All news articles for July 2024

Moving forward: Stonegate agrees debt refinancing deal

Stonegate agrees debt refinancing deal

By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate Group has announced the agreement of its debt refinancing requirements with a £250m shareholder contribution from TDR Capital following positive discussions with bondholders.

Dish Deconstructed: How to make Heartwood's Cheese Soufflé

DISH DECONSTRUCTED

How to make: Heartwood's cheese soufflé

By Rebecca Weller

For the latest edition of the Morning Advertiser's (MA) Dish Deconstructed series, Heartwood Collection has shared the secret behind its famed cheese soufflé.

Evolving environment: the MA has looked at key beer trends for 2024 (Credit:Getty/Atiwich Kaewchum)

Five beer styles to be aware of in 2024

By Felicity Giles

In the ever evolving environment of hospitality, expanding menu and beverage options may be key ways in which operators can maintain consumer interest, and ensure customer engagement remains high

Magnificent area: the George at Burpham is located in the spectacular South Downs

MY PUB

MY PUB: The George at Burpham, West Sussex

By Gary Lloyd

The scenic South Downs is home to the George at Burpham in a rural location three miles from Arundel – famed for its amazing castle in West Sussex.

Closures and conversions: CAMRA urges Whitbread to reconsider decision (Credit:Getty/JuergenBosse)

CAMRA urges Whitbread to reconsider closures

By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged Whitbread to “reconsider” its decision to close or convert more than 100 pubs as part of its growth strategy.

St Austell launches Summer Sun cask beer to help RNLI

THE CASK PROJECT

St Austell launches Summer Sun ale to support RNLI

By Gary Lloyd

South-west England brewer and pub operator St Austell Brewery has joined forces with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in its 200th anniversary year to launch a cask beer.

Income generation: the Old Abbey Taphouse is hosting a festival across the August bank holiday weekend to raise much-needed funds

Old Abbey Taphouse hosting festival to avoid closure

By Felicity Giles

The Old Abbey Taphouse in Hulme, which is a former Great British Pub Award winner, will be hosting a three-day festival from the 24 to 26 August in order to secure enough funds to stay open.

Scheme return: the Beer Sommelier programme has been relaunched

Cask Marque relaunches Beer Sommelier programme

By Nikkie Thatcher

With support from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and Institute of Brewers and Distillers (IBD), Cask Marque has relaunched the Beer Sommelier programme.

Tuck in: Ayesha Kalaji (right) found amazing food at the huge music festival

OPINION

OPINION: Festival feasting at Glastonbury

By Ayesha Kalaji, chef-patron, Queen of Cups, Glastonbury

Often when I tell people I have a restaurant in Glastonbury I am met with the same response.

Entertainment rules: operators can have live amplified music until 11pm, Poppleston Allen advises (image: Getty/edelmar)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Legal Q&A: the rules around live music outside

By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

In this week's licensing column, legal experts Poppleston Allen answered a question around live music in external areas.

Future plans: Christmas bookings for the 2024 festive period are already looking positive (image: Getty/Napoletana)

Xmas bookings already up 54%

By Nikkie Thatcher

Christmas bookings for the 2024 festive period are already up by more than half (54%) compared to last year, new insight has found.

Strong trading momentum: Young's reports 26% revenue increase

Young's reports 26% revenue increase

By Rebecca Weller

London-based pubco Young's has reported “strong trading momentum” with like-for-like revenue up 26% during the first sixteen weeks of the new financial year.

Tips on how to make hospitality venue more sustainable

PROMOTED CONTENT - GREEN INITIATIVE

6 easy steps to make your venue more sustainable

By Molson Coors Beverage Company

Molson Coors Beverage Company sustainability director Craig Woodburn offers six tips for sustainability wins that will benefit both the planet and your venue.

(image: Joseph Sinclair)

GBPA 2024

GBPA 2024 host unveiled

By Nikkie Thatcher

The 2024 Great British Pub Awards has now been announced as TV star and writer Ralf Little.

Estate growth: the Marquis of Lorne in Stevenage, Hertfordshire is the sixth Nest Pub to open

GK opens 6th Nest pub in 10-site pipeline

By Nikkie Thatcher

Greene King’s leased, tenanted and franchised arm Pub Partners has opened its sixth Nest Pub following a £260,000 investment with plans to reach a 10-strong estate by the end of 2024.

Positive trading momentum: Marston's CEO Justin Platt

Marston’s posts 5.2% lfl sales boost

By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Marston’s has announced like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% in the year to date and has confirmed the sale of its remaining brewing business will complete next week on 31 July.

Price hikes: Cost of a pint in a pub rises by 4.5% year-on-year (Credit:Getty/Klaus Vedfelt)

Pint prices jump by 4.5%

By Rebecca Weller

The cost of a pint of draught lager in pubs jumped 4.5% in the year to June 2024, marking the third biggest increase in the past five years.

Hugely excited: Heartwood opens second pub with rooms

Heartwood opens second pub with rooms

By Rebecca Weller

Heartwood Collection has announced the opening of its second pub with rooms following a multi-million-pound refurbishment.

16-week results: Fuller's has announced a like-for-like sales boost (the Harp pub in central London pictured)

Fuller’s lfls up 5.3%, urges Starmer to reform biz rates

By Gary Lloyd

Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) has announced its like-for-like sales (lfls) are 5.3% up in the first 16 weeks of its financial year to 20 July and, as inflationary pressures ease, its margins are improving too.

Trade reaction: the BBPA and UKH welcomed the introduction of Skills England (image: Getty/Sigrid Gombert)

Launch of Gov skills body 'positive step'

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government announced the launch of Skills England yesterday (Monday 22 July) – a body that aims to being together key partners including central and local Government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills need of the next decade...

Geographical issues: global brewers miss the point of a 'regional' offer says Andy Slee of SIBA

OPINION

OPINION: Give cask the chance it deserves

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA)

Pete Brown recently made some excellent points on Carlsberg’s change of approach to the UK beer market.

Official data: insolvencies were up in the 12 months to May 2024 (image: Getty/Kanizphoto)

Industry insolvencies soar by 20%

By Nikkie Thatcher

Insolvencies in the hospitality sector increased by a fifth (20%) in the 12 months to May 2024, official figures found.