News

Strangest reasons people cancel bookings

13-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

An unexpected council meeting and seagull problems are just two of the strangest reasons customers have given for cancelling bookings in pubs, bars and restaurants, new research has found.

ESTRELLA DAMM TOP 50 GASTROPUBS

Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list 2024 unveiled

05-Dec-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

The 2024 Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list is set to be revealed in full next month (December).

Foodservice price inflation drops 20%

30-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Foodservice price inflation (FPI) decreased for the fifth consecutive month in October, the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index has revealed.

Most pubs charge more than £30 for Xmas dinner

23-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Almost a third of pubs will charge in excess of £30 for Christmas dinner, a snap poll conducted by The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

JDW hikes Christmas dinner price by 13%

07-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has raised the price of its Christmas dinner by 13% for 2023, but the pub goliath claims it’s still “excellent value”.

‘We need to be busier than ever to break even'

20-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

London’s first vegan pub just celebrated its busier summer on record, but despite this, it has not been making any money.

St Austell joins forces with Olio to 'fight food waste'

13-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

St Austell Brewery has partnered with food waste app Olio to distribute surplus items from its South-West pubs.

World Steak Challenge awards record number of gold medals

12-Oct-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

A record 134 gold medals have been awarded at this year’s World Steak Challenge, which recognises the best quality meat across the globe.

What makes a Michelin Star pub?

06-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

21 gastropubs have gained Michelin stars since the trailblazing Stagg inn became the first pub to win the accolade in 2001. But what makes Michelin-starred pubs a cut above the rest? We spoke to chefs of some of the country's most prestigious venues...

Over 50% of firms opening at reduced hours amid supply chain issues

04-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

More than half of hospitality firms have been forced to operate at reduced hours as costs soar by 30% due to supply chain issues.

Food price inflation drops but remains above 20%

03-Oct-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Foodservice price inflation fell for a third consecutive month in August yet, it is still above 20%, new data has revealed.

Top 50 Gastropub closes its doors

02-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Stephen Terry’s Abergavenny restaurant The Hardwick has closed suddenly after nearly two decades in business.

Bubbles and cheese concept launched for pubs

26-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

Pubs are being offered the opportunity to introduce a bit of French glamour to their operations thanks to a Covent Garden-based business.

Bidfood workers to vote on strike action

22-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Bidfood workers have started voting on strike action after a “breakdown of pay negotiations”, the GMB Union has claimed.

Spill the beans: What times of day should pubs serve food?

19-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

It's important not to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to food service, but pubs need to be careful not to overwhelm staff or dilute their offering.

Food inflation remains ‘incredibly challenging’

07-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Slowed food inflation doesn’t mean pubs will see a drop in costs to their venues said trade bodies who urged Government to give hospitality a helping hand.

Food inflation falls to 21.7%

07-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Inflation as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index fell marginally to 21.7% year-on-year in July.

POLL: What times of day do you serve food?

04-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs are tapping into the brunch trend, with more and more venues serving up all-round food offers and upping the game with their breakfast offering.

Booker unveils low-cost business function

07-Aug-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Food and drink wholesaler Booker has launched a new business function, designed to be a low cost, high service option for new customers.

'Solo diners should feel welcome'

03-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pub operators have shared their two cents on guests eating alone after a two Michelin-starred restaurant announced solo diners would be charged double for the price of a tasting menu.

Food inflation heaps pressure on sector as supermarket prices ease

31-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Prices at supermarkets increased by just 0.4% during June despite food inflation rising to an almost record high of 22.6% leaving the hospitality on-trade sector still suffering.

Pubs called to back butcher's Help for Heroes fundraising campaign

28-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A charity champion has called for pubs to support his latest initiative, tasked with raising £100,000 for Help for Heroes.

Managed pubs see 10.8% sales growth in June

26-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Sales in managed pub, bar and restaurant groups saw 6.7% year-on-year growth in June.

Top 50 Gastropub the Swan at Bampton closes permanently

25-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Ongoing economic pressures, including debt from Covid, has led to highly acclaimed gastropub the Swan at Bampton to shut its doors for good.

'Vegan’ label puts off diners - including vegans

21-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Labelling food as ‘plant-based’ and ‘vegan’ is putting pub-goers, including vegans, off ordering greener options.

Fresh produce sector weathers ‘tough periods’

19-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The fresh produce industry has been going through some tough periods recently with weather conditions fuelling price hikes, according to Prestige Purchasing.

