LTC adds to its education arm
The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has added a Berkshire school to its education arm in a bid to strengthen the organisation’s ability to support hospitality workers.
Investments
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.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
PROPERTY: Portobello to reopen former JDW freehold as The Falconbrook
This property round-up includes mentions from Portobello Pubs, Brunning & Price, Urban Pubs & Bars, Shepherd Neame and more.
Greene King trials AI and smart tech across ‘innovation pubs’
Greene King is testing a wide range of artificial intelligence and smart technologies across two managed sites as part of a new programme designed to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs and enhance customer experience.
Star adds 220th managed pub after biggest investment of 2025
Star Pubs has completed its largest Just Add Talent (JAT) refurbishment of the year, reopening the Horse & Jockey in Waddington following a £750k investment and taking its managed operator estate to 220 sites.
Greene King invests £6m in London pub estate
Greene King has invested more than £6m in its managed pubs across London so far this year, with 14 sites reopened in 2025 following major refurbishments.
Village pub opens community café to help overcome social isolation and loneliness
A village pub has opened a community café in a bid to support local residents and provide a meeting place for those living alone.
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.
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.
Admiral Taverns holds capex at £33m, prioritises growth projects and energy savings
Admiral Taverns will keep capital investment broadly steady this year, targeting growth-led refurbishments across its 1,350-strong community pub estate while stepping up spend on energy-efficiency measures.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
St Austell reopens Dartmouth pub after ‘transformational’ refurbishment
This property round-up includes mentions from St Austell, Thwaites, Damm, Heartwood and more.
Robinsons: ‘Investment drives growth - without it, you go backwards’
Robinsons Brewery will continue to invest across its pub and brewing operations despite mounting cost pressures, with capital spend focused on refurbishments, small extensions and efficiency-driven technology.
RedCat: ‘We remain committed to reinvestment and growth’
90-strong pub group RedCat remains committed to growth and reinvestment despite rising operational costs and inflation, with an £8m capex programme continuing across its estate.
Red Engine secures £10m to ‘open more venues’
Red Engine, the group behind Flight Club and Electric Shuffle, has secured an increased lending facility of £10m, bringing the total to £70m.
Multi-site momentum: Star Pubs licensees expand portfolios across the UK
Independent operators across the UK are expanding through Star Pubs & Bars’ leased model, with multiple licensees taking on second, third and even tenth pubs in 2025.
JDW invests £25m in new pubs and refurbishments in 2025
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced more than £25m of investment across its UK estate so far in 2025, reflecting sustained confidence in long-term growth despite cost pressures facing the wider sector.
The Palmerston team to open Edinburgh pub
The team behind popular Edinburgh restaurant The Palmerston is joining forces with Newbarns brewery to revive a pub in the Scottish capital that has been closed for a decade.
Greene King pumps nearly £42m into 130 sites with plans to maintain momentum
Pub company and brewer Greene King has invested almost £42m into more than 100 of its pub and smokehouse restaurants in the first half of 2025.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
PROPERTY: Urban Pubs & Bars injects £500k into city pub
This week’s property round-up features Urban Pubs & Bars, Marston’s, Heartwood and more.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Admiral pumps over £880k into three sites
This week’s property round-up features investments from Admiral Taverns, Star Pubs, Thwaites and more.
Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants expanding on-trade business
Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants is looking to expand its role in the on-trade with the opening of its fifth distribution centre in Birmingham.
Sky Business and Admiral Taverns expand collaboration
Sky Business and Admiral Taverns have expanded their collaboration, with aims to bring Sky TV to an additional 200 Admiral Taverns pubs under the Proper Pubs division across England, Scotland and Wales.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Bristol Beer Factory ploughs £2m into new site
This week's property round-up includes investments from Laine Pub Company, Punch Pubs, Kirkstall Brewery, Bristol Beer Factory and more.
Punch reveals 24-pub package acquisition
Punch Pubs & Co has acquired the Milton 3 portfolio, adding 24 pubs to its 1,300 estate.
City brewery and brand secures future
Brewing industry veteran Rupert Thompson has agreed an investment deal with London-based craft brewer Mondo, securing the future of the latter’s brands, brewery and taproom.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Admiral pumps £286k into Proper Pubs site
This week’s property round-up features investments from Admiral Taverns, Fuller’s, and Mitchells & Butlers (M&B).
