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.
Managed Groups
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.
JKS Pubs rebrands following US acquisition
JKS pubs has rebranded after being sold to a US-based private investor.
BrewDog faces criticism over Punk IPA campaign as updated recipe rolls out
BrewDog has attracted criticism for the wording of a new national marketing campaign promoting its updated Punk IPA recipe, after the brewer described the move as “tastes like commercial suicide” across a series of outdoor ads.
Wetherspoon seeks licence for new Charing Cross pub
JD Wetherspoon has applied for a premises licence to operate a new pub on the Strand, directly beside Charing Cross station, as the group continues to add new openings across its estate.
St Austell CEO: Budget heaps more cost and pain on a sector that simply cannot bear it
St Austell Brewery’s chief executive Kevin Georgel has warned that the combined impact of the 2024 and 2025 autumn budgets has meant the business “will be forced to significantly scale back our investment plans”.
NEOS bets on high energy, late-night pubs as Bonnie Rogues expands
Bonnie Rogues is carving out space in the high street pub market through an all-day food, drink and entertainment mix that shifts into late-night live music and party-led trading.
M&B reports ‘another year of strong performance’ as profits rise
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) says it is ‘continuing to trade ahead of the market’ after reporting robust full year results for the 52 weeks ended 27 September 2025.
RedCat agrees sale of L&T pubs to Admiral
RedCat Hospitality has reached an agreement with Admiral Taverns over the sale of its leased and tenanted division.
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.
JDW to open first overseas pub
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is set to open its first pub in continental Europe at the start of next year.
JDW to launch uni site and highlights pubs’ importance with MPs
Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has partnered with the University of Birmingham’s Guild of Students to operate its bar and restaurant, Joe’s.
Berkshire town set to become home to latest Flight Club site
Red Engine has announced it will open a new Flight Club site in Reading next year.
Haven to invest £9m in four new JDW pubs
Haven has announced plans to invest £9m into expanding its partnership with JD Wetherspoon (JDW) next year.
‘There’s no way business can take any further tax burden’ says Fuller’s boss
Fuller’s executive chairman Simon Emeny has warned the sector cannot shoulder any further tax burden.
Anglian Country Inns pubs outperform market with focus on quality and efficiency
Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has reported an 8.4% rise in turnover to £22.3m for the year ending 31 March 2025, despite a challenging trading environment marked by wet weather, rising labour costs and continued tax pressure.
Fuller’s reveals plans to invest £15m into pub estate
Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) has ramped up investment in its pub estate, spending £13.5m in the first half of the financial year and setting aside a further £15m for the months ahead.
Thwaites pubs and inns underpin strong first half despite cost challenges
Daniel Thwaites has credited its pubs and inns for helping deliver a resilient first half of trading, despite weaker consumer confidence and rising employment costs.
Nightcap reports turnaround year for company EBITDA
Nightcap has turned a £4.8m company EBITDA loss into a £1.5m profit in its full year results from October 2024 to October 2025.
The year of the black pint: Stout finds fresh energy and new fans
With International Stout Day today (6 November), few categories are fizzing with as much momentum as stout. Once a winter comfort, it’s now a year-round staple, and, for the first time, it’s not just the “old boys” drinking it.
Flight Club opens seventh site this year
Red Engine has opened a new Flight Club venue in Newcastle, marking its seventh opening so far in 2025.
Coaching Inn Group crowned Which? Hotel Group of the Year
The Coaching Inn Group, RedCat Hospitality’s hotel division, has been named Hotel Group of the Year by consumer information channel Which?.
JDW chair blasts labour and energy price hikes in trading update
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin has blasted the continued increase in labour costs as the root cause of the widening of pricing between pubs and supermarkets.
Business profile: Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns
Award-winning business Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns has been built up over the past 16 years by husband and wife team Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin. Here, Bird gives an overview of the company.
Pub insolvencies climb as cost pressures mount
Pub insolvencies surged through the middle of 2025, reversing the fragile recovery seen at the start of the year, according to new analysis by accountancy firm Price Bailey.
