Dart Finder app aims to drive pub footfall amid darts resurgence
A new app designed to help consumers locate pubs with dartboards is aiming to support footfall across the sector as interest in darts continues to grow.
News
Woodforde’s hails Indie Beer Week
Norfolk brewer Woodforde’s has hailed SIBA’s ongoing Indie Beer Week, stating the support created for such breweries is also beneficial for their local communities.
Charity cycle ride: How sector workers benefit from the LTC
Welcome to the latest update of Avani Solutions managing director Amanda Thomson’s Hospitality Rides five-day cycle challenge across Vietnam.
Scaling culture: The challenge facing growing pub operators
Measuring sales, spend per head and covers is generally standard practice but, the people delivering those numbers are still largely understood via lagging indicators, one expert highlighted.
PROPERTY
PROPERTY: Shepherd Neame launches new sports bar concept
This property round-up includes mentions from Shepherd Neame, Heartwood, Vagabond Wines and more.
Regional pint price gap widens across UK
Significant regional disparities in pint prices persist across the UK, with the gap between the cheapest and most expensive locations continuing to widen.
Greene King Pub Partners to launch Geoff Hurst cask beer
Leased, tenanted & franchise business Greene King Pub Partners will launch a cask ale in collaboration with football legend Sir Geoff Hurst.
Kerridge urges VAT cut as hospitality costs hit ‘100% of turnover’
Tom Kerridge has called on the Government to cut VAT for hospitality, warning that rising costs are leaving many businesses operating at break-even levels.
Stonegate says partnership model driving resilience as FY25 losses narrow
Stonegate Group has said its shift towards a more partnership-led model is improving the resilience of the business, as revenue and profit declined slightly in FY25 but losses narrowed.
Food-led visits drive record spend in pubs
March delivered a record high in spend per head across the on-trade, driven by food-led occasions and a continued shift towards premium serves, according to new data.
Average UK pub delivers up to £1.3m in economic and social value
A new report commissioned by Punch Pubs in partnership with Northumbria University has found that the average UK pub contributes up to £1.3m in economic and social value to its local community.
SIBA: Indie brewers’ focus is simply on survival
Almost half of Britain’s independent brewers are focused solely on survival as almost a third expect turnover to fall this year, new data has revealed.
MY PUB
MY PUB: The Olde Coach House, Ashby St Ledgers, Warwickshire
The Olde Coach House reopened a little over 18 months ago when Freespirit Pubs took the reins.
JW Lees returns to acquisitions with Royal Oak purchase
JW Lees has signalled a return to expansion with the acquisition of the Royal Oak in Glossop, marking its first pub purchase in a renewed growth phase.
Punch appoints new CFO as part of long-term financial strategy shift
Punch Pubs has appointed Matt Ward as chief financial officer, as part of a wider reshaping of its senior finance leadership team to support long-term growth.
‘Disrespectful and dangerous’: Pubs hit by rise in BYOB trend
Pub operators have reported a rise in customers attempting to bring their own alcohol into venues, a trend legal experts warn presents risks far beyond lost sales, including potential licensing offences and reviews.
JDW app ‘not about efficiency’ despite growing usage, says Martin
JD Wetherspoon’s (JDW) mobile ordering app has not improved efficiency despite growing usage, chairman Sir Tim Martin has said.
Pubs granted wider licence extensions for World Cup knockout matches
Pubs in England and Wales will be able to stay open later for a broader range of World Cup knockout matches this summer, following a further update to licensing rules.
Biz rates changes expose inconsistencies for pubs with rooms
Operators have raised concerns over inconsistencies in how business rates are applied to pubs with rooms, with some warning the current system fails to reflect how mixed-use hospitality businesses operate.
Village pub strengthens facilities to support community
A pub in Llandwrog, North Wales, has enhanced its facilities to support local residents through Government funding and support from Pub is the Hub.
OPINION
OPINION: Leasehold transactions driving London hospitality market
London’s pub and restaurant market is evolving at pace, and while persistent cost and staffing challenges weigh on operators, demand for well‑located sites remains remarkably resilient.
Pubs urged to be on ‘high alert’ despite falling food inflation
Foodservice inflation fell in February but heightened geopolitical uncertainty threatens to prolong the pressure for hospitality businesses, new data has shown.
Lidl to open first pub
Supermarket giant Lidl has announced plans to open its first pub.
Operator warns of rising rural pub costs after customer appeal
A Yorkshire pub operator has warned of mounting cost pressures facing rural pubs after sharing an “honest update” with customers about the realities of running a site in the current climate.
Wetherspoons app ‘here to stay’
JDW chairman Sir Tim Martin has clarified that the pub chain has no intention of ditching its popular mobile app.
