Rebuilding the Pub Sector

Post-lockdown behaviour: from ‘ABVarious’ drinking to mistaking sanitiser for a condiment

05-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

From mask wearers at the same table chatting by text to a hunger for independent venues, The Morning Advertiser sifts through new insight to see what behaviour operators have picked up on since lockdown.

Starting out on the road to recovery

31-Jul-2020 By Martyn Cozens, UK on-trade sales director, Molson Coors Beverage Company

After what feels like a very long three months, our pubs and bars up and down the country have thrown open their doors and welcomed back people who have been dreaming about that long-overdue fresh pint of draught beer or cider.

Coca-Cola pledges to support pubs in its 'Open Like Never Before' push

30-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Coca-Cola Great Britain has launched a new campaign, Open Like Never Before, which focuses on the social changes that have occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging people to find opportunity in the ‘new normal’.

Jobs round-up

Two thirds fewer shifts being worked post-lockdown, pub receives almost 500 job applications

30-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Despite reports of 484 applicants competing for two jobs at a south London pub, the number of shifts being worked across the UK's hospitality sector remains at less than a third of pre-pandemic numbers.

£30bn lost revenue in second quarter

28-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs, restaurants and bars experienced a sales drop of 87% in the second quarter of 2020, which equates to almost £30bn in lost revenue.

Promoted Content in Association with Booker

How has lockdown changed pub menus and how are publicans going to start to grow their food business again?

14-Jul-2020 By MA Editorial

The Morning Advertiser talks to Simon King, sales director at Booker and Makro to understand what trends the wholesaler has been seeing during lockdown and how this will help operators moving forward.

Government must 'act decisively' with financial support

06-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

More than 100 hospitality industry leaders have written to the Prime Minister backing a support and investment package to rejuvenate the pub and restaurant sectors in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Super Saturday

Pubs report smooth and safe reopenings

06-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Licensees from across the country have reported successful reopenings over last weekend (Saturday 4 July) with takings on par with 2019.

Government reveals £1.57bn for arts venues

06-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has announced it will provide a £1.57bn support package for arts venues and cultural spaces.

What do pubs need to know before reopening?

03-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

There’s been a seemingly endless stream of information thrown at pubs, bars and restaurants ahead of the resumption of trade on 4 July. Here’s a checklist of some of the key reopening news and guidance.

In association with Kopparberg

Which fruit cider trends are ripe for the picking post-lockdown?

03-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

As pubs prepare for a summer start to life after lockdown, MA asks what aspects of a carefully harvested fruit cider offer can give operators another bite at the cherry.

Forecasting the right time to reopen a pub

03-Jul-2020 By Dave Gosling, partner and UK hospitality and leisure sector specialist, Menzies LLP

While pubs, restaurants and cafés are permitted to reopen from 4 July, some may be forced to stay closed rather than resume trading straight away for financial reasons.

In association with Heineken

Advice: what beer and how much should you stock for reopening?

29-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Fish and chips, cake and custard, gin and tonic - one would not be the same without the other and the same is certainly said for beer and pubs.

Promoted content in association with Guinness

How to serve the perfect pint of Guinness

25-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Being the granddaddy of beer, Guinness is held to a high standard by consumers across the UK who will expect their first draught pint of the world-famous stout to be perfect on their return to the pub. But what exactly does that entail?

In association with Diageo

How to sell spirits post-lockdown

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

What will customers want when the pub trade reopens is the million-pound question operators across the UK are likely to be asking as they prepare their sites for the first influx of socially distanced punters. And following a steady uptick in sales over...

$100m on-trade global recovery fund launched by Diageo

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits and beer giant Diageo has announced the launch of a global recovery fund for the on-trade which will see $100m (£79m) of financial support made available to the hospitality sector.

Gov Reopening Guidance

How to manage risk when reopening your pub

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Government guidance for pubs reopening from 4 July clearly states that businesses must carry out detailed risk assessments before putting coronavirus prevention control measures in place and opening to staff and the public.

St Austell Brewery starts brewing draught

17-Jun-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Brewer and operator St Austell has restarted beer production in preparation for the possible reopening of pubs on 4 July.

BBPA demands reopening date urgently

15-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has reiterated its demands for the Government to provide pubs with a definitive date on when they will be allowed to reopen, after it missed the deadline set by the trade organisation.

Uncertainty on reopening 'biggest challenge' for brewers

15-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Breweries have called for more certainty on the reopening of pubs, saying they have been left in the dark and are unsure of when to start brewing.

In association with Pepsico

Crunching the numbers: could bagged snacks help socially distanced pubs bite back?

15-Jun-2020 By Stuart Stone

As pub operators prepare for the return of their parched public amid social distancing and heightened hygiene regimes post-lockdown – we ask if crisps, snacks and nuts could be their bag?

Fee waiver for waste beer disposal

15-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Water companies will waive fees for permitted disposal of waste beer to public sewers, after concerns about publicans experiencing difficulties in this process.

In association with Britvic

Glass half full: how has Covid-19 changed consumer attitudes to soft drinks?

15-Jun-2020 By Stuart Stone

With customers and operators looking to get back on the wagon in post-lockdown pubs, there’s growing thirst for a soft sell.

‘We’re good to go but it’s a matter of when’

12-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The operator of a real ale pub has said she fears pubs like hers will struggle to stay afloat in the months to come.

Greene King announces ‘Pub Safe’ pledges for reopening

12-Jun-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco and brewer Greene King has revealed its plans of operating, ahead of pubs reopening, which features a set of five ‘promises’ to staff and customers.

Robinsons offers tapered rent discounts from July

11-Jun-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Robinsons Brewery, which operates more than 260 pubs across north Wales and England, will begin tapering its rent discounts from July.

GK to provide PPE kits for tenants

11-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubco and brewer Greene King is to send out 1,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits worth £250 each to its 1,000 pub partners, The Morning Advertiser can reveal.

Cask ale brewers gear up for pubs reopening

11-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Breweries across the country have restarted their cask ale operations as pubs get ready to reopen this summer, with 4 July earmarked as the earliest date this could be allowed.

Scottish pubs could open on 15 July

11-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Scotland could be allowed to reopen from Wednesday 15 July for indoor use.

#unitedwestand

Confusion over reopening rules as Government silent

10-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The pub sector has called on the Government to clarify when it will reveal more details about reopening, following media speculation about what they will be permitted to do.

#Unitedwestand

Back to the front – how one operator is rebuilding his business from the ground up

10-Jun-2020 By Ed Bedington

Licensee Alex Cook has gone from a one-man-band operation at the start of lockdown to successfully building up a new arm to his business to the extent where he’s now bringing staff back from furlough.

Opinion

Reopening rules still clear as mud

10-Jun-2020 By Ed Bedington

And so we face the possible return to trade, but for how many?

#unitedwestand

Thatchers outlines £1m keg pledge to help pubs rebuild

08-Jun-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Cider-maker Thatchers has announced it will be putting £1m behind helping publicans get back to business, offering every pub in the UK a free keg of its cider.

#Unitedwestand

Charlie McVeigh launches #ProjectPint to promote safe return to pub trading

08-Jun-2020 By Stuart Stone

The founder of Draft House, Charlie McVeigh, has launched a campaign advocating the swift and safe resumption of trade at Britain’s pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants.