Rebuilding the Pub Sector

Gov has ‘failed’ cultural sector

15-Feb-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Independent businesses and culture are most at risk according to the second NTIA Night Time Economy Report, and officials claim Government has “failed” the sector.

Pub part of £2bn claim against energy firms

14-Feb-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub is among millions of businesses lawyers say could be entitled to compensation from energy giants over secret commissions paid to third-party brokers allegedly inflated customer bills by billions of pounds.

Britain’s most southerly pub to shut doors

14-Feb-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The most southern pub in Britain has been forced to close its doors after factors impacting the sector made it “impossible” to maintain the establishment.

OPINION

Forgetting independents is a self-defeating exercise

09-Feb-2023 By Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester

These days, there’s no escaping the seemingly endless amount of data proving that the hospitality sector is in severe difficulty.

Opinion

January trade - win or loss?

06-Feb-2023 By Ed Bedington

Against a backdrop of rocketing price rises, rampant inflation, and closures and sales, it’s been interesting being on the road for the Publican Awards judging this week.

City centre sales remain 'well below' pre-pandemic levels

31-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Sales across the UK’s top 10 cities remained "well below" pre-pandemic levels over the festive period, the latest Top Cities Report from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social has revealed.

Can community pubs remain viable?

24-Jan-2023 By Ed Bedington

In the latest episode, the Lock In team look at the role of community pubs and the threat escalating costs is having on that area of the pub trade.

Nightclub losses reflect ‘disproportionate support’

23-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A third of nightclubs have been lost since before the pandemic, which reflects “disproportionate support” and a challenging trading environment, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Hospitality ‘under great strain’ despite inflation fall

18-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies UKHospitality and the British Beer & Pub Association have lamented the sector’s position despite a marginal drop in inflation.

Sales lag despite best December in 3 years

18-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Although hospitality has enjoyed its best December in three years, real-term sales are still behind pre-Covid levels.

Hospitality vacancies fall by 5.5%

17-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There were 149,000 empty job roles recorded in the accommodation and food service activities sector from October to December 2022 – a drop of 5.5% from the previous quarter.

Drinks sales show 'pleasing start' to year

16-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales during the first week of January showed a “pleasing start” to 2023 but inflation and rail strikes meant trade was still below pre-Covid levels, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Xmas worse than predicted for 2 in 5 pubs

09-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The festive trading period was a mixed bag for pubs, with some struggling but others finding it better than expected.

50% of firms at risk in early 2023

04-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

More than 50% of businesses do not have the necessary cash reserves to survive the early part of 2023, a flash poll conducted by the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has revealed.

Sector battles winter challenge ‘like no other’

04-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A third of UKHospitality (UKH) members were worried their business was at risk, as a tsunami of financial pressures mount to create a “winter challenge like no other”.

Extra £17bn needed to keep up with inflation

22-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector would need to generate an additional £17bn in turnover to keep up with inflation, figures from UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA have revealed.

The Lock In Podcast

Looking ahead to 2023

19-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of the year, the Lock In team assemble a crack team of guests to assess what the year ahead is likely to hold for the pub trade.

1 in 3 businesses reduce Xmas opening hours

15-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged Government to tackle the recruitment crisis, after data revealed one third of businesses were reducing Christmas opening hours due to staff shortages.

Like-for-like sales up 3.7% in November

14-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Like-for-like sales in Britain’s managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.7% up in November compared with the same period in 2021, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

1.6% more high street pubs since Covid

06-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There are 1.6% more high street pubs and bars since the first Covid lockdown, but the number of nightclubs has plummeted, new research has revealed.

World Cup sees drinks sales exceed inflation

05-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by volume in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants saw growth for the tenth successive week in the seven days to Saturday 26 November, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Sector hits out at Xmas rail strikes

05-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Christmas train strikes will go ahead after the RMT union rejected an initial offer by the group representing train companies, a decision that has come under fire from trade bodies.

Hospitality taking 'biggest hit' amid cost-of-living crisis

01-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The food and beverage industry is set to take the “biggest hit” as the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation forces consumers to cut back on discretionary spending.

Another Christmas lost?

25-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with hospitality expert Paul Pavli to get his take on the week's news, dominated by the rail union's decision to announce fresh strikes.

