All news articles for May 2022

Major refurb: Brakspear reopen the Bull, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Brakspear pub the Bull reopens after major makeover

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Multiple operator and brewer Brakspear has reopened the Bull on Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, after an extensive refurb, the first major investment within its managed estate since it was rebranded as Honeycomb Houses last autumn.

How can cask beer retain its relevance?

The cask project

How can cask beer retain its relevance?

By Nikkie Thatcher

A number of beer experts discussed how cask can remain relevant The Morning Advertiser’s MA Leaders Club in Manchester earlier this week (Tuesday 10 May).

Forecast given: the tracker predicted a growth in essential and discretionary spending (image: Getty/ljubaphoto)

Hospitality spending rises despite falling confidence

By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Consumer confidence fell for the third consecutive quarter in Q1 2022 but the percentage of consumers spending more on restaurants rose by nine points quarter-on-quarter, according to data from the Deloitte Consumer Tracker.

UK GDP increased by 0.8% during the first quarter of 2022: ONS figures showed a 0.1% contraction in March 2022 (Credit: Getty/atiatiati)

GDP increases by 0.8% in first quarter of 2022

By Rebecca Weller

UK gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.8% during the first quarter of 2022 according to figures released by Office For National Statistics (ONS) today (Thursday 12 May).

UKH summer conference: showcasing the sectors vision for the future

UKH summer conference to take place in June

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality leaders and MPs are among those expected to take part in the UKHospitality (UKH) Summer Conference to showcase the sectors vision for the future to key Government and political figures.

Huge investment: the Aspall Cyder House upgrade has increased manufacturing capacity by almost 60%

Molson Coors ploughs £16m into Aspall Cyder

By Gary Lloyd

Molson Coors has invested £16m into Aspall Cyder through a three-year renovation project to the cider-making facility in Suffolk and a first-ever TV advert campaign.

Strong recovery: St Austell Brewery has more funding available to improve further in 2022

St Austell Brewery back in profit post-Covid

By Gary Lloyd

South-west-based brewer and pub operator St Austell Brewery has reported a strong recovery and a return to profitability in 2021 after the impact of the pandemic.

Sector needs actions now: Queen's speech on Tuesday 10 May provides 'missed opportunity' for reducing burden on hospitality (Credit: Getty/Weiyi Zhu)

Queen's speech provides 'missed opportunity' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The Queen’s opening speech in the House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday 10 May) proved “an opportunity missed” as the hospitality industry needs “concrete action” to reduce the burdens faced by the sector.

Exclusivity ban: plans to include lower paid workers in exclusivity ban positive for the sector according to UKH (Credit: Getty/alvarez)

Ban on exclusivity clauses 'positive' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The Governments plan to widen its ban on exclusivity clauses to some 1.5m people is “positive for both businesses and workers”, according to UKHospitality (UKH).

Overall consumer spending in April up: but inflation and living costs impact hospitality sector according to Barclaycard data (Credit: Getty/ljubaphoto)

Consumer spending up 18.1% in April

By Rebecca Weller

Consumer card spending grew 18.1% in April compared with the same period in 2019, however, inflation and rising living costs impacted the hospitality sector with smaller uplifts than March, data from Barclaycard has shown.

Christie & Co: A promising start to the year for the home counties pub market

Strong start to 2022 for home counties pub market

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The year has kicked off to a strong start for the country pub market across the home counties, with business property adviser Christie & Co’s hospitality team completing on six individual pub sales across the region during March alone.

Celebrating success: Outstanding contribution winners

Supply chain heroes celebrated at Pride of Greene King Awards

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Teams who went above and beyond to ensure pubs were well stocked and smoothly run during the unprecedented challenges of the past year were recognised at the annual Pride of Greene King awards last Wednesday (4 May).

Low and no alcohol feature from beer to cider to spirits to wine

Low to no drinks feature

FEATURE: Why low and no alcohol is not a compromise

By Michelle Perrett

The summer is coming with outside drinking and eating set to drive customers into the pub. And while many will reach for their usual tipple in the summer months some people for whatever reason will be looking at not drinking or reducing their alcohol...

Tipping battle: plans to allow sector staff to keep all tips were first spoken about in 2016 (credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

Anger over plans to scrap tips law

By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have reacted angrily to national reports that plans to ensure hospitality staff get the tips they have earned have been axed.

Free PDF on how to improve your pub's cider offer

FREE PDF download

Boost your cider offer with this free PDF

By Gary Lloyd

Summer is on its way and what could be better than have a packed pub and, in particular, a packed beer garden to boost your bottom line?

New products: this weeks round up features products from Sandford's, La Chouffe, Belvoir, Howler Head and Portobello Road Distillery

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Sandford's announces Jubilee cider & La Chouffe turns 40

By Rebecca Weller

Sandford Orchards release a new serve for the upcoming Jubilee as well as new products from Belvoir, La Chouffe, Howler Head and Portobello Road Distillery in this weeks round up.

Permanent fixture: 51% of licensees felt this years extra bank holiday should be made permanent while 49% did not (Credit: Getty/naumoid)

Licensees divided on making Jubilee bank holiday permanent

By Rebecca Weller

Making the extra bank holiday for the Queens Platinum Jubilee a permanent fixture would be a fitting tribute but thanking the service industry would be a better celebration according to licensees across the sector.

Action set to be taken: inflation hikes means further costs to pubs (Credit: Getty/ Ibrahim Akcengiz)

Interest rate rise to battle increasing food prices

By Rebecca Weller

The Bank of England is today (Thursday 5 May) expected to announce the biggest increase to its base interest rate in 13 years, from 0.75% to 1%, in a bid to tackle inflation amid soaring food prices, according to a report by Sky News.

Chapter Collection: the Clerk & Well is the first site under Stonegate's new division

Stonegate unveils new premium division

By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA editor

Stonegate has launched the first site under its new premium division, which will be known internally as the Chapter Collection.

New research: premium softs and cocktails are expected to improve on-trade sales (credit: Getty/Dean Mitchell)

Premium softs to drive on-trade sales says Britvic

By Gary Lloyd

Soft drinks are set to drive on-trade sales during 2022 with customers more likely to upgrade to a premium choice than ever before, according to Britvic's latest Soft Drinks Review.

Asahi Legacy 2030 initiative: Asahi have aimed to have 20% of its portfolio made up by no-alcoholic beer by 2030

Asahi aims to make 20% of its beer alcohol-free by 2030

By Rebecca Weller

Asahi Europe & International (AEI) has announced its desire to demonstrate inclusiveness for alcohol-free lifestyles by aiming for 20% of its portfolio to be made up by alcohol-free products by 2030 as part of the Asahi Legacy 2030 initiative.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 42

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs shake up the cocktail market?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team look to shake things up when it comes to cocktails, and take a look at how pubs and bars can up their game when it comes to tapping into the growing cocktail sector.

Dr Steve Housden talks about cask beer in quality and how to improve it

the cask project

Is it time to reform the tradition of cask beer?

By Dr Steve Housden, beer expert

I write as a lover of cask-conditioned ale and a veteran of some 40-odd years of brewing it, caring for it in pub cellars and, of course, drinking it.

Summer of sport: Pub teams can now apply for the BT Sport Pub Cup

BT Sport Pub Cup returns with Wembley final

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pub teams can now enter the BT Sport Pub Cup, with free BT Sport and £1,000 in BT Shop vouchers up for grabs for the victors of the tournament.