All news articles for February 2024

Administration sale: Rekom UK sold for £19.5m (Pictured: Rekom UK chairman Peter Marks)

Rekom UK sold for £19.5m

By MCA

The assets of late-night operator Rekom UK were sold to a connected party for £19.5m in a pre-pack administration process.

Top tips: we've got advice how to boost your green credentials (image: Getty/J Studios)

8 ways to hit your sustainability goals

By The Morning Advertiser

The Morning Advertiser has joined forces with Heineken UK to showcase a number of simple and straightforward steps operators can take to cut the footprint of your business.

Business research: a survey from sector trade bodies showed a quarter of businesses are out of cash reserves (image: Getty/claudiodivizia)

1 in 4 firms out of cash

By Nikkie Thatcher

A quarter of businesses have no cash reserves left while less than a third (29%) have under three months’ left, new research has shown.

Come and tech a look: technology is now vital for smooth service across all aspects of the on-trade

FEATURE - Technology

FEATURE: Finding the right tech to fit your pub

By Fiona Griffiths

Pub operators everywhere are facing challenging times but choosing the right technology solutions can help your business to survive – and even thrive.

Blue Monday: Parkers Arms chef-patron Stosie Madi ponders why quality from suppliers is allowed to fall while prices remain high

OPINION

Price increase, quality decrease

By Stosie Madi, chef-patron of the Parkers Arms

It is uncanny how product quality has decreased and prices have increased.

Number one: Schofield's Bar was named top cocktail bar earlier this month (February)

Behind the UK #1 cocktail bar's success

By Charli Tomney

Schofield's Bar was announced the number one earlier this month at the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list reveal, but what is behind the bar’s success?

NTIA summit: A look at nightlife across the globe (Credit: Elspeth Moore)

Nightlife leaders on tackling global challenges

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Nightlife industry leaders from across the globe discussed how to overcome obstacles and help the sector thrive at the Night Time Industries Association’s NTE Summit last week.

Screening deal: TNT Sports will start showing the FA Cup from the 2025-26 season

TNT Sports seals four-year deal to screen FA Cup matches

By The Morning Advertiser

Sports fans will be able to watch the Emirates FA Cup from the first round to the final at the pub after TNT Sports secured a four-year screening deal that will start in the 2025-26 season.

Winter warmer: (l-r) CAMRA awards director Laura Emson, Simon Massey and CAMRA national chairman Nik Antona.

Snowflake takes GBBF Winter beer title

By Gary Lloyd

Sarah Hughes Brewery’s Snowflake has taken the title of Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2024 at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) Winter.

Good causes: Community Hero pubs reveal where their donations have been spent

GBPA Community Hero pubs donate prize money

By Nikkie Thatcher

The 2023 Great British Pub Award Community Hero winner and finalists have given away their prize money from sponsor Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) to causes close to their hearts.

Sector statistics: pubs saw like-for-like sales growth of 1 .5% in January (image: Getty/Yau Ming Low)

Flat sales reported for January

By Nikkie Thatcher

Hospitality groups reported like-for-like sales growth of 0.1% in January, new figures have shown.

Sector worry: the BBPA and UKHospitality highlight concerns about the UK entering a technical recession (image: Getty/yevtony)

UK entering technical recession ‘big worry’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Official figures indicating the UK fell into a technical recession at the end of last year are ‘hugely concerning’ for the hospitality sector, one trade body said.

Significant pressure: BBPA calls for change ahead of Spring Budget amid static inflation rates (Credit: Getty/Zedelle)

Stagnant inflation shows need for 'vital' changes

By Rebecca Weller

Unchanging inflation rates show the Government must make “vital” changes in next month's Spring Budget to “alleviate significant pressure”, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.

Driving change: The mayors of the North and West Midlands discuss the night-time economy (Credit: Elspeth Moore)

Mayors of the North call for VAT cut

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Mayors of the North united to call for an industry-wide VAT cut in the Spring Budget at the Night Time Economy Summit last week.

Future plans: The brewer is working with Alvarez & Marsal to store up its finances

Adnams instructs advisers

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Historic Suffolk brewery Adnams has called in advisers to explore a range of options to fund its future growth plans.

Hart and soul of Ashill: the White Hart pub

MY PUB

My Pub: the White Hart, Ashill, Norfolk

By Gary Lloyd

Married couple Jonathan and Naomi Pearson took on the White Hart in Ashill during Covid and were forced to quickly close during the lockdowns of the pandemic.

Apprentices are taking the industry forward: BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin

OPINION

Back apprentices who are the future of the sector

By Emma McClarkin, CEO, British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA)

As National Apprenticeship Week 2024 draws to a close, we once again raise a glass to celebrate integral role of apprentices in the UK’s vibrant and dynamic hospitality industry.

Difficult trading conditions: drinks sales down for fourth consecutive week (Credit: Getty/miodrag ignjatovic)

Drinks sales down for fourth consecutive week

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs and bars have dropped year-on-year for a fourth successive week, with train strikes adding to the challenges facing operators.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week's Drinks Masterclass showcases a recipe from soft drinks brand Double Dutch. Ready in less than three minutes, the Raspberry Repair is a "simple" and "versatile" cocktail that can help freshen your drinks menu, the brand...

Single focus: Tim Bird wants a VAT reduction on food and soft drinks

OPINION

Are we asking the Government for too much?

By Tim Bird, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns

The new year is now well under way in the hospitality business and with it I always feel an air of optimism.

Pubs need help: hospitality leaders have written to the Government (credit: Getty/miodrag ignjatovic)

BBPA members demand help ahead of Budget

By Gary Lloyd

Leaders of more than 80 of the UK’s pub companies and breweries – who are members of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) – have written to the Chancellor to demand action at next month’s Budget on VAT, business rates and beer duty.

Business anniversary: Urban Pubs & Bars is celebrating 10 years of trading this year

A look at Urban Pubs & Bars’ history

By Nikkie Thatcher

We’ve taken a look back at how Urban Pubs & Bars was formed and how the group is dealing with the current challenges facing the sector.

What's in the news 9 February

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘VAT cut would allow us to pay staff more’

By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser’s associate features editor Gary Lloyd caught up with Banwell House Pub Company managing director Toby Brett to get his take on the week's news, what he wants from the Spring Budget and gives a prediction for England v Wales...

Squeezed margins: importance of pubs getting lost in sea of rising costs (Clive Price pictured far right with one of the pubco's teams)

'Crucial role of pubs getting lost'

By Rebecca Weller

The “crucial role” pubs play in communities is getting lost in a sea of squeezed margins and undervaluation, Barons Pub Company managing director Clive Price told The Morning Advertiser.

No money for margin or investment: Kate Nicholls says Government demands are leaving the sector in dire straits

Kate Nicholls: Cost of doing business is too high

By Gary Lloyd

With the Spring Budget approaching, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has told the Government “the cost of doing business is just too high” and steps must be taken.

New cask products: Shepherd Neame, Hydes and St Austell release new brews

THE CASK PROJECT

New products to cask your eye over

By Rebecca Weller

In this special new products round-up, we've looked at the new cask brews released so far this year.