Legal

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips: A timely reminder on prevention of underage sales of alcohol

12-Oct-2023 By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

With Christmas now approaching I thought it would be a good time to remind operators of their obligations in terms of the prevention of sales of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.

POLL: what do pubs need from the Autumn Statement?

12-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Ahead of next month's Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser wants to know what support you would find most beneficial for your business, have your say and vote now in our snap poll below.

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Historic Notting Hill pub restored to 'former glory'

12-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

In this week's property refurbishment round-up, we spoke to operator of the Walmer Castle in Notting Hill about the historic pub's restoration while reopening's from Admiral Taverns, Inn Collection Group and Slug & Lettuce also feature.

BII: 'half of pubs operating at a loss'

10-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Only one in two hospitality firms are making a profit, new research from The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has revealed.

EXCLUSIVE

8 in 10 feel NLW hike will have significant impact

10-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Operators from across the sector have urged the Government to support pubs in delivering the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) as more than 80% feel the rise will have a significant impact on their business.

Licensees offered advice as bed bug infestation hits UK

10-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Bed bugs could prove a “costly pest” for hospitality businesses as the infestation in Europe reportedly makes it way to the UK.

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

King Pins, AK Whelan open sites

06-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

In this week's property news, King Pins and AK Whelan announce new sites, as Arc Inspirations looks forward to its first foray into the east midlands.

Northern business left 'hung out to dry' after HS2 scrapped

05-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The discontinuation of HS2 is a “travesty” and leaves northern businesses “hung out to dry”, but investment into improvement transport links is a “positive” step.

Pubs urged to support rate relief campaign

05-Oct-2023 By Ed Bedington

Pubs are being called upon for one final push to campaign for continued business rates relief ahead of the Autumn Statement.

'Youth culture is lost’

04-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Britain has lost 30% of nightclubs since Covid, and the ex-owner of the UK’s longest running club has argued that Gen Z need to spark a cultural shift to revolutionise nightlife.

Poll: how much of an impact will the NLW rise have on your pub?

04-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Earlier this week Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an increase to the National Living Wage (NLW), but how much of an impact will this have on your business? Vote now in our poll to have your say.

NLW rises by 40.5% in 5 years

03-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The national living wage (NLW) is set to rise to “at least £11” next April, meaning it will have soared by nearly 40.5% in the past five years.

Operator warns pubs 'can't absorb' increase to NLW

02-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs will not be able to “absorb” the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) as the sector continues to face “unrivalled pressure”, one Suffolk-based operator has warned.

POLL: How do you feel about trade in the coming months?

02-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King and Mitchells & Butlers are among leading hospitality businesses that have urged unions not to enact Christmas rail strikes in an open letter.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Lord Bilimoria: 'Gov needs to stop taking sector for granted'

29-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Government needs to start listening to the hospitality sector and stop taking the industry “for granted”, Cobra Beer founder Lord Karan Bilimoria told The Morning Advertiser.

The Crooked House tragedy: as it happened

29-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The burning down of Britain’s wonkiest pub, the Crooked House, last month, sparked national outrage. Investigations are ongoing, and several people have been arrested under suspicion of arson. We take a look back at events to see how the tragedy unfolded.

Call for pubs to step up on rates campaigning

29-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

With many pubs struggling to break even, operators are being urged to increase pressure through their local MPs around business rates relief as the Government Autumn Statement approaches.

Government secures £1.2m for 4 pubs

29-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

More than £1m has been earmarked for four pubs as part of the Government’s community ownership fund scheme, which UKHospitality (UKH) has celebrated as “really positive news”.

Late-night levy: how can local authorities support sector?

27-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Since being introduced in 2011, the late-night levy (LNL) has proved controversial and has been seen by many across the sector as “unfair”. But following the changes implemented in July this year, how should authorities look to support the sector regarding...

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips for licensing upkeep

27-Sep-2023 By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Running a hospitality venue is hard. From rubbish summer weather to soaring costs, operators are finding it even harder to run a successful premises.

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Shepherd Neame MD: 'pub's should reflect their heritage'

26-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Pub refurbishments should reflect market trends while honouring their history, Shepherd Neame managing director Jonathon Swaine told The Morning Advertiser, as the pubco invests more than £2.5m into its estate.

FEATURE - The Burnt Chef Project

FEATURE: Suicide prevention training launched by Burnt Chef

22-Sep-2023 By Gary Lloyd

As The Burnt Chef Project launches two new suicide prevention training programmes, founder and CEO Kris Hall has reiterated the need for people to talk about mental health issues to help thwart the rise of tragic deaths.

Sector ‘collateral damage’ of rail strikes

22-Sep-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

There have been renewed calls for resolution amid the ongoing rail strikes as hospitality continues to lose sales due to the industrial action.

‘If you don’t diversify you get stuck behind’

22-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub in Kent has celebrated the launch of its community café, and has advised operators to focus on quality coffee, keep adapting, and diversify the offering if they want to do the same.

