Greene King

Greene King 'dragon's den' backs pub poetry and 80s concept

12-Dec-2014 By James Wallin

A Greene King tenant has secured backing from the pubco to roll out a concept bringing together poetry and pubs as part of a 'dragon's den' style contest.

Oakman grows to 12 sites with new Greene King lease

09-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Oakman Inns & Restaurants has taken on its first Greene King lease to bring the company to 12 sites.

Barons says new Spirit lease model shows best of pubcos

04-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Clive Price, managing director of Surrey-based Barons Pub Company, has said his latest site with Spirit under a new style of leasehold proves pubco/tenant relationships can benefit both sides.

Greene King reports half-year revenue growth

04-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Greene King has reported revenue growth of 5.3% across its retained business to £613.1m with profit before tax up 3% for the 24 weeks to 19 October.

Marston's and Greene King silent on Mulholland MRO ultimatum

04-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

Greene King and Marston’s are remaining tight-lipped over whether they will meet Save the Pub Group chair Greg Mulholland MP following his ultimatum to work with him or risk losing the right in the new pubs code to insist tenants sell their brands in...

Greene King raises £125k for Macmillan

20-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Greene King employees have raised £125,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning this year.

Spirit launches apprenticeship team

19-Nov-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Spirit Pub Company has appointed a new team to deliver its award-winning apprenticeship scheme.

Greene King to support Text Santa charity appeal

14-Nov-2014 By Ruth Williams, M&C Report

Greene King has announced it will support ITV’s Text Santa fundraising appeal by hosting pub quizzes across the country.

Spirit lessees 'in the dark' as Greene King moves to buy pubco

13-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Spirit Pub Company lessees claim they are in the dark over whether Greene King’s proposed takeover will have an impact on their rent and product agreements.

Greene King chief says Spirit bid is 'transformational deal'

10-Nov-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Greene King chief executive, Rooney Anand, has described the company’s bid for Spirit Pub Company as a “transformational deal” that will “create the UK’s leading pub company”.

Greene King and Spirit agree £773.6m deal

04-Nov-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Greene King and Spirit have announced that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended offer, which will see the former acquire the latter in a £773.6m deal and create a 3,127-strong pub company.

Spirit becomes first pubco to offer Estrella Galicia 0.0 on tap

03-Nov-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

Spirit has become the first pubco to take on draught alcohol-free beer, Estrella Galicia 0.0.

Greene King gets Spirit bid extension

30-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company has announced that it remains in talks with Greene King regarding the terms of a possible offer for the company, but has agreed an extension for these discussions to continue to 4 November.

Magners producer C&C Group poised to up Spirit bid

24-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

C&C Group, the drinks group behind Magners, has set out the rationale behind its approach for Spirit Pub Company yesterday, with sources close to the company suggesting that it is preparing a further bid for the Chef & Brewer operator.

Spirit Pub Company reports healthy full-year sales

22-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett

Spirit Pub Company has this morning reported a 4.4% increase in like-for-like sales across its managed division for the 53 weeks to 23 August 2014.

Spirit agrees to recommend revised Greene King bid to shareholders

20-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company has announced that it is willing to recommend a revised takeover offer from Greene King of approximately 109.5p, which values the company at c£700m.

Spirit expands training programme

14-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Spirit Leased Pubs has launched two new training packages on the back the popularity of its ‘In Pub’ programme.

Wetherspoon’s finance chief defects to Greene King

01-Oct-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Kirk Davis, the current finance director at JD Wetherspoon, is to join rival Greene King from the start of next year as its new chief financial officer.

VIDEO: Spirit Pub Company brand Wacky Warehouse releases official song

26-Sep-2014 By James Evison

Spirit Pub Company firm Wacky Warehouse has released its first official song “It’s Wacky” by children’s pop group, the Little Singers.

Spirit Pub Company rejected 'undervalued' Greene King bid

23-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company said it rejected a 100p-per-share offer from Greene King because it “undervalued” the firm.

Greene King gives £15k to Pub is the Hub

19-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King has donated £15,000 to Pub is the Hub for the second year running to support rural pubs who want to help their communities.

Spirit launches chef training scheme and plans to double number of apprentices

04-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Spirit Pub Company plans to double the number of its apprentices to more than 2,000, it has announced as it launches a new programme aimed at those looking for a career in the kitchen.

Growth in drink sales outstrips food as Spirit reports positive results

04-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Spirit Pub Company has reported a 2.1% rise in like-for-like net sales in its managed arm for the 12 weeks to 16 August, with net income growth in the leased division accelerating to +4.8%.

Greene King expands its Local Hero scheme

29-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

A Greene King initiative encouraging pubs to champion all things local has now reached 30 pubs.

Greene King staff raise £1.2m for cancer charity

27-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King has exceeded its £1 million fundraising target for Macmillan Cancer Support by £200,000.

