Legal

Public support is there: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin said the on-trade consistently contributes to the UK economy and needs help

BBPA calls for Gov action as sector boosts GDP figures

By Gary Lloyd

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called for “meaningful action” to tackle fiscal headwinds as GDP figures released today (Wednesday 14 June) showed a 0.2% increase to the economy – buoyed by visits to pubs.

Price hike: inflation was driven up by cost rises in vegetables, fish, sugar and jams & syrups categories (credit:Getty/fcafotodigital)

Foodservice inflation jumps back above 20%

By Gary Lloyd

Year-on-year foodservice inflation has jumped up to 21.4% after slowing at the end of March – the first time it had dropped below 20% since mid-2022.

Energy help: Heineken has created a £3m fund to help pubs with sustainability issues (Credit: Getty/Jonathan Kitchen)

£3m fund to help pubs’ energy costs from Heineken

By Gary Lloyd

Drinks business Heineken UK has vowed to invest £3m into helping cover the cost of selected pubs’ first energy saving audit along with up to £5,000 towards the cost of any improvements needed.

Are pubcos exploiting rate relief?

OPINION

Are pubcos going to exploit rate relief?

By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

It was ‘Black Country Bus’ Syndrome: Two, one million pounds turnover local publicans contacting me in the matter of a few days.

New faces: Steve Richards (left) and Steve Cassidy

Hilton boss takes over chair role at UKHospitality

By Gary Lloyd

Hilton UK & Ireland managing director Steve Cassidy will take over the role of chair at UKHospitality (UKH) tomorrow (Wednesday 14 June) from Steve Richards, CEO of Parkdean Resorts, who will become president for the trade body.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 62

The Lock In Podcast

Wasp wrangling and other tips for summer success

By Ed Bedington

Wasps can ruin many a pub garden experience, but how best to handle them? The Lock In team tackled the perennial pests and other top tips on making the most of summer trade.

Workers 'penalised': The ULEZ scheme is set to be expanded in August (Credit: Getty/ lechatnoir)

Almost 37k nights workers at risk of double ULEZ charge

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for a revision of London’s current Transport for London system, which currently puts some 36,990 night workers at risk of being charged twice in one shift under the ULEZ scheme.

Next steps: SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson says more questions have been thrown up by the delay of the DRS

DRS ‘reduced to a tardy political battle’ says SLTA

By Gary Lloyd

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has welcomed the news Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will be delayed until at least October 2025 but warned politics must be left out of it in future.

Advice issued: Poppleston Allen outlines top tips on summer trading (image: Getty/ICHIRO)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

10 top tips for a successful summer

By Joe Harvey, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

With a recent spate of, dare I say it, reasonable weather, one cannot help but start getting a little excited about summer.

Openings and revamps: Pubs get fresh looks, Rekom to open site

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Rekom to open 2nd Proud Mary pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rekom is set to launch its second Proud Mary pub in Swansea, while pubs from Hyde, Star, Castle Pubs and SALT have reopened after revamps.

Report findings: 'It’s encouraging to see overall tenant satisfaction is in line with last year’s survey, despite the increasingly challenging and demanding market conditions that continue to plague the industry,' says PCA Fiona Dickie

Marston’s stands out on tenant satisfaction

By Ed Bedington

Tenant satisfaction with their pubcos remained unchanged from last year, according to a recent survey by the pubs code adjudicator (PCA), with Marston’s and Greene King notable exceptions.

Cup half full or empty: How do you feel about the future? (credit: Getty/ SolStock)

POLL: Have your say on the sector

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Business leaders are torn on how they feel about trade, with some struggling but others feeling confident for the future.

Most pubs per captia: Arundel crowned Sussex pub hotspot (Credit: Getty/tbradford)

Arundel crowned Sussex hotspot for pubs

By Rebecca Weller

Arundel has been named Sussex’s number one pub hotspot with more sites per capita than any other town in the county, new research has revealed.

Things are looking up: Business leaders regain confidence

Optimism rising among hospitality leaders

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Optimism among leaders of Britain’s top hospitality groups has risen since the start of 2023, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Fourth.

