MA Leaders Club

Rekom UK pumps £2m into new bar brand opening

11-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Late-night operator Rekom UK, the UK arm of European firm the Rekom Group, is eyeing growth as it has announced the opening of a new bar brand in the UK.

Shepherd Neame pledges £20k fundraiser for Ukraine

11-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Shepherd Neame has pledged £20k to kickstart a fundraising effort to support the people of Ukraine, who continue to resist a Russian invasion.

Red Oak Taverns completes first purchase of 2022

11-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Red Oak Taverns has made its first pub acquisition of this year with the purchase of the Vine in Worthing, West Sussex.

The Inn Collection Group given go ahead for major redevelopment

10-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site pub operator The Inn Collection Group has had plans approved to redevelop two of its existing sites in Lancashire.

Call for operators to fundraise for Ukraine

10-Mar-2022 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.

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

Wells celebrate female staff

08-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

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

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

Revolution Bars Group champions women with new senior appointments

08-Mar-2022 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.

The MA's Review of the Week

Experience will be key in face of rising prices

04-Mar-2022 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 expand with fifth site

03-Mar-2022 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.

Fuller’s launches Pride of Fuller’s Awards

01-Mar-2022 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.

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence has risen but inflation poses threat

25-Feb-2022 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.

MA Leaders Club

Standard of food key as consumers return to the pub

25-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Consumers admit Covid has altered the way they visit pubs but it is the expected standard of food that has proved the biggest talking point.

MA Leaders Club

Consumer confidence rises by 36 percentage points

25-Feb-2022 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.

The MA's Review of the Week

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

25-Feb-2022 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.

MA Leaders Club

Further lockdowns unlikely because Government ‘cannot afford it’

25-Feb-2022 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.

MA Leaders Club

Pubco and operator partnerships: good operators will get noticed

24-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

If you are a good operator, your business will get noticed and that’s when opportunities for growth can appear, according to Big Smoke Brew Co co-founder Richard Craig.

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

21-Feb-2022 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.

Inn Collection Group plans approved to turn hotel into family-friendly pub

18-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Inn Collection Group will transform north Tyneside venue, the Park, into a pub, after the council approved plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment.

The Inn Collection Group sold in a deal estimated at £300m-plus

14-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

North of England-based pub operator The Inn Collection Group has been acquired by a new company backed by The Harris Family Trusts together with Kings Park Capital in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £300m.

MA Leaders Club

MA Leaders London line-up revealed

11-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Our first MA Leaders Club event of 2022 will be taking place at the iconic Fabric nightclub in Farringdon, London this month (Thursday 24 February) as well as exploring Smiths of Smithfield before hitting the streets to uncover some of the most exciting...

JW Lees to open first new-build site in 10 years

11-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Manchester brewer and pub operator JW Lees is set to open three sites including its first new-build pub in more than 10 years at the end of the month – and is targeting more acquisitions.

Oakman looks to increase estate size by 25%

10-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator the Oakman Group has secured what is directors believe to be its “strongest ever pipeline of new sites”, which would result in the business growing its estate by a quarter (25%).

Brasserie Bar Co: ‘The business has never been in better shape’

10-Feb-2022 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Brasserie Bar Co now has the firepower to accelerate its expansion plans and is keen to use new owner Alchemy’s experience as the backer of The Inn Collection to drive it forward, executive chairman Mark Derry told MCA.

Young’s to acquire almost all Lucky Onion sites

10-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Young’s is set to take ownership of six of the Lucky Onion group’s seven sites.

Alchemy acquires Brasserie Bar Co

08-Feb-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Brasserie Bar Co has been acquired by Alchemy Partners for an undisclosed sum, understood to be around £40m.

Hydes looks to ramp up activity after ‘punishing’ restrictions

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator Hydes Brewery hopes to open a pub in the near future after putting acquisitions on the back burner during the height of the pandemic that saw some “incredibly punishing” restrictions on the industry.