Pubs are still a social engine – the question is how we keep them running
Pubs are evolving beyond the bar, they are social hubs that keep communities connected. But rising costs and reduced reliefs have pushed 209 sites to close in the first half of 2025, forcing operators to adapt with new events and services to maintain...
The Pub People Company: ‘We’re investing to strengthen our estate for the future’
Midlands-based managed pub operator, Pub People Company, will continue to prioritise capital investment across its estate, with MD Andy Crawford confirming the group remains focused on refurbishment and sustainability projects despite cost pressures.
Tricks, treats and trade boosts: companies tap into Halloween
Operators across the pub sector are preparing for Halloween 2025 with a mix of themed menus, family events and late-night parties designed to boost footfall over the final weekend of October.
Urban Pubs & Bars acquires Albion & East to expand London portfolio
Urban Pubs & Bars has acquired Albion & East, adding four all-day venues to its growing London estate and strengthening its position as the capital’s largest independent pub group.
Revel announces strategic review including sale after lfl revenue falls 7.4%
The Revel Collective (TRC) has launched a strategic review including a formal sales process after a “continued period of external challenges”.
Urban Pubs & Bars to reopen ‘iconic’ city site after £1m refurb
Multi-site pub group Urban Pubs & Bars is set to reopen an ‘iconic’ Victorian pub following a £1m investment.
M&B CFO stepping down after 15 years
Mitchells & Butlers has announced the appointment of Emma Harris, who is expected to succeed Tim Jones as CFO in 2026.
Inn Collection Group CEO to step down
The Inn Collection Group CEO Sean Donkin is stepping down after 15 years with the company.
What is operating in Norwich like?
Three top Norwich-based operators revealed what the city is like to trade in at the most recent MA Leaders Club event.
Laine targets Gen Z with immersive nightlife
After shifting its focus away from brewing, Laine Pub Company is set to inject around £3m into its estate next year, with the Gen Z market firmly in its sights, managing director Russ Danks told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
MY PUB
MY PUB: the George Inn, Norton St Philip, Somerset
Set in a beautiful Somerset location with an array of dining options available, the George Inn has plenty to offer – not least it is a Grade I-listed site.
Amber Taverns to open 17 new pubs next year as sales rise 3.5%
Amber Taverns has reported a 3.5% uptick in like-for-like sales and shared plans to open 17 new sites in the next 12-months, demonstrating its “resilience”.
The Alchemist group to be placed on the market
The private equity backer of The Alchemist bar group is understood to have put the business up for sale.
Alchemist in ‘robust shape’ despite ‘testing trading environment’
The Alchemist has posted a turnover of £56.2m for the year ending 31 March 2025, down from £58.6m the previous year.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Barons targets freehold sites after steady year of trading
Barons has its sights set on more freehold acquisitions after reporting a year of solid trading in 2024, director Clive Price told The Morning Advertiser (The MA)
BrewDog CEO: ‘Q4 will be critical’ after job cuts
BrewDog boss James Taylor has said the fourth quarter of this financial year will be “critical” for the business after it announced job cuts.
Pressure ‘far from over’ for JDW despite sales rise
Experts have praised JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) ability to “adapt and grow” following its latest results, but warned cost pressures are “far from over”.
BrewDog announces sale of Lost Forest
Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog has announced the sale of its Lost Forest.
Martin warns cost pressures threaten sector as sales rise at JDW
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has reported robust preliminary results for the financial year ending July 2025, with like-for-like sales up 5.1% compared to the previous year.
Inception Group set to announce ‘pipeline sites for 2026′
London-based business Inception Group reported total group revenue of £28.9m in 2024 - up 9.4% from the previous year in its latest financial update, where it also revealed future growth plans.
Licensees celebrate 30 years with Arkell’s
Licensees Jo and Keith Walkley-Pratt are marking 30 years of running pubs with Arkell’s Brewery.
M&B reports ‘robust’ mid-market performance
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has continued to outperform the market, increasing like-for-like sales by 4.2% in the 51 weeks to 20 September.
Beckford Group announces trio of new openings
The Beckford Group has announced “ambitious” plans to open three new sites in Wiltshire in early 2026, including its first hotel.