What’s the Craic with authentic Irish pubs?
Authentic Irish pubs are growing as independent operators tap into consumer demand for experiences.
Marketing
Greggs to open its first pub with bakery-inspired beer on draught available
Bakery chain Greggs is set to open its first pub in department store Fenwick Newcastle this month (Saturday 27 September).
Heineken and Jägermeister ads banned by regulator
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned social media adverts from Heineken-owned cider brand Strongbow and German herbal liqueur brand Jägermeister.
Red Lion remains the most popular pub name in the UK
The Red Lion and the Royal Oak have remained the most popular pub names in the UK, analysis of new data has revealed.
Where are the top 10 most TikTok viral pubs?
The top 10 most popular pubs in the UK according to TikTok have been revealed.
Asahi Super Dry’s call to celebrate women’s sport
Asahi Super Dry is calling on pubs and venues nationwide to increase the visibility of women’s sport.
Clarkson thanks pubs for supporting brewery and unveils ‘banned’ TV ad
Jeremy Clarkson has doubled down on his mission to support British farming through his Hawkstone brewery – and he’s calling on the pub trade to continue supporting the crusade.
A Trillium to one: chef Luke Payne forced into last-minute rebrand after name clash
The Pack Horse chef Luke Payne has had to rebrand his upcoming Peak District restaurant Trillium after discovering that top Birmingham chef Glynn Purnell is poised to launch a venture of the same name.
Social media - friend or foe?
As punters continuously trip over the herds of constantly filming influencers on their way to the bar, the Lock In team ask, is social media just a massive pain in the proverbial?
Hunt is on for pub staff ‘Matchday G.O.A.Ts’
Sky Business is on the hunt for the best in the world of pubs on sporting matchdays – or what it is calling “the Matchday G.O.A.T – the Greatest of All Trade”.
Pub accommodation has potential to ‘extend’ appeal to millions
Consumers love the special atmosphere, food and welcome they get when they take an overnight stay at a pub, but there is potential to attract more guests, new research has concluded.
Competitive Socialising Power of Play event and awards returns for 2025
Leading figures from hospitality will work hard and play harder at Competitive Socialising – The Power of Play in London later this month.
Counting the hospitality hit of Budget
In this episode of the Lock In, the team speaks to various operators in the wider hospitality sector about how the Budget impacts them.
BII & LTC join forces to support wellbeing in sector
The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) have teamed up to help more businesses thrive by supporting wellbeing of those who run them.
Stop! In the name of pubs
The Lock In team tackled the stories and scandals behind pub names.
Tyrrells launches competition offering pubs chance to win £5k prize package
Tyrrells has announced the launch of a new initiative offering pubs the chance to win a £5,000 prize fund.
‘Pubs can help solve rural challenges’
Pubs can be the solution to many problems faced in rural areas, according to the boss of Pub is the Hub.
Discount loyalty scheme unveiled by Signature
Cost-conscious customers are being courted with the launch of a new digital loyalty scheme by Scottish pub operator Signature.
Brewer axes beer ‘indirectly associated with violent behaviour’
A Sheffield-based brewery has discontinued one of its products after it was found to be indirectly associated with “violent behaviour”.
Trends influencing country pubs in 2025
Exciting collaborations, new types of drinks, inspiring décor and sustainability have been predicted to be the top trends shaping country pubs in 2025.
Fury with Santander for ‘irresponsible’ promo targeting pubs
Pub operators have hit out at Santander, after the bank targeted the sector to encourage customers to cut back on pints at the pub.
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
Jameson teams up with Drinkaware and football legend Jay Bothroyd to encourage fans to check their drinking
Drinkaware, Jameson and former England international and football star Jay Bothroyd team up to launch campaign encouraging football fans to check their drinking.
Star invests £60k into free promotional kits ahead of Six Nations
Pubs could see trade boosted by more than £1,000 next month as Star Pubs announces its “biggest ever” package of free promotional kits for pubs ahead of the Six Nations.
Pubs offered chance to receive free makeovers worth £10k
A new initiative has been launched where pubs can receive a complete makeover of their spare room, valued at more than £10,000.
MA LEADERS CLUB
Comfort key in pub design
Comfort should be at the front and centre of pub design, one expert has advised operators.
Town pub closes its doors with 'no reopening planned'
The Pinkneys Arms in Maidenhead, Berkshire has officially shut with the pub set to be boarded up following challenges including "crippling increases in operation costs".
