PROPERTY ROUND-UP
PROPERTY: Nancy Spains to open first Bristol pub
This property round-up includes updates from Nancy Spains, O’Neill’s, Mitchells & Butlers, and more.
Independent Operators
Episode 3 of On the Pass launches with Ayesha Kalaji at Queen of Cups
How can a chef combine Jordanian heritage, classical French training and West Country produce to create one of the UK’s most distinctive food-led pubs?
St Austell expands Somerset estate with new acquisition
St Austell Brewery has expanded its leased & tenanted estate in Somerset with the acquisition of the Bird in Hand in North Curry.
‘Support welcome but we have to be honest about reality’ - operators’ thoughts on biz rates cut
Operators have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a 20% cut to business rates while also calling for further Government action to support pubs.
‘Burnham is hospitality focused’
The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington spoke with Neil Burke and Ben Chaplin from Bigger Boat Hospitality about the top headlines of this week.
MY PUB
MY PUB: Horse & Jockey, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester
Great food, beer and a strong connection with the community awaits customers in the form of the Horse & Jockey in Chorlton, Manchester.
Joule’s to invest £2m in pub revival after planning green light
Joule’s Brewery is set to invest £2m into the restoration of the New Inn in Harborne after planning permission was granted – marking its biggest cash commitment in a site.
Late night success for pubs showing World Cup
World Cup football proved a hit for pubs that took the plunge and opted to stay open for the England v Mexico clash in the small hours of the morning - despite the operational challenges.
Peter Borg-Neal appointed chair of Hydes
Brewer and pub retailer Hydes has announced the appointment of Peter Borg-Neal as its new chairman.
MY PUB
MY PUB: The Crown, Bildeston, Suffolk
Nedging Hall Estate covers 5,000 acres of incredible countryside between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich, Suffolk.
‘VAT is the silver bullet for the industry’
The MA’s Ed Bedington caught up with New Dawn Pubs boss Mark Robson to get his take on the week’s news.
Community pub aims for success in Canary Wharf
The co-founder of a brand new pub in one of London’s biggest business district outlines his plans for the Tallyman in Canary Wharf.
‘There are lots of opportunities’
The MA’s Ed Bedington catches up with Inception Group’s Charlie Gilkes to get his take on the week’s news.
Study shows the human cost of pub closures
New research has highlighted the social impact pub closures have on communities.
‘Don’t be a d!@k’ - The rules of the pub
With modern society going through seismic changes (is it jam first, or cream first) the Lock In team decided to take a look at the unwritten rules of the pub - do people actually know what they are?!
Wells & Co ‘well positioned to deliver further success in 2026’
Wells & Co CEO Peter Wells has stated the Bedfordshire-based brewery and pubs operator will deliver further success this year after reporting a 5% increase in EBITDA.
Fuller’s: Horner to replace Smith as CFO at ‘highest-quality pub estate in UK’
Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) has appointed Katie Horner as its new CFO at what one financial expert has described as “arguably the highest-quality pub estate in the UK”.
EXCLUSIVE: Everards boasts strong results despite challenging environment
Brewer and pub operator Everards has announced a “strong financial performance” in its latest annual results amid a “a challenging economic backdrop for pubs and hospitality”.
Former GBPA finalist bans under-18s
A former Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) finalist in East London has banned children due to safety concerns.
BrewDog adds five more sites back into business
BrewDog’s new owners have added a further five former sites back into the fold, taking the estate up to 16 pubs.
Community campaigning to raise £260k to save village pub
A Community Benefit Society (CBS) in Somerset is hoping to raise £260k to save its 200-year-old village pub.
Ex-BrewDog boss: ‘It didn’t need to be this way’
Writing on LinkedIn, former CEO of BrewDog Bars and CEO of Brava Hospitality, James Brown, reflected on his time in the business and where things went wrong.
Former GBPA winner to stage £100k fundraising gala to combat rising costs
An iconic London venue is aiming to raise £100,000 at a one-night-only fundraising gala to secure its long-term future.
Little Door & Co secures additional funding to aid expansion
Experiential bar group Little Door & Co has secured funding from alternative leader ThinCats to support the next stage of its growth plans, with two new venues planned in 2026 - including its first outside the capital.
MY PUB
MY PUB: The Boot, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Father and son team Will and Sean Hughes have been successfully operating an iconic 15th century pub in the middle of St Albans for the past 21 years.
