Legal

Catastrophic predicament: industry leaders react to pub closure figures (Credit: Getty/dorian2013)

Pub closure stats show 'uphill battle' faced by firms

By Rebecca Weller

The growing number of business closures in the sector demonstrate the “sheer weight” of escalating costs and the “catastrophic predicament” faced by many hospitality firms, industry leaders have said.

Extreme weather: pubs lose stock and are forced to close due heavy rain and flooding (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Pubs forced to close due to flooding

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs across the country have lost thousands of pounds worth of trade and stock due to heavy rain and flooding – with one site even welcoming some fishy guests.

Shutting doors: Pub closures to continue in new year (Credit: Getty/ilbusca)

750 pubs set to close in first half of 2024

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is calling for Government action after new data revealed 750 pubs are set to close in the first half of 2024.

Disparity: research shows no-shows are increasing but not all pubs are affected (credit: Getty/SolStock)

Pubs counter ‘no-shows double’ research claim

By Gary Lloyd

The unwelcome sight of increased numbers of ‘no-shows’ has reared its ugly head once again in the sector but not all pubs The Morning Advertiser spoke to are convinced the situation is getting worse.

Stark indicator: NTIA calls on Gov to reduce VAT for sector as more than 8,000 late-night firms lost since 2020 (Credit: Getty/fotoVoyager)

43 late-night firms vanishing per week

By Rebecca Weller

More than 8,000 businesses have vanished from the late-night sector since 2020, new figures released by the Night-Time Industries association (NTIA) have revealed.

Advice given: Poppleston Allen highlights how to help ensure no nuisance is caused to residents (image: Getty/MoMorad)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Q&A: Mitigating the risk of noise complaints

By Carl Weston, head of marketing and partner (non-solicitor), Poppleston Allen

In the latest Q&A, legal experts Poppleston Allen advise how best to mitigate the risk of noise complaints.

Money money money: Pubs reopen after impressive makeovers

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Morgan Pub Collective site opens after £270k refurb

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Morgan Pub Collective has taken on its sixth pub with Greene King Pub Partners, a Surrey operator has taken on his second pub and Brakspear pumps £2m into two L&T sites.

Damage: Pubs are dealing with flooding after heavy downpour (Credit: Getty/ BremecR)

Storm Babet forces pubs to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub in Edinburgh has sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage after Storm Babet destroyed it "from top to bottom".

What are current trends in the pub property market?

What are the current trends in the property market?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Morning Advertiser takes a deep dive into current trends in the property market. Cash is king and buyers are seeking honeypot locations and multiple income streams, while many are staying clear of borrowing from banks.

On-trade boost: sales of cider rose the most year-on-year last week (credit: Getty/ViewApart)

Weather and sport boost weekly drink sales

By Gary Lloyd

Drinks sales in the on-trade rose by 3% in the week to last Saturday (14 October) with the Rugby World Cup and good weather cited as the key drivers.

Banging event: there are a number of considerations to take into account when hosting a fireworks display (image: Getty/Corri Seizinger)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Key points to consider about bonfire night

By Natasha Beck, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

With bonfire night a little over two weeks away, and the weather looking to be cold, but dry over that weekend, the conditions could be perfect to hold an outdoor event and firework display.

'Continuing difficulties': Sacha Lord speaks out on inflation

Sacha Lord: Inflation to cause ‘continuing difficulties’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, has said the unchanged Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate released today (18 October) will pile further pressure on small business, especially those in hospitality.

Daily Drinks Tracker: drinks sales up 3.8% six months to September 2023 (Credit: Getty/	bogdankosanovic)

Drinks sales up 3.8% but real-terms growth 'hard-won'

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the on-trade were up 3.8% overall during the last six months, though inflation, rail strikes and soaring costs make real terms growth "hard-won", CGA data has revealed.

(image: Getty/zamrznutitonovi)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

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

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? (Credit: Getty/JohnnyGreig)

POLL: what do pubs need from the Autumn Statement?

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 refurbs: this week's round-up features Admiral Taverns and Stonegate

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Historic Notting Hill pub restored to 'former glory'

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.

Significant cost increases: only one in two pubs making a profit BII research has revealed

BII: 'half of pubs operating at a loss'

By Rebecca Weller

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

Slap in the face: operators call for Gov to support sector with implementing increase to NLW (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

EXCLUSIVE

8 in 10 feel NLW hike will have significant impact

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.

Openings: Big news from Arc Inspirations, King Pins, AK Whelan

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

King Pins, AK Whelan open sites

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.

Ghost towns: 30% of nightclubs have shut doors since the pandemic (Credit: Getty/ Flashpop)

'Youth culture is lost’

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.

Rising rates: We take a look back at national living wage across five years (Credit: Getty/Hispanolistic)

NLW rises by 40.5% in 5 years

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.

Cost and consequence: operator warns pubs will not be able to absorb proposed increase to NLW (Credit: Getty/georgeclerk)

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

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.

Look back: A timeline of events since the Crooked House burned down

The Crooked House tragedy: as it happened

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.

How can pubs target their MPs on rates campaign?

Call for pubs to step up on rates campaigning

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.

Good news: Community venues secure Government funding: (Credit: Getty/ Henrik Sorensen)

Government secures £1.2m for 4 pubs

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 should authorities look to support the sector regarding the LNL? (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

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

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 with Poppleston Allen: top tips for licensing upkeep (Credit: Getty/andresr)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips for licensing upkeep

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.

Treasured jewel: Shepherd Neame invests more than £2.5m into its pub estate (Pictured: the Tom Cribb pub in London)

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

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

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.

Help is at hand: some four out of five hospitality workers suffers at least one mental issue issue says Kris Hall of The Burnt Chef Project

FEATURE - The Burnt Chef Project

FEATURE: Suicide prevention training launched by Burnt Chef

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.

The George Pub, Bethersden, opens cafe

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

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.

Not telling the true story: hospitality sector reacts to inflation update (Credit/Getty: Eoneren)

Inflation rate 'not telling true story'

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”.