MA Leaders Club

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.

Nightcap acquires Barrio Familia for £4.9m

22-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the acquisition of Barrio Familia, meaning its estate has expanded by five additional bars.

The MA's Review of the Week

"Feels like everything is difficult to do at the moment"

19-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Vicki Williams from Almond Family Pubs to get her thoughts on the weeks events, from ongoing supply challenges, staffing shortages, through to Christmas ordering nightmares.

Brunning and Price eyes 80 sites

18-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple pub operator Brunning and Price has acquired two new sites, taking its total estate to 79, with plans for an eightieth in the pipeline.

Rising costs are 'frightening'

12-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington speaks to Brian Whiting of WH Pubs for his views on the week's news, from inflationary pressures and premiumisation through to the debate over dogs in pubs.

Shepherd Neame reports strong trading since reopening

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported strong trading since reopening its 310 pubs for the 52 weeks ended 26 June 2021.

The history and business story of Young’s

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub company Young’s has been a household name in London and the surrounding area since before Queen Victoria took to the throne. Here The Morning Advertiser looks at its history, acquisitions and disposals.

Portobello snaps up former Antic pubs

08-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Portobello Brewery has announced the acquisition of 12 freehold pubs it had been managing across the London area.

‘Christmas is an opportunity to put prices up’

05-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumers are likely to spend more than previous years this Christmas, due to missing out on eating and drinking in hospitality last year, one operator has predicted.

Exclusive

Hickory’s makes the move to Yorkshire with new opening

04-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

An award-winning bar and restaurant group has announced it is set to expand further across the UK with the opening of its first site in West Yorkshire.

Brakspear looking to expand managed arm by ‘at least 2 a year’

03-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

South east-based operator Brakspear has revealed is growth plans for its newly renamed managed division.

Nightcap reports 68% sales increase versus pre-Covid

03-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the parent company of cocktail bar groups London Cocktail Club and Tonight Josephine, has reported a 68% increase in net sales for a 13-week period versus the same, pre-Covid, equivalent in 2019.

Valiant Pub Co buys 17 pubs from SA Brain in first acquisition

02-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recently formed business Valiant Pub Company has announced its first transaction after reaching an agreement to buy 17 pubs from SA Brain.

Opinion

Pub companies must do something about unviable rent offers

01-Nov-2021 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

As Monty Python famously recorded: “Though there was trouble at the mill they didn’t expect ‘The Spanish Inquisition’.” There is trouble in the pub sector mill and there needs to be an inquisition into the behaviour and transparency of pub-owning companies.

BrewDog announces biggest site ever as ‘new type of venue’

25-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish bar operator BrewDog will open a mammoth flagship site at the revamped Waterloo Station, London, in summer next year.

Cautious optimism for the future

22-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with industry legend Peter Borg-Neal, chairman of the Oakman Group, to get his views on the news that have shaped the sector this week.

Red Oak Taverns secures growth funding

20-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site pub operator Red Oak Taverns has received a £15m acquisition facility from OakNorth Bank.

Loungers announces plans to open further 10 sites

15-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Loungers is looking to expand its 181-strong estate by 10 venues in the current financial year, it has revealed.

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Free order and pay solution for MA Leaders members up for grabs

11-Oct-2021 By OrderPay

OrderPay, the UK’s leading order and payment solution is offering their entire system at no cost to anyone who attended the MA Leaders Club event in Leeds on Thursday 23 September 2021.

The MA's Review of the Week

Honesty needed in minimum wage debate

08-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with the Vaulkhard Group's Ollie Vaulkhard to get his thoughts on the latest headlines affecting the pub sector.

MA Leaders Club

Peach boss urges operators to be net zero

01-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Peach Pub Company founder and managing director Hamish Stoddart has urged all operators to cut their carbon footprints and become net zero.

Opinion

Socialisation on a grand scale

29-Sep-2021 By Dianne Irving, managing director, Drouth Ltd

Last week, I attended the MA Leaders Club event in Leeds. This event, formerly known as the MA 500, can only be described as first rate.

MA Leaders Club

Campaign to boost diversity launched

27-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A new campaign to level the playing field for professional women across the sector has been unveiled.

MA Leaders Club

Time to go for new sites and diversify your model

23-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Operators have been urged to apply for new sites in a post-Covid world and appeal to local authorities to abandon their cumulative impact policies (CIPSs).