Hard hit: Tough weekend of trade for Yorkshire bistro

Bistro hit with worst trading week in 7 years

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The operator of the Pig & Whistle, Beverley, was left “broken” after rail strikes and the cost-of-living crisis triggered the worst trading week in seven years.

(image: Getty/GZeroOne)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Are licensees responsible for drink-driving customers?

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

Legal expert Poppleston Allen looks at the responsibility of blame when it comes to drink-driving and on-trade operators.

Cash out: Pubcos are investing heavily in their properties

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

£1.4m ploughed into pubs & music venues

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Proper Pubs has put £1m into upgrades, Admiral Taverns has invested more than £347,000 into two Staffordshire pubs, and around £97,500 has been ploughed into grassroots music venues across the country.

Joint submission made: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin is ‘pleased to provide evidence’ to help fill jobs in hospitality

BBPA and BII push Gov to fill pubs vacancies

By Gary Lloyd

Chefs from overseas must be included on the Government’s Shortage Occupation List, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British institute of Innkeeping (BII).

Helping out: The Lighthouse in Kent is one of the pubs that has secured funding

£97.5k ploughed into grassroots music venues

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Some 23 grassroots music venues, including four pubs, have scored charity grants in the fourth round of Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) pipeline investment fund.

Fair weather led: the Drinks Tracker authors believe the good weather will help continue spending (credit: Getty/Kar-Tr)

Continued drinks sales growth impacted by inflation

By Gary Lloyd

Early May bank holidays have helped pubs and bar drinks sales reach year-on-year growth for fourth week in a row but with inflation still in double digits, real-terms growth remains elusive.

Government proposal: the High Street Rental Auction scheme would permit councils to auction the rental rights of commercial high street properties vacant for more than 12 months in a 24 month period (image: Getty/Marilyn Nieves)

MPs join pub protection calls

By Nikkie Thatcher

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs (Pubs APPG) has asked the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee to look at the impact the Government’s proposals for High Street Rental Auctions will have.

Wagging the tail: the Tap & Run renovation began in August 2022

Tap & Run innings set to resume

By Gary Lloyd

Cricket stars Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney have set a date for the reopening of their Tap & Run pub after fire destroyed the site in June last year.

Sector appeal demonstrated: like-for-like sales have improved for the seventh month in a row (credit: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

Sales growth in April tempered by inflation woes

By Gary Lloyd

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in Great Britain achieved like-for-like and year-on-year sales growth of 6.9% in April 2023 against last year, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

Setting sites on new sights: Fresh openings and revamps are on the cards

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Admiral Taverns pub reopens after £155k revamp

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There are new sites from BrewDog and NWTC, while Admiral Taverns, Greene King and Shepherd Neame reopen pubs after significant investments.

Help for elderly: there are plenty of easy changes pubs can make to be dementia-friendly (credit: Getty/Dean Mitchell)

£7.25m backing for dementia-friendly pubs scheme

By Gary Lloyd

A scheme to introduce simple menus, training for staff and launch a Google map with dementia-friendly pubs charted on it has been backed with £7.25m funding by the UK Government.

Pub repairs: how the pubs code helps (pictured: PCA Fiona Dickie)

Pub repairs – how the pubs code helps

By Fiona Dickie, Pubs Code Adjudicator

Disputes over pub repairs can be a real cause of dissatisfaction for the tenant, as well as the landlord. Knowing and using Pubs Code rights can help avoid such disputes arising or help tenants to resolve them if they do.

Gambling rules: the proposed changes are subject to consultation (image: Getty/RobinsonBecquart)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

High Stake Gambling reform – A gamble not worth taking

By Alex Tomlinson, trainee solicitor, Poppleston Allen

On 27 April 2023, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published its Gambling White Paper, aimed at tackling gambling reform for the digital age. The proposed reforms vary from increased ‘know your customer checks’ to extra powers for...

Interest rate rise hitting pubs will not tackle inflation

OPINION

Strangling hospitality demand not the solution to inflation

By Ed Bedington

The idea that raising interest rates to try to curb consumer spending in pubs, bars and restaurants is another slap in the face for a sector that seems to have become the whipping boys for the authorities.

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KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

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