Valentine’s Day 2026: how pubs are broadening the offer beyond couples and set menus
Valentine’s Day trading in pubs in 2026 continues to evolve, with operators increasingly moving away from a single night, couples only dining model.
Stonegate Group
Where hospitality investment is still flowing despite sector pressures
Pub operators have continued to deploy capital through acquisitions, refurbishments and managed expansion in early 2026 despite mounting cost pressures.
Operators forecast tighter menus, clearer purpose and elevated comfort this year
Pubs are preparing for another year of tight margins and shifting consumer behaviour, but chefs say 2026 will be defined less by novelty trends and more by disciplined creativity, operational clarity and food that justifies its value.
Stonegate appoints advisers as it seeks to streamline business
Stonegate has appointed advisers as its looks to streamline its business structure in a bid to soften the impact of tough trading conditions and its £3bn debt.
Stonegate to inject £30m into L&T arm
Stonegate has planned to inject £30m into its Pub Partners estate in 2026 after spending £12m in the first quarter of the financial year.
Craft Union ‘consistently outperforms market’ as it reaches 650 pubs
Craft Union says its community led model is driving sustained trading momentum going into its tenth anniversary year, with like for like sales, profit and volumes all in growth.
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.
Stonegate confirms it is reviewing options for £1bn ‘Platinum’ pub portfolio
Stonegate has confirmed it is exploring options for its 1,000-strong “Platinum” leased and tenanted estate, following a report in The Sunday Times that Britain’s biggest pub group is preparing a £1bn sell off.
PCA data reveals wide variation in pubco performance
Tenant satisfaction with the UK’s major pub companies varies far more widely than headline figures suggest, according to new company level data released by the pubs code adjudicator (PCA).
Wet-led pubs show signs of stabilisation as younger drinkers return to locals
Britain’s traditional wet-led pubs appear to be finding a firmer footing after years of decline, driven by changes in consumer behaviour and smarter operator strategies.
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.
Nigel Sherwood named as MD of Stonegate’s managed business
Stonegate Group has appointed Nigel Sherwood as its new managing director of the managed business, succeeding Carol Campbell who joined in 2024 and has stepped down from the role.
Stonegate to offload 23 pubs in portfolio shake-up
Stonegate, the UK’s largest pub company, has announced plans to sell 23 free-of-tie sites as part of a portfolio review.
Freehold of GBPA winning pub sold for £4.5m
Stonegate has assured trade will not be impacted at the Famous Three Kings in Fulham, London, despite the freehold being sold for a seven-figure sum.
Stonegate converts 200th pub as part of ‘strategic shift’
Stonegate Group has converted 200 of its managed pubs over to leased and tenanted and operator-led models, such as Craft Union, as part of its transformation strategy.
Stonegate sees 90% soar in sales from Lionesses’ victory
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has reported a 90% sales increase in its managed sites during the Women’s Euros final.
Award-winning licensee to leave pub due to ‘crazy’ costs
An award-winning licensee is exiting one of his pubs citing the “crazy” costs of doing business.
Stonegate takes over Frontier Pubs
Stonegate has bought the remaining stake in Frontier Pubs, its joint venture with Pioneer Hospitality.
Craft Union: ‘We’ve kept our founding philosophy at the heart of the business’
Craft Union managing director Frazer Grimbleby explains how the pub operating model has tripled weekly sales with its seven-days-a-week, daypart-spanning wet-led offer
Licensees host ‘fortnight to remember’ as they exit pub after 12 years
After more than a decade at the helm, the operators of a West Sussex pub are bidding farewell with two weeks of live music events to mark their departure.
Stonegate set to axe 150 roles as managed estate shrinks
Stonegate has announced plans to cut a number of roles in a bid to reflect the decreasing size of its managed estate and tackle rising costs.
Licensees leave rural pub after just a year
The operators of a Lancashire pub are set to leave the site after 12 months of running it, citing rising costs as a reason why.
Craft Union celebrates 10-year anniversary
Stonegate’s Craft Union arm has marked a decade of business.
Slug & Lettuce brand turns 40
The iconic Slug & Lettuce brand turns 40 this month (May).
