Other operators

Tenant satisfaction: More than half of tenants responding to The MA’s survey revealed that their pubco point of contact – such as their business development manager – has changed during the past year

Coronavirus: a year of closures

How has Covid-19 impacted tenant relationships with their pub company?

By Stuart Stone

With 20 March marking a year-to-the-day since last orders were called in pubs just days before a first national lockdown, The Morning Advertiser (MA) quizzed its readers on how their working relationships have changed in the past 12 months.

Reopening date: Young's is aiming to get its pubs open again for 17 May, according to the Government's proposed roadmap

Young’s forecasts positive cash flow by May

By MCA

Young’s has announced plans to reopen 140 of its managed pubs with outdoor spaces on or around 12 April, as well as an update to its finances which it gives it available borrowing facilities of £225m.

Developed role: 'When I look back, I am grateful for the changes and the education it has brought forward in many aspects of my life'

International Women's Day 2021

'Vast improvements' for women working in pubs

By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex

My younger self did not take any notice of such events as International Women’s Day.

What’s in the news 5 March?

The MA’s Review of the week

Beer duty freeze ‘could have been bolder’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington mulls over the Spring Budget with the help of Herefordshire-based freehouse operator Matt Slocombe of the Crown at Woolhope.

Operator view: reopening with heavy restrictions means risking that 'customers will not enjoy the experience and will be lost to the industry for the long-term,' according to John Ellis

opinion

'Opening up too early risks ruining pub experience'

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.

Revenue down: London-based bar group Darwin & Wallace has reported huge losses amid the coronavirus pandemic

Darwin & Wallace revenues down £2m

By Georgia Cronin, MCA

London-based bar group Darwin & Wallace lost almost a quarter of its usual revenue as a result of the first lockdown, contributing to a £2m dip in its year-on-year sales.

Rushed reopening: 'There has been a big push to get pubs opened as soon as possible again. I understand that, I just urge a little bit of caution,' Stuart Bateman says

Big interview

'False dawn' pub reopenings would be absolutely catastrophic

By Stuart Stone

Like everyone else in the on-trade, Stuart Bateman of Lincolnshire-based Batemans wants to see pubs open ‘as soon as possible’ – however the Salem Bridge brewer isn’t buying into the idea of a Government witch hunt.

Large operator: Whitbread stated the job losses were less than previously feared

Whitbread cuts 1,500 jobs

By Nikkie Thatcher

The parent company of Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn confirmed 1,500 job losses in its latest trading update – just over 4% of its 36,000 staff.

Incredible support: 'As we sit in tier three and unable to open for the foreseeable, we’re grateful that we’re still in business'

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘This certainly wasn’t in the business plan we presented last Christmas’

By Marc Hornby, co-founder, the Virgins & Castle, Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Publicans Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby received the keys to their new pub on 9 March – less than a fortnight before the UK’s first national lockdown. Here Marc reflects on taking on a site during a pandemic.

Tricky year: 'I've had to pay a lot of people out of my own pocket to make sure they have money for Christmas'

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

'We've served 450,000 customers since July and are unaware of any Covid cases'

By Patrick Frawley, owner, East London Pub Company

Patrick Frawley, who owns and operates five pubs and bars in central London as well as five restaurants and bars in Ireland via the East London Pub Company, believes hospitality has been 'thrown to the wolves' in 2020.

Reports state: this follows news earlier this year of SA Brain selling 40 sites

SA Brain ‘up for sale’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Welsh brewer and pub group SA Brain is reportedly up for sale, recruiting advisers to “navigate this period of uncertainty”.

How much have wet-led pubs lost during coronavirus?

Sales 'wipe out' for wet-led pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Wet-led pubs saw sales all but wiped out during November, data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker shows.

How much rent are pub companies charging in lockdown?

Pub companies announce lockdown rent plans

By Emily Hawkins

Pub companies including Greene King and Stonegate Pub Company have confirmed rent reductions for tenants to 10% for the second lockdown period.

What is Admiral Taverns doing to help pubs?

'Pubs are not the problem, we’re part of the solution'

By Ed Bedington

“I’m baffled” by the restrictions imposed on the sector and government support is “insufficient”, Chris Jowsey tells The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington in an exclusive video interview on how Admiral Taverns is working to support its tenants in...

Extremely confident: Fuller's chief executive Simon Emeny has said it is a question of when London bounces back and not if.

Fuller's boss 'rightsizing business'

By Emily Hawkins

Fuller’s chief executive has said he is optimistic his London-based estate can overcome “short term challenges”, in an interview with The Morning Advertiser (MA).

Bear with us: after closing indefinitely following a fire on 22 July, its been announced that the Thirsty Bear will reopen on 17 October

Former GBPA finalist to reopen after fire

By Stuart Stone

London’s Thirsty Bear, a finalist in the 2017 Great British Pub Awards’ Best for Sport category, will reopen on Saturday 17 October after fire forced it to close in July.

Up to 6,000 jobs cut: 'these changes create a more flexible labour model that can adapt with changes in the demand environment going forward,' Whitbread said of redundancy proposals

Whitbread to cut 6,000 jobs

By Stuart Stone

The operator behind brands such as Brewers Fayre, Beefeater and Premier Inn has announced that as many as 6,000 members of staff could face redundancy following a collapse in sales during the coronavirus crisis.

'Unreasonable and unsustainable': a group formed by the tenants of 202 pubs owned by Global Mutual will deliver a letter to Small Firms Minister Paul Scully

Tenants to protest pub-owning hedge fund’s rent relief

By Stuart Stone

A group formed by the tenants of 202 pubs owned by Global Mutual will march on Whitehall to deliver a letter to Small Firms Minister Paul Scully today (9 September) despite the hedge fund stating that it has provided £4.4m worth of pandemic support thus...

'Serious impact': Adnams' H1 results revealed a pre-tax loss of £3.5m for the first six months of 2020 compared to a loss of £800,000 in 2019

Adnams pre-tax losses increase to £3.5m

By Stuart Stone

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Adnams has reported further losses as a result of the “serious impact” of the coronavirus crisis on the business.

Does delaying opening help pubs?

Wait and see success for pub

By Ed Bedington

In the final recording of our series following one West Sussex pub through lockdown, MA editor Ed Bedington went back to the Lockhart Tavern in Haywards Heath to find out whether their decision to delay reopening by a few weeks has paid off.

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Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

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