Other operators

City's 'oldest' gay bar to close

28-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

East Sussex seaside city’s “oldest” gay bar has closed its doors for good amid “excessive overheads”.

Barkby Group to dispose of pub estate

28-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Barkby Group has announced plans to dispose of its pub estate amid “strategic change”.

RedCat 'secures further funding from Oaktree'

28-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

RedCat Pub Company has reportedly secured “millions of pounds” worth of funding from Oaktree Capital.

Barkby Group expands pub portfolio

25-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Barkby Group has announced it has acquired the leasehold of a 19th Century village pub with accommodation in Gloucestershire.

The loss of the industry's quiet man

24-Nov-2022 By Phil Mellows

Jim Fallon, who has died aged just 56, was a quiet, yet hugely important, player in the UK pub industry, working behind the scenes of an unfolding drama that brought us the rise and fall of the giant pubcos.

Simpson’s Tavern fundraiser hits £100k milestone

23-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Historic pub the Simpson’s Tavern has crowdfunded more than £100,000 to stay open, after its doors were locked in a dispute over rent.

Simpson's Tavern rent dispute continues

18-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The landlord of historic chophouse Simpson's Tavern said it had “no choice” but to lock its doors after the tenants failed to pay rent, a claim the tenants have rubbished as “a selectively remembered version of events”.

Fuller’s reports half year revenue up

17-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

London-based pub group Fuller’s has seen revenue increase by almost half (45%) for the 26 weeks of 24 September 2022.

NWTC COO joins Big Fang

15-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) chief operating officer Natasha Waterfield is set to join Big Fang Collective as chief executive officer.

Fuller’s acquires two pubs in south-west

15-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Fuller’s has acquired two pubs in the south-west of England.

KFC launches first pub

15-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

KFC has launched its first pub – the Colonel’s Arms – in Hammersmith, west London, which will open its doors from 25 November to 1 December.

Big Interview

BIG INTERVIEW: Great value key in next year says Jowsey

14-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns chief executive Chris Jowsey believes community wet-led pubs are going to be able weather the storms of the next 12 months more admirably than most so long as they provide great value and make every visit something to remember.

Fuller's slashes prices for birthday celebrations

10-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large pub operator Fuller, Smith, and Turner is celebrating its 177th birthday by inviting customers to toast the milestone with discounted drinks.

Pubs offer free warm spaces for guests

08-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs are opening their doors to customers for free warmth, hot drinks and company as the cost-of-living crisis forces some to pick between heating or eating at home.

Gary Usher smashes £200k target to launch 1st pub

08-Nov-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Celebrity chef Gary Usher has crowdfunded more than £222,000 in a week to reopen the White Horse in Churton, Cheshire as Elite Bistros’ first pub.

Young’s adds 2 new pubs to portfolio

02-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Young’s has announced two acquisitions to its estate, meaning it now has a 226-strong pub portfolio.

Licensee urges pubs to help food banks

02-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

An Islington pub has urged hospitality businesses to add £1 onto bills as a donation to local food banks.

Oakman plants one million trees from coffee sales

01-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Multi-site operator Oakman Group has planted more than one million trees in order to offset some of the daily carbon emissions produced by the business and its stakeholders.

Andrew Pern pub to close due to 'lack of support'

31-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Andrew Pern’s Michelin-listed Yorkshire pub the Star Inn the Harbour, will close its doors for good next month following “utter lack of support” from the local council in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Pub hosting 'dining in the dark' evenings

27-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A Northampton based Wells & Co pub has hoped to increase footfall and reduce its energy usage by launching a new ‘Dining in the Dark’ event for this Winter in honour of the battle hospitality businesses currently face regarding energy bill price hikes.

Cornish Inns takes on 5th site with St Austell

27-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Multi-site operator Cornish Inns has announced it will be taking on its fifth site in conjunction with St Austell Brewery.

Stonegate pub shuts doors

24-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Elwes Arms in Carlton, Nottinghamshire has shut its doors after the owners decided to step back after deciding they were “getting too old”.

Last orders at Victorian pub

24-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Victorian pub the Crown in Birmingham, West Midlands, is facing last orders at the end of October after 134 years in business.

FEATURE

FEATURE – How to become a self-employed pub operator

24-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Many people have considered quitting it all and getting into the pub trade – plenty of you reading this have already done so – but for those who haven't, how do you go about it?

Fuller’s bid to get older people back to work

19-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pubs and hotels operator Fuller, Turner & Smith (Fuller’s) has launched an initiative to get older people back into the workplace.

