Culture secretary signals openness to VAT rethink
The Government has indicated it could reconsider aspects of hospitality taxation, after pubs and biz rates dominated discussion on BBC’s Question Time last night.
News
Nightcap to transform site into ‘calm, considered and genuinely welcoming’ cocktail bar
Multiple operator Nightcap Group is set to transform an existing The Cocktail Club site into a standalone venue.
OPINION
OPINION: Why my cocktail list is based on customers’ advice
I love a cocktail as much as I love a glass of wine, or a pint of beer. They lend a sense of occasion to a drink.
INSIDE THE ISSUE
Inside the issue: What pubs need to know this week
A weekly briefing on the latest developments shaping the UK pub trade. This week’s focus is stout pricing, demand and competition.
CAMRA boss: ‘Global brewing giants destroying cask heritage’
“Too many cask brewers are being lost”, CAMRA has warned after Molson Coors announced plans to close Sharp’s Brewery.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
The silent threats to your premises licence
In no particular order, I am going to describe a few things that can happen to your premises licence without notice, and at first seem to be completely unfair and abrupt.
THE MONTHLY ROUND
THE MONTHLY ROUND: Cask and value offers boosting trade
Wet-led pubs are excelling as operators report strong sales, growing cask demand and a focus on value and community, despite ongoing cost pressures, The MA’s latest industry snapshot has revealed.
The food hall effect: what it means for pubs
As pubs navigate rising costs and changing guest expectations, many are rethinking how food fits into their offer.
Licensing and the World Cup: What pubs need to know
Late kick-offs, relaxed hours and temporary event notices will all play a key role in how pubs capitalise on the men’s World Cup. Poppleston Allen’s Nick Landells outlines the licensing considerations operators need to plan for ahead of the tournament.
Beartown Brewery invests in refurbished barrels to cut costs and carbon
Cheshire-based craft brewer Beartown has invested in 200 refurbished plastic beer barrels as part of a wider drive to reduce costs and lower its environmental impact.
Young’s: ‘We want to look at growing more pubs within London’
Young’s CEO Simon Dodd has revealed the group is looking to expand its estate through the acquisition of smaller one or two site groups.
Stonegate repositions Slug & Lettuce sites under transformation strategy
Stonegate is repositioning a number of Slug & Lettuce and Be At One sites as part of its ongoing estate transformation strategy, with several venues moving into its Pub Partners L&T division.
Molson Coors looks to close Sharp’s Brewery and axe 200 jobs
Molson Coors Beverage Company (MCBC) has announced plans to close its Sharp’s Brewery in Cornwall and the National Contact Centre in Cardiff.
Four St Austell leased pubs close amid winter cashflow pressures
Four leased and tenanted pubs within St Austell Brewery’s Cornwall estate have closed with immediate effect.
Guinness sales soar as revenue falls at Diageo
Diageo has reported a 2.9% uptick in UK sales, driven by double-digit growth in Guinness and strong performance from spirits, including ready-to-drink (RTD) products.
Thatchers MD urges Gov to ease fiscal burden on cider sector
Cider-makers have called on the Government to listen to the sector and ease the financial challenges it faces across the board.
City pub drops Beamish over sales dispute
An independent London pub has dropped Beamish from its line-up and accused craft beer wholesaler Cave Direct of “exploitation”.
100 days until Pedalling 2 Pubs epic gets underway
Now in its fourth year, time is running out for those training for the next huge Pedalling 2 Pubs ride in support of two great industry charities.
Sir Tim Martin receives National Pubwatch award of merit
JD Wetherspoon (JDW) founder and chairman Sir Tim Martin has been presented with an award of merit by National Pubwatch.
Wells & Co: 150 years on, Peter Wells sets sights on Bedford’s next chapter
As Wells & Co celebrates its 150th anniversary, CEO Peter Wells believes the brewer and pub operator’s longevity comes down to one core trait: adaptability.
Stout sales up 7.9% during third week of Six Nations
The third week of the Guinness Six Nations rugby tournament saw sales of stout jump 7.9% year-on-year, with footfall and dwell time also seeing increases.
Community-led pub-based campaign to tackle loneliness gains global traction
A grassroots scheme to help battle loneliness and takes place in pubs is growing across the UK and the globe.
EXCLUSIVE: Alf Turner and Stonegate raise £2,940 for Help for Heroes
Alf Turner Butchers and Stonegate have raised £2,940 for veterans’ charity Help for Heroes through sales of Hero IPA.