Inflation rate 'not telling true story'

20-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies urge the Government to provide “targeted support” for the sector in the November budget as decline to the headline rate of inflation does not “tell the true story”.

70% of hospitality leaders face staffing challenges

20-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Around 70% of leaders in the hospitality sector are facing challenges with tough trading conditions expected to continue, according to the new Lumina Intelligence Top of Mind Report 2023.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

The late-night levy 2.0

19-Sep-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The amendments to the late-night levy legislation finally came into force this summer on 13 July 2023. Where does this leave this much criticised measure?

Vanishing pubs ‘stark reminder’ of harsh reality

19-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade bodies have called for Government to help the sector, after new data revealed 77 pubs closed per month in the second quarter of 2023, issuing a “stark reminder”.

Two pubs per day vanishing in England and Wales

18-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Some 77 pubs per month shut their doors in England and Wales between 1 April and 30 June (Q2 2023) at a rate of two per day.

Brixton Academy to reopen under stringent conditions

18-Sep-2023 By Gary Lloyd

A collaborative effort to reopen Brixton Academy has been hailed as key in the decision to allow the famous music venue to open its doors again, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Six-month wait on holiday entitlement for irregular hours staff goes on

15-Sep-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Staff members who work part-year and irregular hours in the hospitality sector are still waiting to find out what their holiday entitlements are despite a Government consultation ending more than six months ago.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Advice for prospective publicans

15-Sep-2023 By Poppleston Allen partner James Anderson

I am looking today at some advice if you are taking on a pub whether tenanted, leased or indeed buying a freehold.

Takeaway pints extension ‘welcome boost’

14-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The sector has “wholeheartedly welcomed” the extension of relaxed licensing rules, which mean pubs can continue to sell takeaway alcohol.

Pub sales growth in August 'encouraging'

13-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs overcame wet weather to record almost 5% growth in sales during August, which one trade body celebrated as “encouraging”.

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Admiral invests £450k into pub estate

12-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

This week's property refurbishment and reopening's round-up includes investments made by Admiral Taverns, Mitchell's and Butlers and Robinsons Brewery.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Playing by the rules

11-Sep-2023 By Andy Grimsey, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The more I think about the issue over the early opening of pubs to watch the Women’s World Cup Final involving England and Spain, the more troubled I am by it.

Peter Marks: ‘You can’t just open the door and see who comes’

08-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rekom UK's chairman is more cautious about business than he's been for a while, but the late-night operator is focusing on value to keep clubbers coming out amid the cost-of-living crisis.

More than three quarters of pubs experience glassware thefts

08-Sep-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Almost eight in 10 operators reported glassware thefts as an issue, according to a flash poll conducted by The Morning Advertiser.

EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY INTERVIEW

Searcys’ new champagne bar to blend 'heritage, opulence & quality'

08-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Searcys is set to launch a champagne bar in Battersea Power Station, south London, which will prioritise luxury and showcase the operator's champagne offering.

Firms 'not making any profit' despite increase in revenue

07-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Revenues have been estimated to be up across the sector but businesses are “not making any margin or profit” as inflation makes it “near impossible” for pubs to keep up with costs.

Third person arrested over Crooked House fire

07-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A third person has been arrested in connection with the fire at the Crooked House pub in Staffordshire.

Operator to face no further action in golly doll dispute

06-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Former operator of the White Hart Inn, Grays, Essex, will face no further action after displaying racist dolls behind the bar, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided.

Village pub shuts doors after a decade

06-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Bromley at Fiskerton, Nottinghamshire has closed after nearly 10 years as part of the owners’ retirement plan.

Crooked House bricks locked away in ceremony

04-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Bricks were locked away in a ‘padlocking ceremony’ at the Crooked House pub in the Black Country over the weekend.

UKH Scotland calls for business rates action

04-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) Scotland is urging the First Minister to address the multi-million pound hike in business rates that is set to hit hospitality this spring.

THE POWER STRUGGLE

Top tips for requesting renegotiation with energy suppliers

04-Sep-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

With energy prices continuing to be operators’ main concern, trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has outlined a number of top tips around renegotiating with suppliers as part of its joint campaign with The Morning Advertiser - The Power Struggle.

BBPA: Ofgem review means 'very little' without urgent action

04-Sep-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Ofgem’s non-domestic market review means “very little” for businesses without swift implementation, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has stated.

THE POWER STRUGGLE - OPINION

Kate Nicholls: 'If we can demonstrate the strength of feeling as a sector, it's more likely action is taken'

04-Sep-2023 By Kate Nicholls, chief executive, UKHospitality

The energy crisis of the last 18 months has been extremely tough for the nation’s pubs, particularly coming hot on the heels of the pandemic.

NTIA celebrates as future of E1 club secured

04-Sep-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

East London nightclub E1 has been working with Tower Hamlets and Big Yellow Storage to safeguard the future of the nightclub in new development plans.

Sector calls for inquiry into ‘new deal’ on business rates

31-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) is calling on the Scottish Government to investigate a ‘new deal’ for the nation’s pubs and bars on non-domestic rates, as the industry rebuilds from the pandemic.