‘Insufficient funds’ to pay BrewDog creditors
Creditors of BrewDog’s former bar business are set to receive nothing after administrators revealed more than £207m in unsecured claims have been lodged against the company.
Independent Operators
‘They don’t understand how basic economics works’
The MA’s Ed Bedington met up with Loungers chair Alex Reilley to get his take on the week’s news.
Village pub launches ferry service in bid to attract new trade
A Worcestershire pub has introduced a ferry service across the River Avon for the first time in more than 30 years in a bid to boost trade.
Freespirit eyes growth after rooms push
Freespirit Pub Co is looking at further estate growth next year after increasing its focus on accommodation and additional revenue streams.
Community ownership ‘only way’ to protect city pub
Campaigners bidding to buy a South London pub have said community ownership is the “only way” to secure its future after years of fighting redevelopment threats.
‘Don’t hold your breath on VAT’
The MA’s Ed Bedington met up with Framptons director Sam Westlake for his take on the week’s news.
Storms and road closures leave village pub facing ‘hellish’ year
A Devon pub operator has described the past year as “hellish” for business, with severe storm damage and ongoing road closures continuing to hammer trade.
‘We need more than a sticking plaster’
The MA’s Ed Bedington caught up with Ardent Pubs boss Dom Jacobs to get his take on the week’s news.
VIDEO: Albatross set to soar in London
Restaurant operators Wild Group have made their first foray into pubs and the MA’s Ed Bedington went to take a look.
PROPERTY: Barworks founder to revive historic Clerkenwell pub
This week’s property round-up includes updates from Barworks, Greene King, Heartwood Collection and more.
Hall & Woodhouse: ‘Negative sector press’ hits partner recruitment
Hall & Woodhouse has reported a 16% rise in profits after investing £19m in its pub estate, despite sector challenges making it harder to recruit new business partners.
Licensee suffering ‘logistical nightmare’ over sinkhole
A pub licensee has claimed a sinkhole that has stopped large deliveries is proving to be a “logistical nightmare” as footfall has fallen at the site.
PROPERTY: Shepherd Neame to launch new London bar
This property round-up includes updates from Shepherd Neame, Loungers, Joseph Holt and more.
Amber Taverns appoints ex-RedCat boss Richard Lewis as CEO
Amber Taverns has appointed former RedCat Hospitality CEO Richard Lewis as its new chief executive – who has stated the community pubco has the ability to double its estate size.
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.
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.