Consumers opting for quality over value
Quality has overtaken value as consumers’ priority in the on-trade, according to a new report.
Roxy Leisure rebrands and announces new offer
Roxy Leisure Holdings has rebadged to Professionals at Play in a bid to create a group brand for Roxy Leisure and Pins Leisure.
Joseph Holt offers customers chance to ‘name pub’
Family brewer Joseph Holt has announced customers are in with a chance to see a pub named after them.
Feature
Creating the wow factor with pub design
Design is key when it comes to pubs and bars, and with the ever-more competitive leisure market, it’s never been more crucial to create a space that appeals to the punters.
Watt crowdfunds £2.5m for new business and snares Dragon
Former BrewDog CEO James Watt has raised more than £2.5m for his new business venture through crowdfunding.
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
Meet the Brand: Pour the perfect ‘pint of the black stuff’ every time with Guinness
Guinness, the number one stout brand in GB [1], sells 200m pints in UK pubs a year – the equivalent of 3.85m pints a week [2].
The Lock In Podcast
Making the most of your ghost
Pubs and ghosts go together like, well beer and pubs! Most pubs will lay claim to a ghost or two, so the podcast team take to the airwaves to talk all things spooky!
PUBLICAN AWARDS 2024
Publican Awards 2024 Best Pub Brand/Concept winner, sponsored by Moët Hennessey: Hickory’s
This year’s winner of the Publican Awards Best Pub Brand/Concept category demonstrated originality, business success, clear strategies and a passion for people.
Adnams reveals rebrand across beer portfolio
Suffolk brewery Adnams will unveil a complete rebrand of its core beer range across both the off and on-trade next month (April).
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
Blue in bottle, iconic in flavour – 1664 BLANC
Kronenbourg 1664 launched its super-premium offering to the UK in February with the arrival of the playfully elegant and iconic blue bottle of 1664 BLANC.
Greene King reveals ‘biggest ever pint giveaway’
Pub company and brewer Greene King is giving away 100,000 pints on Monday 25 March but only if it rains in Manchester.
PUBLICAN AWARDS 2024
Find out about the Best Pub Brand/Concept, sponsored by Moët Hennessy
The winner of the Best Pub Brand/Concept category will be a company that has originality, demonstrates business success, clear strategies and has a strong focus on marketing.
Black Sheep Brewery rebrand will help expand reach
North Yorkshire-based Black Sheep Brewery has announced its biggest rebrand since it was founded more than 31 years ago.
THE CASK PROJECT
St Austell rebrands flagship cask ale Proper Job
St Austell Brewery has unveiled a new look for its flagship IPA Proper Job (4.5% ABV), which will hit pubs and bars across the UK beginning this month (March 2024).
Breal rebrands in bid to show commitment to brewing sector
Breal Group has rebranded as Keystone Brewing Group in a bid to reflect its commitment to innovation and growth in the industry.
The Lock In Podcast
Perfecting the art of the serve
Why is there a North/South divide when it comes to beer head and does Guinness really need to be poured in stages? The Lock In team tackle that and other issues around the concept of the perfect serve.
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
The low and no drinks you must serve in January
What goes up must come down is the saying, and the festive highs in the on-trade are painfully followed by January lows – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Complaint against BrewDog beer not upheld
A complaint against BrewDog’s Wingman beer has not been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaint Panel (ICP).
PDC darts stars’ shirts to be sponsored by PubAid
Four stars of the darts world will be wearing shirts sponsored by PubAid during the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship over Christmas and the new year.
Help is at hand with your festive food offer
If you haven’t sorted out your food provider for the festive period – or maybe you’ve been let down at the last minute – help is at hand from Booker Wholesale.
‘It’s hard to forecast anything at the moment’
The unpredictability of trade is just one of the challenges outlined by one gastropub operator in the lead up to Christmas.
10 most popular UK pub names revealed
The Red Lion remains the most popular pub name in the UK, research over the past three years has found.
Viral ad ‘reminder a pub is for life, not just for Xmas’
A festive advert from a Northern Irish pub that has been viewed by millions highlights the importance of pubs to communities, one trade organisation has said.
Pub’s Christmas ad about loneliness goes viral
A Northern Irish pub’s Christmas video has gone viral, racking up millions of views on social media.