Operators ‘must not be lulled into false sense of security’ after food prices drop
Food and drink prices fell by 1.4% month on month in March, according to the latest data.
Financial
Marston’s new pub formats set to drive business growth
Pub company Marston’s has exceeded its target on new pub format refurbishments.
Inside Butcombe’s latest refurb after £1.3m investment
Multiple operator Butcombe Group has reopend the newly expanded Brown Cow in Fulham, west London after the company’s largest single investment in the capital to date.
Discounting works as a quick fix but can be damaging in the long run, operators warned
While 48% of consumers revealed discounts or multi-offers would encourage them to visit a hospitality venue, operators have been warned not to compromise on quality.
Demand for Guinness contributes to Diageo sales growth
Strong demand for Guinness in the UK and Ireland contributed to 8.8% growth in net sales in Europe for Diageo.
Pub & bar market worth £24.6bn in 2026
The UK pubs and bars market value is set to reach £24.6bn by the end of this year, according to a new report.
Interest rates hold offers ‘little relief’ for sector
The Bank of England’s (BoE) decision to hold interest rates offered “little relief” for pubs as operators continue to face “huge challenges”, industry leaders have said.
Fuel price surge hits pubs with fresh supplier surcharges
Pubs are being hit by a “tidal wave” of cost pressure as soaring fuel prices begin to feed through the supply chain, prompting suppliers to introduce new delivery surcharges.
Tube strikes knock hospitality revenue by 18%
Last week’s industrial action across the Tube network contributed to a sharp drop in hospitality revenue across the capital, data from employee experience platform Harri has shown.
THE MONTHLY ROUND
THE MONTHLY ROUND: Steady trade masks midweek pressure
Pubs have reported steady but increasingly hard-won trade, with midweek performance the biggest pressure point despite pockets of growth.
Inflation pressure leaves sector with ‘no room to absorb costs’
Rising inflation has prompted warnings for hospitality operators with one trade body warning there is “no room” left for businesses to absorb further cost pressures.
Insolvencies up even before war, expert expects more pain
Government figures show insolvencies in the accommodation and food services sector have leapt 22% month-on-month.
‘Drinks on me’: Sacha Lord seeks pub for £2,500 bar tab
Industry campaigner Sacha Lord has called on the public to nominate a Greater Manchester pub to receive a £2,500 bar tab as part of his latest drive to raise awareness on pub closures.
Stonegate says partnership model driving resilience as FY25 losses narrow
Stonegate Group has said its shift towards a more partnership-led model is improving the resilience of the business, as revenue and profit declined slightly in FY25 but losses narrowed.
Food-led visits drive record spend in pubs
March delivered a record high in spend per head across the on-trade, driven by food-led occasions and a continued shift towards premium serves, according to new data.
Village pub strengthens facilities to support community
A pub in Llandwrog, North Wales, has enhanced its facilities to support local residents through Government funding and support from Pub is the Hub.
Pubs urged to be on ‘high alert’ despite falling food inflation
Foodservice inflation fell in February but heightened geopolitical uncertainty threatens to prolong the pressure for hospitality businesses, new data has shown.
Energy firms ‘getting richer’ at the expense of small businesses
Energy suppliers are “getting richer” at the expense of small businesses, operators have lamented, as costs across the sector continue to soar.
‘Relentless’ price hikes slammed as fuel costs hit pub visits
Rising fuel costs are placing further strain on pubs across the UK, with operators warning of reduced consumer spending and mounting pressure on margins.
Survey: Help shape industry calls for energy support
A trade association is calling on hospitality operators support in assessing the levels of concern across the sector on rising energy prices.
More than 2 pub and bar firms collapsed daily in 2025
The number of pub and bar companies falling into insolvency increased 2.6% to 789 in 2025, equating to 2.2 a day, new analysis has found.
JDW reveals plans to open up to 35 pubs
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is looking to open around 15 managed pubs and 15 to 20 franchised pubs in the current financial year, it revealed in a recent trading update.
OPINION
OPINION: Do we need a sense of perspective?
The vitriolic response to the Government heralded launch of an energy saving initiative might well have taken the powers that be by surprise, but perhaps the industry does needs to regain a sense of perspective.
Warning about beer price hike due to Iran war
Operators have been advised to expect increased prices on products such as beer, food and furniture due to rising oil and gas prices as a result of the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.
