MA Leaders Club

Proud: CEO Jonathan Lawson praised the teams for dealing with the challenges of the past year

Liberation Group chief hails ‘sector-leading’ performance

By Gary Lloyd

Channel Islands and West Country-based brewer and operator Liberation Group has announced its managed UK pubs have seen like-for-like (lfl) sales grow 18.6% for the final three quarters of its financial year ended 29 January 2022, versus the same period...

Huge investment: Revolution Cheltenham will relaunch in time for the Jubilee weekend

£250k overhaul for Revolution Cheltenham

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group has invested £249,000 into a makeover for its Revolution Cheltenham bar, which is set to reopen in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Growing portfolio: Liberation Group acquires two West Country sites from OHH Pub Company

Liberation Group acquires 2 sites from OHH Pub Company

By Amelie Maurice-Jones


Liberation Group’s UK Butcombe Pubs & Inns acquired the Northey Arms in Box, Wiltshire and the Rising Sun in Backwell, North Somerset from OHH Pub Company yesterday (Thursday 26 May).

What's in the news 27 May

"We've been here before"

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Kuckoo's Rich Powell for his take on the current headlines, from rising costs and brewery sales through to continued confidence and business expansion.

Oakman Group offer lifeline to Archer's hotel staff

Oakman to the rescue in the Archers

By Ed Bedington

In a stroke of marketing genius, the Oakman Group has stepped into the fictional world in a bid to rescue a team of hospitality workers.

What's in the news 13 May 2022?

Review of the week

'Everyone has got so creative with outside space, it's fantastic'

By Nikkie Thatcher

Directors of Green Salmon Co Jason Green and David Salmon spoke with The Morning Advertiser's Nikkie Thatcher to discuss the top headlines of this week including outlining how they retain staff and a trading update on the business.

City centre: the next MA Leaders Club meeting will be in Manchester (image: Getty/ChrisHepburn)

MA Leaders Club

Manchester MA Leaders stellar line-up revealed

By The Morning Advertiser

This month (May) will see MA Leaders hit the iconic city of Manchester where we’ll also be hearing from a number of speakers and experts about business growth, the ongoing pricing issues and more.

What's in the news 29 April

The MA's Review of the Week

Pubs must remain an affordable treat

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Anglian Country Inns md James Nye to get his take on the week's news, from inflationary pressures, the return to the "new normal" and tackling the recruitment crisis.

Multiple operator: Nightcap currently has more than 30 sites in its estate

Nightcap’s growth trajectory continues

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has continued its growth trajectory in the third quarter of its 2022 financial year, which is the 14 weeks ending 3 April.

Multiple operator: Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham founded the business two years ago

A deep dive into Nightcap’s acquisition trail

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has hit the acquisition trail hard, buying up a number of sites over the past 12 months, taking it to a 33-strong estate at present, with an additional 23 under offer or in legal negotiations.

Rapid growth: Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham says the Bristol opening for Blame Gloria is set to take place later this year (credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap announces first Blame Gloria opening outside London

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has announced another opening for the rapidly expanding group in the form of a Blame Gloria site, which sits under the Adventure Bar Group umbrella,...

Trade hits back: The Oakman Group's Dermot King says businesses must be able to trade under a fair tax system

Give the Government credit WHEN credit is due

By Dermot King, CEO, The Oakman Group

The Oakman Group chief executive Dermot King responds to Lord Smith of Hindhead’s reaction to the hospitality sector over funding.

Accolade received: North was awarded Best Brewing Pub Company at the 2022 Publican Awards

Exclusive

North eyes London and Birmingham openings

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based operator and brewery North Bar/North Brew Co is looking to open sites in London and Birmingham, one of the co-founders told The Morning Advertiser.

Bringing the Big Apple to Newcastle: Arc Inspirations to open Manahatta bar in Newcastle

Arc to open Manahatta site in Newcastle

By Rebecca Weller

Bar operator Arc Inspirations is set to expand its portfolio with its biggest ever development, having secured approval to launch a £2.5m Manahatta bar in Newcastle.