St Austell acquires 3rd site in recent months

18-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

St Austell Brewery has acquired its third site in recent months – the Blue Ball Inn, Lynmouth, Devon, bringing its portfolio to a total of 178 pubs, inns and hotels across the West Country.

Energy crisis: Pubcos offer ‘work from pub’ deals

12-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubcos are offering work from pub (WFP) deals to boost business and draw in workers seeking a break from their energy bills.

Whitbread pumps £15m into staff pay rises

10-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub, restaurant and hotel firm Whitbread has laid out a pay support package in a bid to help its UK-based hourly paid employees tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Brakspear creates a buzz with initiatives

06-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator and brewer Brakspear has announced it will launch an initiative called ‘Brakspear’s Giving Back’ that will support worthy causes chosen by its 120 pubs through a fund-matching scheme and upscale its efforts to protect Britain’s bee population.

Licensee takes on pub that was first date venue

03-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Love is certainly in the air for a licensee who has taken on a second pub that was the setting for her first date with her partner.

RedCat appoints new CEO

03-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

RedCat Pub Company has announced former Whitbread managing director Phil Birbeck will take over from Chris Hill as the company’s chief executive officer from today (Monday 3 October).

Shepherd Neame: ‘ambition there to scale retail business’

29-Sep-2022 By Georgi Gyton, deputy editor, MCA

Shepherd Neame is planning build its retail pubs and hotels business through a mixture of tenanted conversions and selective acquisitions, chief executive Jonathan Neame has told MCA.

Shepherd Neame reports return to profit

28-Sep-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Shepherd Neame has announced a return to profit and significant revenue growth in its results for the 52 weeks ending 25 June 2022.

Admiral to invest £1m into energy-saving plan

22-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Community pub group Admiral Taverns will plough £1m into energy-saving initiatives across its pub estate.

Fuller's calls for energy support 'clarity'

20-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Fuller, Smith & Turner has urged the Government to provide “clarity” regarding support packages for the hospitality sector as the London-based operator faces a £10m hike in energy costs.

Tributes paid to St Austell's Jim Sloan

13-Sep-2022 By Ed Bedington

St Austell is mourning the loss of its head of tenanted operations Jim Sloan, who passed away peacefully last week.

Energy costs force seaside pub to close

13-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rising electricity bills and issues caused by Brexit have forced Brighton Beer Dispensary in East Sussex, to close its doors for good.

Inception Group to open power station-themed bar

09-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based bar operator Inception Group will open a 1950s-themed site in Battersea Power Station’s historic Control Room B on 14 October when the grade II*-listed building opens its doors to the public.

North Brewing fundraising as ticket firm enters administration

09-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Craft beer brewer and bar operator North Brewing Co has launched a fundraising campaign after the business that was providing tickets for its inaugural beer festival went into administration, leaving North £25,000 out of pocket.

review of the week

‘We're desperately looking for some form of leadership’

02-Sep-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks to JW Lees managing director William Lees-Jones about energy costs, inflation and a Government unwilling to help the sector.

Mission Mars ploughs £3m into Albert’s Schloss site

01-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Bavarian-themed bar and restaurant Albert’s Schloss is set to open a site in Liverpool in November.

Energy crisis: Chancellor refuses meeting with struggling operator

31-Aug-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A leading operator has been refused a meeting with the chancellor of the exchequer after writing to him expressing concerns with skyrocketing energy bills.

Rebuilding work begins on fire-damaged cricketers’ pub

30-Aug-2022 By Gary Lloyd

New images show work has begun to bring the Tap & Run pub back to life after it was ravaged by fire in June this year.

Soaring costs force licensees to quit pub

25-Aug-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The operators of Hampshire pub the White Horse Inn have said an emotional farewell after failing to negotiate terms with pubco Admiral Taverns to keep the pub open.

George Orwell’s ‘perfect pub’ faces threat of closure

23-Aug-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The favourite pub of Animal Farm writer George Orwell could be forced to shut down after residents complained it was a health hazard and public nuisance.

Long-serving licensee calls time on career

22-Aug-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A Shepherd Neame licensee is calling time on her career behind the bar after 28 years with the Kent-based independent brewer.

Pubs not using social media 'missing trick'

17-Aug-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Operators not utilising social media have been “missing a trick” according to one London-based operator.

July saw flat sales for managed venues

16-Aug-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Like-for-like (LFL) sales at managed pubs dropping by 0.6% in July 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Opinion

'Things can only get better'

15-Aug-2022 By Brendan Padfield, owner, the Unruly Pig, Bromeswell, Suffolk

I am old enough to remember when Tony Blair first got elected and particularly the Labour Party’s then electoral anthem “things can only get better “.