‘A powerhouse of an operation’: Behind the numbers at the Devonshire
The Devonshire has topped the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list after just two years in business, with a stripped-back approach to British and Irish classics, legendary Guinness and operational excellence.
Jon Richardson gets hands-on in pub restoration series
The first episode of A Yorkshire Pub with Jon Richardson aired on More 4 on Wednesday 4 February, introducing viewers to the people, pressures and reality of restoring a long-closed village pub.
Camerons to sell four sites following strategic overview of estate
Camerons Brewery has identified four pubs for disposal after undertaking a strategic overview of its estate.
Community pub crowdfunding to plug £50k cost gap
A community pub and arts centre in Plymouth has said it needs to raise £50,000 to combat rising costs and avoid closure.
RedCat reports ‘exceptional results’ during festive period
RedCat Hospitality has reported “exceptional results” for the festive period for its estate of The Coaching Inn Group sites.
JW Lees vows to lobby Gov, reports record December sales
Manchester-based brewer and pub operator JW Lees has hailed its record performance during the festive period.
Urban takes on BrewDog pub as sixth site in 2026
Urban Pubs & Bars has increased its pub portfolio for the second time in less than a week after acquiring former BrewDog site, the Birdcage.
Sector faces over 2,000 closures in 2026 without urgent rates reform, UKH warns
More than 2,000 hospitality venues could shut their doors in 2026 without a sector wide solution to business rates, new modelling from UKHospitality has revealed.
Urban Pubs & Bars acquires five pubs
London-based Urban Pubs & Bars has announced the acquisition of five venues in the capital.
Former Shep Neame licensee aims for the top in darts
With the high-profile PDC World Championship darts semi-finals set to take place tonight (Friday 2 January), Shepherd Neame has backed a former licensee to make it to the top in the sport.
JW Lees ‘aggrieved’ with Gov as it announces annual results
Manchester-based JW Lees said it is “aggrieved” with the Government at “disadvantaging UK businesses”, as it announced its results for the 12 months to 31 March 2025.
‘Stabbed in the back’
The MA’s Ed Bedington catches up with Brewhouse & Kitchen boss Kris Gumbrell for his take on the week’s news.
Urban Fun expands to Kingston
Urban Fun has opened its second site in Kingston as the competitive socialising brand prepares to expand across the UK.
Gov policies ‘destroying’ pubs after ‘stabbing sector in the back’
A Buckinghamshire operator has accused Labour of “stabbing hospitality in the back” with empty promises, after praising village pubs during a pre-election visit to his site.
‘UK pub culture is the most revered in the world’
The MA’s Ed Bedington caught up with Ardent Pubs MD Dom Jacobs to get his take on the week’s news.
How one Bristol pub is thinking outside the box to drive footfall
Almondsbury Creative in Bristol has evolved from a traditional social club into a multi use hospitality and events venue, hosting everything from sports groups and dance classes to themed parties and large scale community events.
Pub boss takes on Government over 123% biz rates hike
A Cambridgeshire pub operator has urged the Government to not “bite the hand that feeds you” in the wake of the Autumn Budget.
The 2026 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub list revealed
The list is confirmed and the best food pubs in the country will soon be revealed - but who will be this year’s number one in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2026?
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
PROPERTY: Mulligans upgrades Cheltenham site and launches in Romford
This property round-up includes mentions from Mulligans, Star, Brunning & Price and more.
Pub and bar spending dips as younger consumers cut back on nights out
Pub and bar spending fell in November as overall consumer card spend dropped for the first time since 2021, according to the latest Barclays Consumer Spend report.
Perfect Pint Promise launches to raise national draught standards
A major new quality initiative aiming to standardise and improve the serve of draught beer and cider across the UK has been unveiled at the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) Council meeting.
Life-changing pub operation launches in Brighton
A ground-breaking pub designed to prepare young people with learning disabilities and autism for employment has opened in Brighton.
Pub where diners fell ill after Sunday lunch receives zero hygiene rating
A South Wales pub where dozens of customers reported falling ill after eating a Sunday roast has been issued a zero food hygiene rating following an investigation by environmental health officers.
NITAs 2025: Sector leaders recognised for excellence in people development
The BII revealed the winners of the 2025 National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs), celebrating pubs and operators who place people, skills and development at the core of their businesses.
Operators warn of tipping point on pricing as sector looks to sharpen its beer offer
Operators from Bristol and the wider region shared a mixture of optimism and realism at a Morning Advertiser roundtable last week, exploring how pubs can sharpen their beer offer in a changing market.