmas rules set to be revealed next week

By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce if there will be restrictions for the festive period next week and it is likely to be around 17 December.

Martyn Hillier: Micropubs are about bringing communities back together (Getty/ Instants)

Micropubs ‘bring communities back together’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Micropubs strip pubs back to traditional values of “friendship” and “conversation” and “bring communities back together” said the founder of the world’s first micropub Martyn Hillier.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 33

The Lock In Podcast

The opportunities and pitfalls of review websites

By Ed Bedington

The latest episode of the Lock In Podcast sees the team focus on review sites such as TripAdvisor and Google from the Prince of Peckham in east London with the pub’s operator Clement Ogbonnaya as well as Tony Kent from Reputation.com.

Opportunity arisen: Panmure Gordon believes Fuller’s could generate significant funds to help with its acquisition strategy to acquire managed freehold pubs if it were to sell its tenanted division

Fuller’s has good opportunity for M&A

By MCA

Fuller Smith & Turner has a good opportunity to participate in M&A activity within the pub sector, by disposing of its tenanted inns division, and using these funds to acquire City Pub Group (CPC), an analyst note from Panmure Gordon has suggested...

Digital revolution: Virtual spaces are here to stay (Getty/ Nikolay Evsyukov)

Virtual spaces key to high-end venues

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Virtual spaces are here to stay, with high end venues using them to unite customers safely, increase revenue and engage with a global audience, operators have said.

Rising up: consumer spending in pubs rose in November, compared to the previous month (image: Getty/Kathrin Ziegler)

Spending in pubs up by a third

By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumer spending in bars, pubs and clubs was up by 34.2% in November against October, according to recent data.

A player in many markets: JW Lees operates 42 managed houses and has 96 Pub Partners

JW Lees ready to expand in 2022

By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator JW Lees has hunkered down during the pandemic to concentrate on survival first and foremost but that looks certain to change in the new year.

Is Christmas a bust for the pub sector?

Is Christmas slipping away?

By Ed Bedington

The drip drip drip of paranoia and panic are starting to do damage and desperate operators are beginning to fear Christmas slipping through their fingers.

Increase your options: a multitude of non-alcoholic serves awaits

Turn January into a great month at your pub

By Gary Lloyd

The traditional image of empty pubs in January isn’t something an operator has to endure while customers ‘punish’ themselves for over indulgence in the previous month. The month of January has become an opportunity in waiting for a canny licensee to profit.

What's in the news 3 December?

Review of the week

‘There isn’t security in what’s being said by the Government’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke with New World Trading Company's Natasha Waterfield about this week's headlines including the impact of the Omicron variant on trade and how this has affected Christmas bookings for the business.

Competition criteria: entrants were judged on the quality, service, cleanliness, value for money, presentation and taste

Two pubs crowned Britain’s best roast dinners

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Eight Bells in Hawkhurst, Kent and the Perch on Lancing Beach near Brighton beat tough competition to win the ‘Best Meat Roast Dinner’ and ‘Best Vegetarian Roast Dinner’ in Knorr Professional’s Great British Roast Dinner Competition.

Major movers: the inclusion of draught cocktails has shaken up the RTD league

The Drinks List

Crabbies tops RTD division, draught cocktails make big moves

By Gary Lloyd

The ready-to-drink (RTD) category has seen some big losses as the restrictions on hospitality hit hard during the past year but, with CGA re-categorising draught cocktails as RTD, there are three new entrants to the top 10 that have been going great guns.

Next big thing? Volume and value sales were largely positive for the tequila sector (credit: Getty/knape)

The Drinks List

Jose Cuervo leads up-and-coming Tequila category

By Gary Lloyd

A new category to the drinks list this year, Tequila sales to the on-trade have been extremely positive in general, and as such should certainly be viewed by operators as something very useful to have stocked on their back bar.

Something for the weekend? The latest new products and news

New products round-up

Hofmeister crowdfunding, Bone Daddies and Deya collab beer

By Gary Lloyd

Among the new products on offer this week are a collaboration brew from Bone Daddies and Deya, Beavertown's new hard seltzer range and a liqueur range from Witch Kings Rum. There is also news on a crowdfunding campaign from Hofmeister.

Uncertainty over new variant: 78% of publicans see increase in cancellations (Credit: Getty/No-Mad)

Most operators seeing Christmas booking cancellations

By Rebecca Weller

More than three quarters (78%) of publicans have noticed an increase in cancellations since the announcement of the new Omicron Coronavirus variant, a snap poll conducted by the Morning Advertisers (MA) has found.

Just the tonic: Fever-Tree’s two variants were followed by two from Schweppes (credit: Getty/asbe)

The Drinks List

Tonics division title taken by Fever-Tree

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There was little movement in the tonic water list and Fever-Tree continued to dominate the market with mixers claiming first and second place.

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