Unite plans protest against BrewDog over staff treatment amid sale
A demonstration has been planned outside a city centre BrewDog venue in response to the treatment of workers amid an ongoing sale process.
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.
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.
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.
NEW PRODUCT
Hendrick’s unveils first new permanent gin in 9 years
Hendrick’s Gin has announced the launch of Another Hendrick’s, the first new permanent addition to its line up in nine years.
Love on the rocks: Are pubs out of favour when it comes to romance?
With Valentines Day in the rear view, the Lock In team tackle the topic of love, and ask whether pubs still play a role in the world of romance or not?
‘Simply being busy is no longer enough’
While venues remained busy at the start of 2026, operators need to maximise longer visits to be successful, a recent report has warned.
Admiral boss ‘pleased with strong progress against business’ growth strategy’
Community pub group Admiral Taverns “remains focused on growing its estate”, CEO Chris Jowsey outlined as the business reported its latest financial results.
BrewDog co-founder could put £10m of his own cash into business
James Watt, the former CEO and co-founder of BrewDog, looks set to put £10m into the Scottish brewer and global bar operator after it was widely reported the business was set to go into administration.
THE CASK PROJECT
Hook Norton under starter’s orders with new seasonal cask ale
Hook Norton Brewery will launch its latest seasonal cask ale – Paddock’s Pour (3.9% ABV) – via a tasting event at the George at Brailes pub in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
VIDEO: THE LOW & NO PROJECT
VIDEO: The rise of low & no alcohol options at London pubs
Low & no alcoholic drinks are enjoying a boom time in both pubs and bars and the off-trade.
Pubs over the years: What were the news stories shaping the sector 5, 10, and 15 years ago
We’ve looked back at the biggest stories impacting the pub sector in the month of February, 5, 10 and 15 years ago.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
Legal Q&A: Do I need a licence to show the World Cup?
In this week’s column with Poppleston Allen, solicitor Alex Tomlinson answers questions on showing the World Cup ahead of the tournament kicking off this summer.
OPINION
OPINION: St Austell is moving forward while celebrating 175th anniversary
This year, St Austell Brewery celebrates an extraordinary milestone of 175 years of brewing.
CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain revealed
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has unveiled the winner of its Champion Winter Beer of Britain award.
Late-night sector shrinks by 28.2%
More than a quarter of Britain’s late-night economy has been lost since before the pandemic, with 75,000 jobs disappearing last year alone.
Hospitality customers draw purse strings in January
Customers pulled the purse strings on spending in the hospitality sector after Christmas, according to new research.
Fox at Lyng directors step back from second site to ‘rebalance’
The directors behind the Fox at Lyng have taken the decision to step back from the Norfolk pub, with the lease now up for sale, as they refocus on operating a single site.
How health, availability and price are shaping the UK’s low & no-alcohol market
Alcohol moderation is increasingly shaping UK drinking habits, with health-led behaviour change and improved low & no-alcohol options driving steady market growth, despite ongoing price pressures.
Why Michelin-starred pubs might lose their stars, and what happens next
While no Michelin-starred pubs were demoted in the latest Michelin Guide, history shows that stars in the pub sector can prove fragile.
Ardent Pub Group awarded B Corp certification
Ardent Pub Group has been certified as a B Corporation, becoming one of a small number of pub and hospitality operators to secure the accreditation.
Pubs to open late for home nations World Cup knockout matches
UK pubs will be permitted to stay open later for any home nation knockout match during this summer’s men’s FIFA World Cup, the Government has confirmed.
Tourist tax ‘the wrong policy at the worst possible time’
Serious concerns have been raised about the timing and impact of plans to introduce overnight visitor levies in England.
Why some pub operators are choosing to stay small
As the pub sector continues to polarise between large estates and independents, a growing number of operators are building multi-site portfolios while deliberately keeping them tight.
JDW to open third university pub
Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is set to open a new site at The University of Surrey in Guildford.
DRINKS MASTERCLASS
HOW TO MAKE: Brunch Punch with Sunshine Punch
This edition of The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks Masterclass features a fruity rum-based serve perfect for capturing daytime trade.
One in five Brits hatch business ideas in the pub, survey finds
Nearly one in five Brits have come up with a business idea while at the pub, rising to almost one in three among under 35s, according to new polling commissioned by GoDaddy.