All news articles for February 2024

Unrestricted choice: Big Drop expands keg beer range

Big Drop expands keg beer range

By Rebecca Weller

Alcohol-free craft brewer Big Drop has expanded its range of beers available to the on-trade in keg format.

Licensing knowhow: Poppleston Allen answer questions around trading later hours and extending premises size (image: Getty/VTT Studio)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Legal Q&A: trading later hours & extending venue rules

By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

In the latest Q&A with Poppleston Allen, the legal experts tackle the rules around extending trading hours and making a premises larger.

The Onley Arms pub in Stisted Essex to shut

Village pub to shut doors

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A village pub in Essex is set to close next week after business became "totally unviable".

Access Hospitality acquires Wireless Social

Access Hospitality acquires Wireless Social

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Access Hospitality, a division of The Access Group, has acquired Wireless Social, the UK’s leading provider of guest wi-fi, analytics and marketing solutions.

Brew news: the north has been most affected by independent brewery closures throughout 2023

SIBA: number of breweries down versus 2023

By Gary Lloyd

The number of active breweries in the UK at the start of the year has reduced from 2023 levels, according to new data released by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 72

The Lock In Podcast

What is a gastropub?

By Ed Bedington

In a special recording of the Lock In podcast, live at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs event recently, the team took to the air in an attempt to define what actually makes a gastropub?

Turbulent economic period: venues rise prices by 7.1% to combat inflationary pressures and staff shortages (Credit: Getty/NickyLloyd)

Venues rise prices by 7.1% to offset soaring costs

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality venues increased prices by an average of 7.1% in the year to December 2023 after being left with “little choice” in the face of rising costs and staff shortages.

Rekom shuts 17 nightclubs

Rekom shuts 17 sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rekom UK has closed 17 sites across its estate following the completion of a pre-pack administration.

Time is ticking on more than one issue: Andy Slee says the Chancellor must do something for the sector in Budget

OPINION

Utility firms’ £1bn weekly bonanza and Covid loans timebomb

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent brewers (SIBA)

I am optimistic about the long-term future of hospitality. If lockdown taught us anything, it was people’s hunger to meet friends and family and to support local community pubs and breweries.

Difficult month: drinks sales close January 8% down on 2023 (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

January drinks sales finish 8% down on 2023

By Rebecca Weller

Britain’s pubs and bars closed a difficult January with a third successive week of negative year-on-year sales, data from CGA by NIQ has revealed.

10 years of Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs winners

A decade of Great Britain’s best gastropubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Unruly Pig in Suffolk was named the best gastropub in the country in The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards just last month in a prestigious ceremony.

What's in the news 2 February?

'I'm flabbergasted at interest rates'

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Camerons boss Chris Soley to get his take on the week's news, from government debate to interest rates and pub closures.

Huge funding: the £3.8million raised is the equivalent of £434 every hour in 2023 and could fund up to 82,353 Macmillan nursing hours

GK celebrates £3.8m raised for Macmillan Cancer Support

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King is celebrating another record-breaking fundraising year for Macmillan Cancer Support after its pubs, breweries and support centres raised an amazing £3.8m in 2023.

Fight on: the bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is the most 'highly anticipated' for a quarter of a century

Bring in customers with the huge Fury v Usyk fight

By The Morning Advertiser

The boxing bout all fans having been waiting for takes place on Saturday 17 February – and pub licensees can virtually put their customers in the front row with a full undercard on offer too.

Shifting occasions: spirits category presents growth opportunities despite tough year in 2023 (Credit: Getty/5PH)

Sales boosting trends for spirits in 2024

By Rebecca Weller

The spirits category faced a “challenging year” in 2023 but still presents plenty of growth opportunities, according to the latest CGA by NIQ On-Premise Measurement Service.

Company history: Urban Pubs & Bars was founded in 2014

Urban Pubs & Bars ‘poised for expansion’

By Nikkie Thatcher

London-based multiple operator Urban Pubs & Bars has reported an upswing in sales and turnover in its latest trading update and is eyeing further growth.

Speaking up: Publicans can share their views in the PCA's new survey

PCA launches 2024 Annual Tied Tenant Survey

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) has announced the launch of its Annual Tied Tenants Survey, calling on tied publicans to share their views on the pub company and the PCA.