MA Leaders Club

84% back allergy legislation

23-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

More than eight out of 10 people believe the introduction of new legislation is a positive change when it comes to selling food that is pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS), according to CPL Learning.

MA leaders Club

‘Consumers aren’t putting up with average anymore’

23-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A shift in consumer behaviour where pubgoers are looking for more when visiting the trade is something that has changed, one operator has stated.

End of tax year could be a hammer blow for trade

17-Sep-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington spoke to Pelle Pub Co's Hayley Pellegrini to get her take on the headlines of the past week.

Brewhouse and Kitchen: Strong summer trading with food sales up

16-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Brewhouse and Kitchen CEO Kris Gumbrell, has revealed strong summer trading but said there is still some customer hesitancy.

Red Oak Taverns to acquire 9 Hall & Woodhouse pubs

15-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Red Oak Taverns is set to acquire nine pubs from Dorset-based business Hall & Woodhouse.

MA Leaders Club

How do I become a member of The MA Leaders Club?

13-Sep-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Want to join the biggest group of multi-site pub owners and operators you’re ever likely to see in one place? Well look no further – our comprehensive guide to the MA Leaders Club awaits below…

Exclusive

Coronavirus recovery: Rise in food sales for The Frisco Group

25-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The Frisco Group, the three strong multiple pub operator, has revealed it has seen a rise in food sales after the removal of Coronavirus restrictions.

RedCat acquires The Coaching Inn Group

13-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Former Greene King boss Rooney Anand’s investment vehicle RedCat Pub Company is set to acquire The Coaching Inn Group for a rumoured £50m.

MA Leaders Club

Full MA Leaders Club Leeds event agenda confirmed

09-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The recently rebranded MA Leaders Club will be hosting its first event, and the first face to face event for the club in a year and a half, later this year.

Nightcap secures new site while reporting ‘strong period of trading’

09-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the securing of a new venue in Bristol, alongside strong trading in an update.

Arc Inspirations expands with two new openings including first move into Birmingham

05-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Arc Inspirations, the 17-strong premium bar operator, is set to expand with two new openings – Box in Deansgate, Manchester and its first ever site in the Midlands with Manahatta, Birmingham.

MA's review of the week

‘Pingdemic’ staff shortages pose question over which pubs to ‘sacrifice’

23-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington and Liberation Group’s Jayson Perfect reflect on a week’s worth of pub sector headlines following ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July.

BrewDog’s online sales growth fails to offset bar closures

22-Jul-2021 By Dominic Allport

BrewDog has reported a pre-tax loss of £13.1m during 2020 despite achieving 10% revenue growth during 2020. The strong growth in online sales was not enough to offset the impact of bar closures.

Arc Inspirations’ trading tops pre-pandemic levels by 35%

22-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Bar operator Arc Inspirations has revealed that trading across its 17 sites has been 35% higher than the equivalent period in 2019 since indoor trading resumed on 17 May.

Loungers’ pre-‘Freedom Day’ sales 23.7% up versus 2019 levels

22-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

According to its latest financial update, café bar operator Loungers revealed that sales across its estate of 175 venues were up by 23.7% in the nine weeks from 17 May to 18 July 2021 versus the same period in 2019.

MA’s review of the week

Unlocked US states suggest spike as UK restrictions ease won’t be ‘exponential’

16-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington reflects on another week’s worth of headlines with hospitality investor and Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh.

MA'S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘I’d love to see the media brought into the Covid-19 public inquiry’

09-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Rekom UK’s Peter Marks to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Fuller’s ‘perfectly placed’ to benefit from return to normal life

09-Jul-2021 By Finn Scott-Delany

Fuller’s has hailed a resilient performance after seeing its revenues fall by 77% in a year dominated by lockdowns, according to reports by MCA Insight.

Inception Group: isolating staff is 'number one concern'

07-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Recovery for Inception Group’s central London sites will not be “an overnight big bang,” according to the group’s co-founder.

Reopened Revolution Bars trading at 86% of 2019 levels during roadmap

05-Jul-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group’s 66 sites have traded at almost 90% of 2019 levels since resuming indoor trade, according to an update ahead of the operator’s year end date on 3 July.

MA's Review of the Week

‘Staying open is a challenge’

02-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

This week’s headlines highlight the ongoing staffing challenges faced by the sector alongside closures of venues due to self-isolation. The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington also caught up with Alastair Scott, managing director of Catton Hospitality...