Early April heatwave lifts pub sales as operators report sharp trade uplift
Record-breaking April temperatures have delivered a timely boost to pub trade, with operators across the UK reporting increases in footfall and sales.
Wells & Co ‘well positioned to deliver further success in 2026’
Wells & Co CEO Peter Wells has stated the Bedfordshire-based brewery and pubs operator will deliver further success this year after reporting a 5% increase in EBITDA.
Two London gastropubs sold as Lunar Pub Company enters administration
Two London gastropubs have been sold out of administration following the collapse of Lunar Pub Company, after sustained cost pressures impacted the business.
Albert’s Schloss Soho boosts Mission Mars EBITDA
Mission Mars, the operator of Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, has reported group EBITDA growth of 46% in H1 FY26.
Over 30m pints sold over Easter as rural pubs shine
More than 30m pints were poured in pubs across the country this Easter, with rural pubs leading the charge and reinforcing the strength of destination-led drinking and food-led occasions.
Energy firms ‘getting richer’ at the expense of small businesses
Energy suppliers are “getting richer” at the expense of small businesses, operators have lamented, as costs across the sector continue to soar.
THE CASK PROJECT
A lower price point and great quality equals more sales
Despite news that smaller, independent brewers are seeing increased cask beer sales, we can’t ignore the pressures cask faces nor the parallel of those facing the pubs it depends on.
Licensed Trade Charity launches 900-mile pub run to raise £250k
The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has launched a nationwide fundraising initiative aiming to raise £250k to support people working across the licensed hospitality sector.
LICENSING HUB: LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN
The legal risks of bottomless brunches
Bottomless brunches are one way operators can help boost daytime trade but they can raise legal risks. Poppleston Allen’s Joe Harvey lays out the legal line.
THE MA LABOUR REPORT
MA Labour Report: Top methods of recruiting staff
Recruiting staff may not be easiest thing in the world and finding the funds to pay them is an equally baffling proposition currently.
THE LOW & NO PROJECT
Which low & no drink styles should you stock?
We all know by now that low & no alcohol beers have become more popular than perhaps we ever imagined.
Young’s boss: Cubitt House sites align perfectly with expansion strategy
London and south-east-based pub company Young’s has agreed to acquire Cubitt House.
BII names semi-finalists for Licensee of the Year 2026
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced the 12 semi-finalists for its Licensee of the Year (LOYA) 2026 competition.
Search for the nation’s best pub begins
The hunt for the best pubs in the country is now under way as the 2026 Great British Pub Awards returns.
BIG INTERVIEW
BIG INTERVIEW: Proper Pubs’ MD Nathan Wall is a self-confessed ‘pub geek’
From growing up in Zambia to spearheading growth for giants in the UK’s pub and QSR sectors, Nathan Wall’s career has been shaped by resilience, curiosity and a people-first mindset.
Apprentice star to open third pub
An Apprentice candidate is set to open a new pub in Stockwell after securing a site with Star Pubs.
FEATURE
FEATURE: Seeking a saviour for cask
Most people in the sector are aware volume sales of cask beer have fallen consistently over recent years but there could be a new hero who is saving the category.
Key changes impacting pubs in April
A number of changes to legislation and costs hit the sector in April. We’ve rounded up the key changes operators need to be aware of.
DISH DECONSCTRUCTED
How to make the Queen of Cups’ chocolate, coffee & cardamom namelaka
In this Dish Deconstructed, the Queen of Cups’ owner and executive chef Ayesha Kalaji shares how to make the pub’s popular dessert.
Hyped or helpful: does using influencers work for pubs?
Are influencers really delivering for pubs? The Lock In team hears what works, what doesn’t and how pubs can use influencers, reviewers and social media more effectively to help drive footfall.
PUBLICAN AWARDS 2026
Publican Awards 2026: Winners’ gallery
See pictures of the 2026 Publican Awards winners as they celebrated their success in this photo gallery.
OPINION
OPINION: Younger pubgoers must learn the rules of the pub
Every publican has felt it at some point over the past few years: the sharp intake of breath when a group of young drinkers walks through the door on a Friday night.
‘Relentless’ price hikes slammed as fuel costs hit pub visits
Rising fuel costs are placing further strain on pubs across the UK, with operators warning of reduced consumer spending and mounting pressure on margins.
Easter bookings rise at Coaching Inn Group as accommodation operators shine
Like-for-like Easter bookings are up 6% at The Coaching Inn Group, demonstrating UK residents remain committed to staycations.
Punch acquires eight pubs from RedCat
Punch Pubs & Co has procured eight community pubs from RedCat Hospitality.