Spirit launches degree programme for general managers

22-Aug-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Spirit Pub Company has launched a degree programme for its general managers as part of its ongoing partnership with Leeds Metropolitan University.

Greene King launches open days for prospective tenants

29-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King has launched a series of open days for prospective licensees at its headquarters.

Greene King launches treasure hunt to celebrate Prince George's first birthday

22-Jul-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Greene King has launched a nationwide treasure hunt with the chance to find a £10,000 King’s Ransom to mark Prince George’s first birthday.

New Employment Minister Esther McVey praises Spirit Pub Company academy

18-Jul-2014 By James Wallin

Newly promoted Employment Minister, Esther McVey, met some of Spirit Pub Company’s newest recruits in one of her first ministerial visits.

Greene King pub arrives at London Euston railway station

09-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King is to invest a seven-figure sum launching its first station pub at London’s Euston station.

Greene King delivers record full-year results

03-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 9.4% rise in pre-tax profits to £173.1m in the 53 weeks to 4 May, with the company saying it has now delivered four years of record results.

Greene King criticised over 'rushed' Hawthorn Leisure deal

05-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

The deal to sell 275 Greene King (GK) pubs to Hawthorn Leisure has been criticised as secretive and rushed.

Greene King staff take on gruelling challenge for cancer charity

23-May-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King employees raised more than £43,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support after taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge.

Spirit to restructure management team

20-May-2014 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company has announced that it is to streamline its management structure by combining its managed operations and commercial functions, in a move that will see current commercial director Clive Briscoe leaving the business at the end of May.

Most couples meet down the pub, Greene King study shows

14-May-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More couples meet down the pub than anywhere else, new research from Greene King has revealed.

Greene King and M&B set to be among bidders for Orchid pubs

12-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), Greene King and Starwood Capital, are amongst six firms believed to be set to bid for all or part of the Orchid group, which was placed on the market last year with a price tag of c£250m.

Greene King appoints Lifetime Training to run apprenticeship scheme

08-May-2014

Greene King has revamped its apprenticeship scheme and announced its new training partner.

Tenants at 275 Greene King pubs to get 'more flexibility', says new owner Hawthorn Leisure

06-May-2014 By James Wallin

Tenants at the 275 Greene King pubs bought by the country’s newest pubco have been told they can expect “more flexibility” from their new landlord.

New pubco snaps up 275 Greene King sites

01-May-2014 By Mark Wingett

Hawthorn Leisure, a new pub company established to acquire, invest in and support pubs across the UK, has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of a portfolio of 275 tenanted and leased public houses from Greene King for £75.6m.

Greene King loses tax appeal

29-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has lost an appeal relating to its tax avoidance scheme and could be forced to pay back roughly twice the amount of tax it tried to avoid.

Greene King fails to agree deal with May Capital over pubs package

08-Apr-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King is not in talks with May Capital, the private equity group, to sell a circa 300-strong tenanted pub package.

Greene King announces pint glass amnesty ahead of predicted summer shortage

01-Apr-2014

Greene King has urged pub-goers to return any pint glasses they may have at home amid fears stocks may completely run out this summer.

Greene King leisure research report shows rise in spend on drinking out

31-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Greene King has launched a monthly “Leisure Tracker” report, which aims to provide “thought leadership and insights” into consumer discretionary spending.  

Greene King to teach licensees how to promote their pubs on social media

26-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Greene King is introducing training to help licensees in its tenanted and leased estates promote themselves on social media.

Spirit Leased sees four-fold rise in applicants

14-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Spirit Pub Company’s leased division has claimed its “flexible and innovative” approach to leasehold agreements and its commitment to on-site training has resulted in a four-fold increase in licensee applications in the first three months of 2014.

Spirit seeks 'mini directors' for Fayre & Square brand

11-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company is seeking 10 children to act as “mini directors” for its Fayre & Square brand.

Greene King and Stonegate make apprenticeship commitments

05-Mar-2014 By Ruth Eilis

Greene King and Stonegate have announced UK-wide apprenticeship schemes to boost the skills profiles of their employees as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

The Big Interview: Chris Welham, Spirit Leased

22-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Chris Welham, managing director at Spirit Leased, tells Michelle Perrett how he helped turn the ailing business around to build an estate that is now thriving, and how he plans to maintain the success.

Spirit managed like-for-likes grow and tenanted estate returns to growth

14-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Spirit Pub Company has reported a 4.3% rise in like-for-like net sales in its managed arm in the 20 weeks to 4 January - including growth of 7% over Christmas - while its Leased estate returned to like-for-like net income growth.

Greene King managed like-for-like sales rise 6.3% over festive fortnight

13-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Greene King, the brewer and pub operator, has reported a 5% rise in like-for-like sales at its managed sites in the past six weeks, with managed like-for-likes up 6.3% in the two weeks over Christmas and the New Year, including sales on Christmas Day...