Stonegate ‘committed’ to future of historic pub
Stonegate has said it is committed to the future of historic pub the Hole in the Wall in Torquay, Devon, after publican Richard Rossendale-Cook ceased trading.
Stonegate praises resilience of British pub
Stonegate Group has praised the resilience of the great British pub despite the ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality sector.
Stonegate’s new concept ‘showcases diversity and depth of great British pub’
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has launched a new concept that will house 220 pubs.
Rita’s ‘highlights how Stonegate is evolving brands and formats’
Stonegate Group’s six-figure investment into Rita’s Beerhall and Ballroom ‘highlights how the business is evolving its brands and formats’, boss David McDowall has said.
Stonegate’s festive trade performance ‘encouraging’
The UK’s largest pub company Stonegate Group announced record-breaking figures in its festive trading update.
Stonegate takes 2024 investment past the £100m mark
New openings and a multitude of revamps by Stonegate Group has seen the pubco invest more than £100m into its 4,500-site estate during 2024.
Stonegate opens Rita’s Beerhall and Ballroom
Stonegate opened the new cocktail beerhall themed site in Leeds on Friday 6 December.
Stonegate’s new formats ‘driven by listening to teams & guests’
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has invested £150,000 into two new pub formats within its managed estate.
City pub reveals 'biggest free pint giveaway yet'
Stonegate has unveiled plans to give away 3,000 pints of Guinness next month to celebrate the opening of a new sports pub.
Stonegate announces new appointments
The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has revealed two new ‘significant’ appointments.
Stonegate invests millions into estate as guests look for new experiences
Following news Stonegate pumped another six figure sum into rebranding and refreshing its estate last week, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has looked back at the investments made over the past year.
Pubs 'don't have anymore to give' - McDowall
Stonegate boss David McDowall has added his voice to the calls for rates relief ahead of the Government’s budget next week.
Stonegate invests £1m into new concept
Stonegate Group has invested a six-figure sum into a new concept launching in Leeds city centre.
Stonegate rebrands pubs to Social Pub & Kitchen estate
Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pubco, has launched a new brand to customers through its pub estate called Social Pub & Kitchen.
BIG INTERVIEW
BIG INTERVIEW: Getting to know ‘the real David’ at Stonegate
Stonegate CEO and former BrewDog COO David McDowall truly is a working-class lad done good.
Stonegate ready to spend and evolve pub and guest experience
Stonegate CEO David McDowall said the pubco will invest £150m into its pubs in the next year as the business bids to “evolve and elevate the pub and guest experience”.
Stonegate puts 20-strong portfolio up for sale
Stonegate has placed a portfolio of 20 free-of-tie sites on the market with a combined asking price of almost £19m.
Stonegate MiXR app hits 1m downloads
Stonegate’s MiXR app has hit 1m downloads and seen £1.8m in points redeemed since it was launched just nine months ago.
Stonegate agrees debt refinancing deal
Stonegate Group has announced the agreement of its debt refinancing requirements with a £250m shareholder contribution from TDR Capital following positive discussions with bondholders.
Be At One Liverpool launches after £800k investment
Cocktail bar brand Be At One is set to open its second Liverpool location, following an £800,000 cash injection.
Stonegate ploughs more than £2.6m into 4 site transformations
Stonegate Group has announced the opening of Slug & Lettuce in Albert Square, Manchester as part of the company’s recent £2.6m investment in four of its sites.
Stonegate’s ‘kids eat for £1’ scheme returns
Following a successful Easter campaign, Stonegate’s Group’s Pub and Dining sites, ‘Kids Eat for £1’ initiative has been re-introduced.
David McDowall: ‘Craft Union is a jewel in the Stonegate crown’
Stonegate has seen early signs that its data-led strategy is working, as the pub group undertakes proactive management of its estate.
‘Very strong’ first half of year for Stonegate
Stonegate Group, Britain’s largest pubco, has reported a “very strong” first half of its financial year that has given the business “real confidence” for the future.
Ex-Stonegate boss Baker joins Market Taverns
Former Stonegate commercial director Suzanne Baker has been appointed as non-executive director of Market Taverns.
Stonegate seeing ‘material improvements in profitability’
Stonegate has reported a “highly respectable performance”, with positive like-for-like growth, most notably in Craft Union, its fast-growing operator managed business.