Business confidence hit by food cost concerns

19-Jul-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Half of senior-level operators have expressed concern over the sector’s post-pandemic recovery due to rising food and drink prices, new data from CGA by NIQ and Fourth has revealed.

Summer veg prices rocket by over 30%

18-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Summer seasonal veg prices have shot up by 31.3% versus a like-for-like period in 2022 while fruit prices have dropped, according to The Morning Advertiser’s analysis of Government data.

Meat-free dishes in high demand at most pubs

17-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The demand for meat-free dishes is still strong at the majority of pubs, recent research by The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

My Pub

My Pub: Tap & Run, Upper Broughton, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

14-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

When the Tap & Run pub was destroyed in a fire in June last year, owners and England cricket players Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad, were distraught but vowed to bring the site back even better than before. Here, Gurney tells The Morning Advertiser...

Pub gardens most sought-after outdoor dining destinations

11-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

More than half of Brits (52%) prefer to dine outdoors when they visit the on-trade with almost half of those stating it improves their mental wellbeing.

POLL: Is the demand for meat-free dishes declining?

10-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Research indicates that customers may be falling out of love with meat-free meals, but is the craze for plant-based food actually in decline?

Food inflation hit 21.6% in May

28-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Year-on-year inflation, as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index, increased to 21.6% in May – only just below the record high of 22.9% of December 2022.

Spiralling food costs pack pressure on hospitality

26-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Ongoing hikes in food and drinks prices are piling the pressure on hospitality operators, as supply chain fragility continues to hit the industry hard, a new report from Fourth has revealed.

Quality British food ‘key’ to menu success

26-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

High quality produce with a focus on the best of British is a key chance for hospitality businesses to thrive beyond the cost-of-living crisis, according to hospitality buying specialist Lynx Purchasing.

Stagnant inflation rates 'holding sector back'

21-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Consumers expected to "tighten purse strings" once again as stagnant inflation leaves the sector with “little opportunity for growth”.

The secrets behind the Victoria, Oxshott

13-Jun-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Described as a quintessential British experience, the Victoria Oxshott is a neighbourhood gastropub, set in the heart of its Surrey community, with a stellar food and drink offer.

7 pubs named in UK’s top 100 restaurants list

13-Jun-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Seven of the best 100 restaurants in the UK are pubs, according to the 2023 Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards.

Cost-of-living crisis can’t crush appetite for hospitality

07-Jun-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Consumer demand for Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants has stayed robust during months of rising household bills new research from CGA by NIQ has revealed.

Eating out market to grow 4.6% in 2023

07-Jun-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The eating out market has been predicted to grow by 4.6% during 2023, reaching a total value of £95.2bn, figures from Lumina Intelligence have revealed.

Calorie labelling 'extra burden of red tape' for pubs

31-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Operators have spoken out about the pressure calorie labelling laws, which came into force a year ago, have packed on struggling staff and company finances.

Steak producers called upon to enter World Steak Challenge

26-May-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Steak suppliers and producers have been urged to enter this year’s World Steak Challenge (WSC).

75% give go ahead to adults ordering from kid’s menus

25-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Three quarters of operators (75%) agreed it's okay for adults to order from the children’s menu, but others were against the idea.

Sector 'still suffering' despite ease to headline inflation rate

24-May-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms are “not out of the woods yet” despite an ease to the headline rate of inflation, according to trade bodies from across the sector.

NFU calls for stronger link between farming and hospitality

19-May-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality and farming sectors need to develop stronger relationships to boost profitability in both industries.

Pub visits in year-on-year decline

17-May-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Pub and bar occasions showed a 1.2 percentage point year-on-year decrease in the four-weeks to Sunday 16 April, the latest data from Lumina Intelligence has revealed.

Should adults be able to order from the kids' menu?

16-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Operators and customers have debated whether adults should be able to order from the children’s menu: some slam the behaviour as unacceptable, with others viewing it as no big deal.

Poll: Have you switched out ingredients at your pub?

05-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Gastropubs across the country are switching out ingredients to cope with inflation as the average price of a pub meal surpasses £11.

40% of pubs charge for added items

03-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Chefs are torn on whether pubs should charge for added items: gravy on a roast dinner, or butter on a cheeseboard, for some it's a ‘no brainer’, but others price accordingly to cover the added cost.