MA Leaders Club

Drake & Morgan CVA approved

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

London-based cocktail bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan’s creditors have approved a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) – with 90% voting in favour of proposals.

Nightcap trading ‘significantly ahead’ of expectations

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

The firm behind London Cocktail Club and the Adventure Bar Group has revealed post-lockdown revenues almost matched the figures recorded during equivalent weeks in 2019.

Big Interview

The fun of expanding: ‘It's our duty to take what we love and give it to more people'

08-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite leading the Adventure Bar Group into uncharted territory – in every sense – during a transformative pandemic year, co-founder Tobias Jackson explains that with new owner Nightcap eyeing nationwide expansion it’s far from journey’s end.

‘Crucial’ that Gov bases decisions on science, not media speculation, says Hawthorn boss

03-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Giving an update on the pub company’s performance, Hawthorn CEO Mark Davies has stressed the importance of an “evidence-based approach” to the lifting of pandemic restrictions on Monday 21 June.

Oakman poised to ‘continue growth’ despite £13.9m loss in 2020

27-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

While the Oakman Group reported an EBITDA loss for 2020 of £2.6m and a total loss of £13.9m, its executive chairman believes the operator is ‘very well placed to take advantage of the strong consumer demand’.

Big interview

Secrets behind the success of North Bar/North Brewing Co

14-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of North Bar/North Brewing Co’s recent win at the 2021 Publican Awards, The Morning Advertiser caught up (virtually of course) with head of retail Fiona Potts just before the company opened its latest venue for outdoor trading.

MA Leaders Club

Furlough: 'great for employees, disastrous for employers’

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Nightclubs have been left out of much of the Government support after being closed for almost 18 months.

MA Leaders Club

Coronavirus pandemic ‘sped up recruitment challenge’

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recruitment was already challenging due to factors such as Brexit, but the coronavirus crisis has escalated matters further according to one operator.

MA Leaders Club

Customer confidence slowly increasing as restriction lift

13-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumer optimism around the pub sector is increasing as lockdown begins to ease, a leading data expert has revealed.

'Change in emphasis' to boost City Pub Group expansion

13-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

City Pub Group’s executive chairman, Clive Watson, explains that the operator’s definition of ‘high quality’ pub opportunities has changed slightly as the Group emerges from lockdown.

Nightcap raises £10m through share placing

12-May-2021 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Nightcap has raised £10m through a share placing in order to further its investment strategy and to roll out its recent acquisition of Adventure Bar Group (ABG).

Brewhouse & Kitchen expand into accommodation

11-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

A leading national operator has taken its first steps into providing an accommodation offer with the launch of a new site.

City Pub Group ‘significantly improved over the past year’ despite 57% revenue drop

11-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite pandemic restrictions hitting its revenue for £34.2m in the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020, City Pub Group is in an ‘excellent position’ as the country reopens according to its executive chairman.

Adventure Bar acquired by Nightcap

04-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Recently formed hospitality group Nightcap has completed its second purchase by acquiring the owner of brands including Blame Gloria and Tonight Josephine, Adventure Bar Group.

St Austell reopens managed pubs

30-Apr-2021 By MCA Insight

St Austell Brewery reopened 18 of its managed houses for outdoor service on 29 April, having made significant investments in its al fresco spaces.

Peach Pubs on the acquisition hunt after record-breaking reopening sales

27-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Peach has seen record-breaking sales figures since reopening for outside trading this month (April) and is looking to add a number of new sites to its existing portfolio over the next nine months.

‘Number one priority is to restore the business’

26-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Sharing a heartland with Covid-19’s ‘Kent variant’ has seen the vast majority of Shepherd Neame’s 300-odd sites shuttered for more than five months. As such, CEO Jonathan Neame is looking forward to what he believes will be a ‘very good summer’.

Adnams records £3.7m operating loss during pandemic year

23-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Suffolk-based Adnams became the latest pub operator to post a pandemic loss during 2020, revealing that a swing of more than £4m landed it in the red.

Reopened Oakman pub takings up more than 50% on pre-pandemic sales

22-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Hertfordshire-based multiple operator Oakman Group has revealed that sales during its first week of post-lockdown trade trump equivalent 2019 takings.

More than £10m swing sees Shepherd Neame record half-year loss

21-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based family brewer and pub operator, Shepherd Neame, has revealed an underlying operating loss of £3.6m during the six months to 26 December 2020.