Pay rise: Revolution Bars Group no longer a minimum wage employer (Getty/ Igor Vershinsky)

Revolution Bars Group no longer a minimum wage employer

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Revolution Bars Group, the operator of bars including Revolución de Cuba, Playhouse, and Founders & Co, has invested £2m in raising wages over minimum wage, as part of the ‘fair day’s pay for hard day’s work’ pledge.

Event details: the next MA Leaders Club meeting is set to take place in Manchester this May (image: Getty/Ingus Kruklitis)

MA Leaders Club

MA Leaders Club May location revealed

By Nikkie Thatcher

The next MA Leaders Club event will be taking place in May this year and we can now reveal whereabouts in the country it will be.

£1 please: Operators encouraged to join fundraising efforts (Getty/ Ika84)

Call for operators to fundraise for Ukraine

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Staff at the Piano Works, central London have called for operators to unite and fundraise for the people of Ukraine who are suffering from lack of shelter, safety, water and food.

Female empowerment: Wells celebrates female staff for International Women's Day (Getty/ andresr)

International Women's Day 2022 - sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Wells celebrate female staff

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Wells have celebrated International Women’s Day today (8 March) through showcasing stories of the company’s female staff.

Female representation: Revolution Bars Group senior team tipped to female majority

International Women's Day 2022 - sponsored by Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Revolution Bars Group champions women with new senior appointments

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Revolution Bars Group has tipped the balance of its executive team to a female majority with two new hires, in a bid to show a positive shift towards diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

What's in the news 4 March

The MA's Review of the Week

Experience will be key in face of rising prices

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Lancashire-based multiple Tim Tomlinson of the Hand Pulled Pub Company to discuss passing on price rises, growing consumer confidence and the importance of service.

Prospect Pubs expands estate

Prospect Pubs expand with fifth site

By Ed Bedington

Prospect Pubs has announced the launch of its fifth site with the opening of the Joiners Arms near Banbury with a sixth on the way.

Celebrating community: Fuller's have launched the Pride of Fuller's Awards for 2022

Fuller’s launches Pride of Fuller’s Awards

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Pride of Fuller’s Awards have been launched by Fuller, Smith & Turner, to celebrate anyone who has gone above and beyond, inspired others, or carried out acts of kindness.

Pictured at the MA Leaders event (from left to right): The Morning Advertiser's Nikkie Thatcher was joined by operators Brian Whiting, Dianne Irving and Philip Thorley

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence has risen but inflation poses threat

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs are still standing and optimistic for the year ahead, but inflation and VAT rises alongside the staffing crisis pose big challenges for 2022, according to operators across the sector.

Insight revealed: CGA managing director for UK and Ireland Jonny Jones outlines consumer data at the MA Leaders Club conference

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence rises by 36 percentage points

By Rebecca Weller

Consumer confidence has risen 36 percentage points when compared with January 2021 with 70% now feeling ‘very’ or ‘quite confident visiting hospitality venues, according to CGA.

What's in the news 25 February?

The MA's Review of the Week

The economic impact of Ukraine invasion will be felt across the world

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Valiant Pub Co boss Gerry Carroll to get his take on the latest headlines hitting the industry, from managing the exit of restrictions through to the impact of war in Europe on the trade.

Onwards and upwards: pubs are back on the expansion trail says Peter Hansen of Sapient Corporate Finance

MA Leaders Club

Further lockdowns unlikely because Government ‘cannot afford it’

By Gary Lloyd

The possibility of further lockdowns is over according to Peter Hansen of Sapient Corporate Finance because the Government “cannot afford it”, he said while speaking at the MA Leaders Club conference at Fabric nightclub, in London, on Thursday 24 February.

Exciting times: Nightcap plans to open two new sites in early April

Nightcap set to open new Cocktail Club, 24 new sites in pipeline

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, is set to open a The Cocktail Club site and a Tonight Josephine bar in early April – and has 24 new premises under offer or in legals too.