All news articles for January 2024

Cash injection: Admiral Taverns has invested more than £20m into its community pubs in 2023

Admiral pumped over £27m into 300 pubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Community pub company Admiral Taverns ploughed more than £27m into refurbishments and updates across its Proper Pubs and tenanted and leased estate in England, Scotland and Wales last year.

Company news: there was a significant jump in the number of insolvencies in the hospitality industry in the fourth quarter of 2023, RSM UK's Robyn Duffy says (image: Getty/Fentino)

Hospitality insolvencies up more than a third

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of firms in the accommodation and food services sector becoming insolvent has increased by 37% on an annual basis, official statistics have found.

Stark figures: almost 23,000 firms lost since December 2022 (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Almost 23k hospitality firms lost since 2020

By Rebecca Weller

Close to 23,000 licensed businesses across the sector have closed in the last three years, figures from the latest Hospitality Market Monitor have revealed.

Outlook for 2024: Scottish venues experienced a poor new year according to SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson

SLTA ‘deeply concerned’ over state of hospitality in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

Three out of four Scottish hospitality operators will need government support to survive this year while 96% say the Scottish government is out of touch with business community, according to the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association).

Impact of inflation: Heineken draught wholesale prices to increase 1.73% (Credit: Getty/Jonathan Knowles)

Heineken to increase draught prices by 1.73%

By Rebecca Weller

Heineken UK is set to introduce a 1.73% price hike for its draught wholesale products from next month, though the global brewer claimed it had made “considerable efforts” to “minimise impact of inflation” for its customers.

‘Flexi-sober’: New data shows punters want to cut down their alcohol intake (Credit: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

EXCLUSIVE

Consumers embrace flexi-sober lifestyle

By Rebecca Weller

Consumers are opting for a ‘flexi-sober’ lifestyle in 2024, new research from premium soft drinks and mixers brand, Fentimans, has revealed.

Celebration: Pubs across the country have been recognised by The Michelin Guide

5 pubs awarded Bib Gourmands

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Five pubs have been awarded Bib Gourmands in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2024.

Alternative energy: there have been 608 new solar panels added to Hare Brewery

St Austell installs 600 extra solar panels

By Nikkie Thatcher

Hare Brewery, which is owned by St Austell Brewery, had installed hundreds more solar panels in a bid to use as much renewable energy as possible to fuel beer production.

Craft Union breaks records with charity toy appeal

Toy cheer from Craft Union

By Ed Bedington

Community focused pub group Craft Union is celebrating another year of charity success having brought joy to children and their families last December.

New appointment: Chris Welham will succeed Jim Brewster as CEO of the Licensed Trade Charity

New CEO for the LTC

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has announced Chris Welham has been appointed as the organisation’s new chief executive officer.

Loungers opens Pionero Lounge, Rochdale, Greater Manchester

Loungers opens 250th site

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Loungers, an operator of bars, cafes and restaurants across the UK, has announced the opening of its 250th site.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Stray cocktail bar Quarter Margarita (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Quarter Margarita

By Rebecca Weller

Co-founder of Manchester cocktail bar Stray, Ben Reilly, details how to create the venues low ABV serve Quarter Margarita.

Secrets behind success: the MA spoke to operator George Greenway after the Tamworth Tap (pictured) was named CAMRA POTY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Secrets behind success at CAMRA's Pub of the Year

By Rebecca Weller

Owner of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year (POTY), George Greenway, has shared the secrets to his success at The Tamworth Tap with The Morning Advertiser (MA).

Licensing hub with Poppleston Allen: right to refuse service and denying entry? (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Right to refuse service and denying entry?

By Elizabeth Varley, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

You may have faced some challenges over the festive period with customers or potential customers challenging you or your staff if you have decided to refuse them service or entry and you may now be questioning whether you made the right decision or are...

Positive step: UKH welcomes measures to ban drip pricing (Credit: Getty/istankov)

UKH welcomes measures to ban drip pricing

By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has welcomed new Government legislation banning drip pricing as “important features” to help pubs with rooms are excluded from the bill.

Remain alert: new border checks could 'put momentum back into inflation' (Credit: Getty/Photo_Concepts)

New border checks risk fuelling food inflation

By Rebecca Weller

New border checks could cause disruptions to supply chains and push foodservice price inflation, the latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) from CGA and Prestige Purchasing has warned.

Kirkstall's Holt rescues North Brewing from administration

Kirkstall rescues North Brewing

By Ed Bedington

Popular Leeds-based brewery North Brewing has been rescued from administration by Kirkstall Brewery.

Right thing to do: WSTA calls for duty cut in Spring Budget (Credit: Getty/Carlo Prearo)

WSTA: 'duty cut would offer much-needed boost'

By Rebecca Weller

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty to combat both falling sales volumes and reduced revenue to the Exchequer ahead of the Spring Budget in March.

Positive future: sales up 11.5% at Fuller's

Fuller's sales up 11.5%

By Rebecca Weller

Fuller, Smith & Turner has reported like-for-like sales growth of 11.5% in the 42 weeks to Saturday 20 January 2024.

Calling time: It's the end of the road for Manchester-based Squawk Brewing Co (credit: Getty/ilbusca)

Squawk Brewing Co announces closure

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Squawk Brewing Co, founded in Manchester in 2013, will close its doors for good, with a final beer coming out in March.

New ways: Lucky Saint research offers insight into changing consumer habits (Credit: Getty/NoSystem images)

74% Brits see pub as key to community

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Three quarters of Brits (74%) see the pub as key to the community, research from alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint has revealed.

Support an Independent Pub Day: London Pub Explorer urges people to support their local pub in the face of challenging economic headwinds (Pictured: Tuesday Roberts at the Northcote Arms)

EXCLUSIVE

Support an Independent Pub Day launched

By Rebecca Weller

The London Pub Explorer has launched ‘Support an Independent Pub Day’ in a bid to raise awareness of challenges and closures across the hospitality sector.

Call for help: UKHospitality Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to introduce a 75% business rates relief scheme (image: Getty/selamiozalp)

Scottish venues £110k worse off

By Nikkie Thatcher

A lack of support from the Scottish Government has left hospitality venues more than £100,000 worse off than their counterparts in England, figures have shown.

Property refurbs: this week's round-up features Brotherhood, Shepherd Neame and Inn Collection Group

PROPERTY

Brotherhood bars invests £500k into refurb

By Rebecca Weller

This week's property refurb round-up includes investments from sports bars operator Brotherhood, pub with rooms brand Inn Collection and Shepherd Neame.

Tim Martin: JDW has seen 'consistent but slow' recovery from pandemic

JDW reports 10.1% growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced financial growth in its trading update for the six months ending 28 January 2024.

New horizons: Two Tribes to expand internationally in 2024

Two Tribes gears up for international growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

London-based brewery Two Tribes has secured a multi-million pound investment, and is continuing to grow in the UK as well as growing into two international markets.

Government support: NTIA calls for VAT cut

NTIA calls for Gov to slash VAT

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has urged for VAT to be cut for all businesses in the Spring Budget to save the night time economy from collapse.