Hawthorn eyes expansion to ‘at least double its estate’

15-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of its announcement to float on the stock market, Hawthorn has also revealed it is looking to significantly expand its portfolio.

Hawthorn set to float on stock market as standalone business

14-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

NewRiver-owned pub group Hawthorn has announced plans to list on the stock market as a standalone quoted business.

Revolution: ‘Bring our ‘national day of freedom forward'

13-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group chief executive, Rob Pitcher, has implored the Prime Minister to ‘follow the data, not dates’ and lift legal limits on social contact before Monday 21 June.

MA500

MA500 May 2021 agenda unveiled

12-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The next MA500 conference is set to take place on Thursday 13 May and we can now reveal the topics we will cover at the online event.

The MA’s review of the week

Prime Minister still ‘a bit silent’ on pub trading from 21 June

09-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke with Laine Pub Company boss Gavin George to discuss the most recent on-trade news.

MA's Review of the Week

'Sustainability more important than ever'

01-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke with Darwin and Wallace boss Mel Marriott on the headlines of this week

RedCat’s 42 pub package from Stonegate ‘first step to differentiated pub company’

31-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The confirmation of investment vehicle RedCat’s acquisition of 42 pubs from Stonegate Pub Company for an undisclosed sum gets Rooney Anand’s venture off to 'an excellent start', he said.

Fuller’s seeks funds after Covid cash burn hits £5m per month

31-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Fuller, Smith & Turner hopes to weather the ongoing Covid crisis by raising funds from the sale of Class A and Class B shares.

Drake & Morgan sees profits dip in run up to lockdown

29-Mar-2021 By Andrew Don, MCA

Drake & Morgan is hoping to rebuild the London-based bar and restaurant group with the easing of Covid-related restrictions, according to reports by MCA Insight.

MA's review of the week

Pubs will exit pandemic as a ‘more loved’ sector than we closed as

26-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Heydon Mizon, joint managing director at McMullen, to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Customers not reluctant to return to Jersey pub ‘at all’

15-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite cold weather deterring a number of pub goers from making use of outdoor areas, the Trinity Arms in Jersey has made a positive start to post-lockdown trading, according to general manager Patrycja Bosak.

MA’s Review of the Week

‘Tsunami of other problems’ not factored into speed of lockdown exit

12-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Rockpoint Leisure CEO and chair of the Institute of Licensing and National Licensing Forum, Dan Davies, to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Oakman acquires six Seafood sites

09-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hertfordshire-based multiple operator The Oakman Group has acquired six pubs from the administrators of Seafood Pub Company.

Revolution to reopen almost a third of sites in April

05-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Nationwide operator Revolution Bars Group has announced plans to reopen 20 sites for outdoor guests in April ahead of the resumption of trade across its full estate a month later.

Urban Pubs & Bars sees significant lockdown losses

01-Mar-2021 By Georgia Cronin, MCA

Urban Pubs & Bars lost out on £2.5m in sales in the first month of the March lockdown, and incurred a significant shortfall in profit due to its inability to mitigate costs immediately at the point of closure.

opinion

'Opening up too early risks ruining pub experience'

22-Feb-2021 By John Ellis, Crown Inn, Oakengates and Elephant & Castle, Dawley

I'm very concerned about the headlines this weekend that big property companies such as JD Wetherspoon and Young's are pushing the conversation towards opening up the industry before that would be viable.

Red Oak acquires 10 pub package from Wells & Co

17-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Red Oak Taverns has acquired 10 leased and tenanted pubs from operator and brewer Wells & Co for an undisclosed sum.

The MA’s Review of the Week

‘Forget’ overseas tourists this summer

12-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

MA500

How have operators expanded portfolios in the pandemic?

11-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Taking advantage of closure periods due to the coronavirus crisis is just one of the ways operators have managed to growth their estate, trade bosses have revealed.

Former NWTC boss appointed at RedCat Pub Company

10-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) former chief executive Chris Hill is set to become CEO at Rooney Anand’s new venture RedCat Pub Company.

MA’S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Government language around vaccines and relaxations now more ‘confident’

05-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Future planning focus for first 2021 MA500

02-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The first MA500 conference of 2021 is set to take place this month (Thursday 11 February) when we will be looking to help operators gear up for the year ahead.