The MA's Review of the Week

"The only way we'll affect change on business rates is if we don't pay it"

04-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington speaks to Frisco pubs Heath Ball to get his take on the week's news, from the rising costs of running a pub to the challenges facing the sector on taxation.

Bar and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer to open

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Par 59, a Cardiff bar, restaurant and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer Gareth Bale is set to open on 18 March with bookings available from the first week of February.

Urban Pubs & Bars pleased with performance during pandemic

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Urban Pubs & Bars has recorded a profit before tax of £5,287 (2020: £890,404) from sales of £8.8m with directors saying they are “pleased with the performance of the company” in its latest report to Companies House.

Hickory’s like-for-like sales up 25% since December

31-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The group behind Hickory’s Smokehouse has continued to outperform pre-Covid levels of trade in 2022 with like-for-like sales up 40% from May 2021, and 25% since December 2021.

Arc Inspirations targets Midlands with £14m refinancing package

31-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has secured a £14m refinancing package, which includes a separate £5m facility to help the group expand its site numbers.

Rekom UK CEO ‘cautiously optimistic’ for post-Plan B trade

20-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Despite a rocky festive trading period, Rekom UK chief executive Peter Marks was “excited” for a future free from Plan B restrictions, and said young people should be celebrated for their responsibility.

‘Covid Passes were this year’s version of the Scotch egg’

20-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Covid Passes led to confusion, conflict and cost in what was "this year's version of the Scotch egg", according to Revolution Bars chief executive Rob Pitcher, who said the Government must do more than roll back Plan B restrictions.

Review of the Week

Restrictions have had no impact on infection rates

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Castle Rock Brewery boss Colin Wilde to hear his thoughts on the weeks news, from the impacts of restrictions, frustrations over government behaviour and isolation rules changing.

Inglenook Inns & Taverns acquires 7 pubs

24-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Lancashire-based pub operator Inglenook Inns & Taverns has acquired seven pubs for £2.4m.

Arc Inspirations ‘set for record year of growth’

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has reported its results for the financial year to 31 March 2021, showing a 42% rise in sales from July to November this year, against 2019.

Trust Inns reports £8.5m losses

23-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Chorley-based pub company Trust Inns has announced losses of £8.5m for the year to 31 March 2021.

Shutdown preferable to outside only restrictions, survey reveals

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

More than 90% of operators would rather be shut down than face post Christmas trade with indoor restrictions, a snap survey has revealed.

Laine also acquired by Fortress

15-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Laine Pub & Brew Co has also been snapped up by US-bank Fortress Investment Group as part of its acquisition of assets from Patron Capital & May Capital.

MA Review of the Week

'There'll be a hell of a lot people thinking April doesn't matter anymore because I'm not getting to the end of January'

10-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Plan B dominating the headlines, MA editor Ed Bedington chatted with Brucan Pub's James Lyon-Shaw about the impact he can see from the move and how Christmas trade was likely to shape up for the wider trade.

The Inn Collection Group adds to Yorkshire estate

07-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Inn Collection Group has acquired the 15th century Dower House and Spa in Knaresborough as part of its Yorkshire expansion, making its total estate count 26.

JW Lees ready to expand in 2022

06-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator JW Lees has hunkered down during the pandemic to concentrate on survival first and foremost but that looks certain to change in the new year.

Prospect Pubs & Bars to open fifth site

30-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Prospect Pubs & Bars has announced it will open its fifth site, The Joiners Arms in Bloxham, Oxfordshire after major refurbishment and extension.

‘Policing is almost being pushed on to hospitality to do’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser news editor Nikkie Thatcher spoke with Martin Greenhow, managing director of Leeds-based multi-site business Mojo, to discuss the latest headlines.

Arc Inspirations ‘actively exploring opportunities in new cities’

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations is looking to grow its portfolio, it announced while revealing sales since 19 July were up by two fifths (42%) compared to the same period in 2019.