Editorial schedule and features list

May 2024

1) Running your pub - supplier relations​

Publication date Monday 13 May, external submissions must be in by Wednesday 1 May, completed writer’s copy to be submitted to MA by Wednesday 8 May. ​

Having good relationships with your suppliers, whether your business is focused on food, drink or events, is vital to ensuring you get the best deals and service while still being able to offer great quality in these times when money is extremely tight.

We want to hear from pubs and pub companies about how they source such goods and service their requirements, from how to make and retain bonds with suppliers but also to examine how you can motivate and get the most from your staff to ensure the operation runs as smoothly as possible.

Also, we want to look at how a site can market their speciality successfully.

This feature could, for example, include the interactions between licensees or pub companies and where they source food from, how drinks supply works whether with a tied supplier or free trade and/or how your events work through sourcing music bands through a third-party company.

Submissions to be sent to avtry.uhqqyrfgba@ivetvazrqvn.pbz​ ​and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

2) Wine ​

Publication date Tuesday 28 May, external submissions must be in by Wednesday 15 May, completed writer’s copy to be submitted to MA by Wednesday 22 May.​

Wine has been key to the successes of pub such as the Red Lion & Sun and the Unruly Pig so we talk to licensees with a great wine offer for what works for them and what their advice is to others.

There’s a fair chance no other pubs in your area have a top-notch wine offer so this could give you the edge over rivals with your USP.

Also we give a list of three whites, reds and rosés that are advisable to stock and explain why they are good options.

Perhaps we can get a winery to explain seasonality and when is the peak time to serve certain wines?

Submissions to be sent to zvpuryyr_creergg@lnubb.pb.hx​ ​and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

June 2024

Cider trends​

Publication date Monday 17 June, external submissions must be in by Wednesday 5 June, completed writer’s copy to be submitted to MA by Wednesday 12 June. ​

The weather is changing and people are looking to take advantage of using pub gardens.

We talk to some pubs that are known for having a great garden in tandem with a good cider line-up.

Taking advice from these sites will give other licensees the opportunity to make the most of the sun and cider.

Of course, a popular dispense method is bag in box that allow for any pub to install a large range of ciders for summer.

Can we talk to a cider brand to get some top tips from them?

Submissions to be sent to svbanrynvartevssvguf@tznvy.pbz​​ and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

July 2024

1) Sustainability​

Publication date Monday 8 July, external submissions must be in by Thursday 27 June. Completed copy to MA by Tuesday 2 July​

Sustainability has become a big thing in everyone’s lives and even the Great British Pub Awards has run Best Sustainable Pub category for a couple of years now.

Customers want to know where their drinks and food have come from and local produce is a winner with many, who are potentially more likely to go to a pub that can offer that.

We need a few pubs to be interviewed explaining what they offer, why they do so and what the reaction is from customers.

This is not just limited to a local cask brewer or a farm that provides food but also in terms of solar panels, a pub garden where herbs and veg may be grown and energy saving equipment is used to the fullest, for example.

Also, how do larger suppliers approach sustainability, why they do it and do they use this as a selling point?

Submissions to be sent to avxxvr.gungpure@jeoz.pbz​​ and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

2) ​Premier League launch​

Publication date Monday 29 July, external submissions must be in by Thursday 18 July. Completed copy to MA by Tuesday 23 July​

The Euros have only just finished and the Premier League is set to start on Saturday 17 August.

Football is huge at pubs. We need to talk to pubs that specialise in putting on the sport on a regular basis so interview a couple or three to find out what their advice would be in screening the sport, how and when they advertise individual matches and what food/drinks/events they put on. Also look at what they do to drive footfall before a match – maybe a deal on food and drink or the opportunity to book a prime table in front of the TV, etc. And how they increase dwell time after the match.

Also ask providers of Premier League football what they advise for pubs too – Sky Sports and TNT Sports are the main rights holders but perhaps look into who else shows matches such as Amazon Prime etc.

Submissions to be sent to zngg@zrzljbeqf.pbz​​ and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

August 2024

MA Top 100 Pubs Report 2024​​

Publication date Monday 26 August. No external submissions. Completed copy will probably be needed by Shorthand by Monday 29 July ​

September 2024

1) ​​Christmas​

Publication date Monday 9 September, external submissions must be in by Thursday 29 August. Completed copy to MA by Tuesday 3 September​

We want food suppliers, drink specialists, entertainment providers etc, to give pub operators advice on what they need to be doing now and what the end result would be during the festive season, which is when the majority of money is made in the on-trade.

Why should drinks range be increased or seasonal products be on sale? Why is it vital to get food in now rather than wait – could there be shortages potentially – and what foods must you get nearer the time? Entertainment experts – tell us why the setting up should begin early and what the goal should be for the Xmas/new year period?

Is there an operator we can speak to who is known for their excellent Christmas offer and get their advice on things others can do to make their site more welcoming and, most importantly, increase the bottom line?

Submissions to be sent to rzznrirefunz@tznvy.pbz​ ​and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​

2)​ Tech – Reservations & bookings​​

Publication date Monday 23 September, external submissions must be in by Thursday 12 September. Completed copy to MA by Tuesday 17 September​

As attracting and retaining staff becomes more difficult coupled with the fact customers have become more tech-savvy post-Covid, smart pub operators are using tech to cut down on more admin-related tasks.

Here, we explore how pubs can manage table reservations through their website or over the phone, use tech to help reduce no-shows and a take look at the pros and cons of asking customers for deposits.

There are lots of suppliers in this space such as OpenTable, Resy, ResDiary, Access and Zonal for example.

Food-led pubs are more likely to use a system of this kind so we could include a case study or quotes from a few gastropubs to show their system and how another site could learn from them.

Submissions to be sent to zvpuryyr_creergg@lnubb.pb.hx​ ​and tnel.yyblq@jeoz.pbz​​