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Community group completes purchase of 'cherished' pub
This week's property round-up features acquisitions and refurbishments from Fleurets, Fuller's, M&B and more.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Heartwood and Punch both acquire trio of new sites
This week's property round-up features Heartwood Collection, Punch Pubs, Robinsons brewery, Fuller's and more.
Punch expands its growing estate
Punch Pubs & Co has acquired a trio of Leicestershire pubs from Steamin' Billy into its leased and tenanted division.
Majestic rescues Vagabond from administration
Wine retailer Majestic has bought Vagabond Wines out of administration, securing the future of nine bars and saving more than 170 jobs.
Northern Monk expands brewing capacity by 20%
Northern Monk Brew Co. enters “exciting new era” as it increases its brewing capacity by a fifth after injecting half-a-million pounds into its main brewery.
PROPERTY REFURBS
Robinsons expands pub site with coffee shop
This week's property refurbs round-up includes investments from Robinsons, Admiral Taverns, Punch Pubs, Hydes and more.
£60bn apprenticeship investment ‘very positive’
The hospitality sector has said there is “much to be pleased about”, after the Government announced it would invest in apprenticeships.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
Harbour Beer House to open, Heartwood Collection launches pub with rooms
The Harbour Beer House will open its doors in summer, but in more recent news, Heartwood Collection has launched a new site and gastropub the Guinea Grill has reopened in London.
PROPERTY REFURBS
Shepherd Neame reveals new £750k look for London pub
This week's property round-up includes refurbishments from Shepherd Neame, Punch Pubs, Slug & Lettuce, Admiral and more.
Anglian Country Inns acquires Grade II pub
Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has acquired a Grade II listed pub on the north Norfolk coast.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
New bars open in the capital
An Italian seafood bar is set to open in the capital, while a Welsh pub reopens under new ownership and Inception Group launches a new site.
Nightcap acquires The Piano Works
Nightcap – the operator of 46 bars under brands including The Cocktail Club, Barrio Familia and the Adventure Bar Group – has acquired live entertainment concept The Piano Works.
PROPERTY REFURBS
Star operator takes on new lease & plans to have 25 sites by 2025
This week's property refurbs round-up includes investment from Star Pubs & Bars, Mitchells & Butlers, Punch Pubs and more.
Access Hospitality acquires Wireless Social
Access Hospitality, a division of The Access Group, has acquired Wireless Social, the UK’s leading provider of guest wi-fi, analytics and marketing solutions.
Admiral pumped over £27m into 300 pubs
Community pub company Admiral Taverns ploughed more than £27m into refurbishments and updates across its Proper Pubs and tenanted and leased estate in England, Scotland and Wales last year.
PROPERTY
Brotherhood bars invests £500k into refurb
This week's property refurb round-up includes investments from sports bars operator Brotherhood, pub with rooms brand Inn Collection and Shepherd Neame.
Property market set to be dynamic in 2024
An increased level of activity in the property market signalled the potential of a dynamic market in 2024, a new report has revealed.
Red Oak acquires further four pubs from Marston's
Red Oak Taverns has begun its 2024 acquisition programme by adding a further four pubs to its portfolio from Marston's Pub Company.
Purity Brewing Co acquired by The Breal Group
Investment firm The Breal Group has acquired the assets of Warwickshire-based business Purity Brewing Co for an undisclosed sum.
Knipe re-takes control at Blackrose
Blackrose Pubs has been bought back following the purchase of the business brand by former managing director Daren Knipe.
Admiral invests almost £700k into two sites on same road
Admiral Taverns has ended the year with a nearly £700,000 investment project across two pubs in the north east on the same road.
Admiral invests almost £1m in four pub revamps
Admiral Taverns has invested close to £1m in the renovation and reopening of four of its pubs in the past month.
Tech investment high on agenda of hospitality leaders for 2024
Three in five hospitality leaders plan to invest in new technology solutions in 2024 – with employees being their main area of focus.
PROPERTY ROUND UP
Trio takes on Shepherd Neame pub
Three friends have come to the helm of a Shepherd Neame pub, while another venue has launched a fish & chip shop as operators expand their estate.