PROPERTY ROUND-UP
PROPERTY: East London Brewing Co. reopens historic pub
This week’s property round-up features investments from East London Brewing Co., Heartwood Collection and Admiral Taverns.
‘Jaw-dropping’ response to ‘clueless’ Gov advice on energy saving
The Government’s launch of an energy saving tool for pubs has been greeted with outrage from operators already struggling with spiking energy costs.
UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY
Energy costs rising dramatically due to Gulf conflict
Energy markets are in turmoil due to the ongoing war between the US and Israel against Iran.
Dwell time up but spending remains measured at pubs and bars
Hospitality customers spent an average of almost 2.5 hours per visit in venues during February but are being thrifty with their money, new research suggests.
Tilray Brands acquires BrewDog Australia
Tilray Brands has completed the acquisition of BrewDog’s Australian business, BrewDog Brewing Australia Pty Ltd.
Pubs outperforming market amid growing economic uncertainty
Pubs outperformed the market last month as health trends hit takeaway outlets and falling consumer confidence continued to steer trade away from restaurants, new data has revealed.
UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY
Trump & TNUoS drive up energy costs
The commodity costs of energy are rising sharply due to the US-Israeli military action against Iran.
Guinness sales soar as revenue falls at Diageo
Diageo has reported a 2.9% uptick in UK sales, driven by double-digit growth in Guinness and strong performance from spirits, including ready-to-drink (RTD) products.
Admiral boss ‘pleased with strong progress against business’ growth strategy’
Community pub group Admiral Taverns “remains focused on growing its estate”, CEO Chris Jowsey outlined as the business reported its latest financial results.
Hospitality customers draw purse strings in January
Customers pulled the purse strings on spending in the hospitality sector after Christmas, according to new research.
Price of pubs drops
The average price of pubs up for sale has dropped since 2024, according to new data from one property agent.
UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY
Europe facing late winter gas crisis
With two months of winter remaining, the UK, France and Germany face rapidly depleting gas stocks.
Hospitality sector liquidations remain higher than pre-Covid levels
Liquidations in hospitality between 2023 and 2025 remain higher than before the Covid pandemic, research has found.
Rising food prices shows ‘stark reality’ of supply chain issues
Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector rose by 1.1% in December, new data has revealed.
Marston’s ‘accelerated roll-out programme driving further trading momentum’
Marston’s revealed how its pub format roll-out has accelerated alongside its plans to complete more in a recent trading update.
Bar openings rise as food‑led venues decline in late 2025
The number of bars opening grew by 1.0% in the last quarter of 2025 while the casual dining and restaurant sector suffered 19 closures per week.
Fuller’s reports sales rise with ‘outstanding’ festive trading period
Fuller’s saw like-for-like sales for the year-to-date up 5.3%, the group revealed in a recent trading update.
UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY
Weathering the storm on energy supplies
Recent severe weather across Europe has triggered a spike in gas demand to levels not seen since the 2018 ‘Beast from the East’.
Grants worth thousands available for pubs to add new services
Not-for-profit organisation Pub is The Hub has highlighted how pubs can apply for grants of up to £6,000 to create additional services and activities.
Red Oak boosts funding platform as NatWest joins lender group
Red Oak Taverns has expanded its lender group as NatWest Bank joins its existing funder OakNorth, in a move the pub company says will support its long-term acquisition strategy.
Punch Pubs reports EBITDA uplift
Punch Pubs has reported an increase in EBITDA for the 52 weeks to 10 August 2025, to £95.9m, compared to £88.6m the prior year.
Operators must target key dates to capture higher festive spend
Pubs must target the right days to gain higher-spending customers to make the most of the festive period in December 2026.
Inflationary pressure erodes margins despite rising dwell time
Real-terms growth remains under pressure despite improved dwell time in the on-trade during November, new research has revealed.
Foodservice inflation drops for first time in six months
Food and drink inflation in hospitality fell marginally in October after six consecutive months of price hikes, though the market remains fragile, new data has revealed.
World Cup 2026 is ‘perfectly timed’ to give UK nightclubs a summer boost
Nightclubs could become the perfect hub for football fans during the World Cup in 2026, which takes place in North America, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).
OPINION
Fast cash loans: A costly trap for businesses
With a challenging January and February ahead, many publicans may feel increasing pressure to take out short-term loans.