Gov urged to recognise club culture importance

23-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A new report commissioned by the Electronic Impact Group in coordination with the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), B:electronic and the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) has aimed to showcase the importance of electronic music and club...

11% of sector jobs remain vacant

22-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

One in nine hospitality jobs remain vacant despite successful recruitment processes post-Covid, such as offering higher wages, according to surveys by CGA by NielsenIQ and Fourth.

Reasons to be optimistic

11-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Robinsons Brewery's William Robinson to discuss the economic outlook and grounds for optimism amid the challenges we're facing.

Hospitality needs support to keep up growth

11-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs, bars and restaurants are recording positive sales in Britain’s major cities – but high inflation is making real-terms growth very difficult, according to the latest Top Cities report.

13th century pub forced to close

09-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Historic pub the Ring of Bells in North Bovey, Devon, closed its doors for the final time on 1 November.

Consumers taking 'restrained approach' to Christmas

08-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector saw its smallest uplift since March 2021 during October despite consumer card spending having grown 3.5% year-on-year, data from Barclaycard has revealed.

The MA Energy Focus in partnership with Heineken

Time for action on energy

08-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

With energy prices spiralling, The Morning Advertiser (MA) is launching a new series of features, in partnership with Heineken, to give operators some much needed advice and support to help mitigate the challenges.

Drinks sales 2% up vs 2021 over Halloween

07-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales by value in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 29 October were 2% up compared to the same week in 2021, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Pubcos need to step up

04-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

Pub companies and brewers need to step up and support a campaign that aims to revolutionise recruitment for the hospitality sector.

Hospitality sales down 7.1% in October

03-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Sales in the hospitality sector were down for the second consecutive month compared to the same period in 2021, figures from S4labour have revealed.

Drinks sales top 2021 levels for fifth week in a row

31-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales have topped last year’s levels for a fifth successive week, but inflation has continued to wipe out real-terms growth, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Gen Z will party on despite rising costs

25-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Soaring inflation rates will impact the way consumers spend at clubs but Gen Z will pay to keep the party going, according to research from Rekom UK.

Like-for-like sales slump by 3%

19-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Like-for-like sales of Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.0% behind the levels of September 2021, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Birmingham named UK's most vibrant city

18-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Birmingham has been named Britain’s most vibrant city for the second successive period, the latest Top Cities report from CGA by NielsenIQ and leading connectivity solutions provider Wireless Social has revealed.

Drinks sales show 'cautious optimism'

17-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

On-trade drink sales have topped 2021 levels for a third successive week despite growing costs crisis and trading pressures, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Speedy decisions are going to be key to industry survival

14-Oct-2022 By Ed Bedington

Speed of decision making from political leaders is going to be key to giving the hospitality sector clarity and confidence, a sector leader has warned.

Night Time adviser to champion West Midlands hospitality

14-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The West Midlands is on the search for a night time economy leader to champion hospitality and help the sector build back from the pandemic.

UKH plans for sector to be net zero by 2040

13-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has set out bold plans for the sector to reach net zero by the year 2040 with unnecessary single-use packaging eliminated by 2025.

Food and drink inflation hits 15% for first time

07-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Food and drink price inflation in hospitality hit 15% for the first time in the history of the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index in August, its latest data shows.

Trade boosted by extra bank holiday

03-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 24 September were 1% ahead compared with the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Birmingham ranked UK’s most vibrant city

27-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Birmingham has been crowned the UK’s most vibrant city for the first time this year, new research from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social has revealed.

Drinks sales 1% behind v 2021

26-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the seven days to Saturday 17 September were 1% behind compared to the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has shown.

Review of the Week

Reasons for optimism?

23-Sep-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington spoke with trade association bosses Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality and the BII's Steve Alton to get their take on the mini-budget and whether there was any grounds for optimism.

Interest rate hike will 'negatively hit hospitality'

23-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The rise in interest rates will have a two-pronged negative impact on hospitality, claims UKHospitality.

Inflation wipes out hospitality’s growth

21-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in August were a modest 2.0% ahead of pre-Covid levels of August 2019, the new Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

October train strikes will ‘further damage’ sector

20-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Train strikes, planned to take place in early October, will “further damage” the hospitality sector, which is already suffering from soaring electricity bills, said trade bodies.