Other operators

A warm welcome: Pubs open doors to customers wanting free heating (Getty/ IanGoodPhotography)

Pubs offer free warm spaces for guests

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.

Incredible milestone: Oakman Group plants more than one million trees in collaboration with Tree-Nation (Credit: Oakman Group)

Oakman plants one million trees from coffee sales

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.

Continuous battle: Andrew Pern's the Star Inn the Harbour pub in Whitby to close next month following lack of support from council

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

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.

Dining in the dark: the Tollymache Arms (pictured) launches new event to highlight energy crisis

Pub hosting 'dining in the dark' evenings

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.

Last orders: Nottinghamshire pub shuts up shop (Getty/ Vladimir Vladimirov)

Stonegate pub shuts doors

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”.

Closed doors: Victorian pub set to shut at the end of this month (Getty/ Rogan Macdonald)

Last orders at Victorian pub

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.

New venue: St Austell Brewery acquires its 178th site

St Austell acquires 3rd site in recent months

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.

Pay uplift: the salary increases represents about £15m, according to Whitbread (image: Getty/Vertigo3d)

Whitbread pumps £15m into staff pay rises

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.

Giving Back committee members: back row (l-r): tenant Sean Arnett; finance & systems analyst Matt Godwin; leased & tenanted marketing manager Emma Sweet; beekeeper John Farrell; tenant Claire Sugg; chief executive Tom Davies and business development manager Gerard Winder. Front row (l-r) tenant Pete Collie; marketing manager Jacqueline Fletcher; and Alexa Davies, chairperson of Brakspear's Giving Back

Brakspear creates a buzz with initiatives

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.

Looking forward: Phil Birbeck to replace Chris Hill as RedCat CEO (Pictured: RedCat Forest Park Country Hotel in the New Forest National Park)

RedCat appoints new CEO

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).

Positive news: Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame says the business has rebounded well

Shepherd Neame reports return to profit

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.

Much needed clarity: Fuller's calls for clarity on energy support package as the company sees £10m energy costs hike

Fuller's calls for energy support 'clarity'

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.

Can't cope: Soaring energy costs force Brighton pub to close (Getty/ Rogan Macdonald)

Energy costs force seaside pub to close

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.

Power play: co-founders Charlie Gilkes (pictured) and Duncan Stirling will launch the site in October

Inception Group to open power station-themed bar

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.

Happier times: North Brewing Co at The Publican Awards earlier this year

North Brewing fundraising as ticket firm enters administration

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.

Talks fail: the licensees of a Hampshire pub have been forced to quit over surging costs (credit: Getty/mauro_grigollo)

Soaring costs force licensees to quit pub

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.

Operator comment: Brendan Padfield of the Unruly Pig outlines his thoughts on the current landscape facing the sector

Opinion

'Things can only get better'

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 “.

Big plans: Robinsons has seen profits climb ahead of its move to amalgamate its head office, brewing and packaging operations

Robinsons turns loss into £4.5m profit

By Gary Lloyd

Stockport-based brewer and pub operator Robinsons Brewery has announced an operating profit of £4.5m after ploughing £3.5m into its managed and tenanted pub estates.

What's in the news 22 July?

Adaption will be key to survival

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Lee Price operations director of the Royal Pier in Aberystwyth for his take on the week's news, from escalating costs to the rising temperatures.

Property deal: two Berkeley Inns sites have been acquired by RedCat Pub Company (image: Getty/Cecilie_Arcurs)

RedCat acquires two Berkeley Inns sites

By Nikkie Thatcher

The investment vehicle founded and chaired by former Greene King boss Rooney Anand, RedCat Pub Company has bought two pubs from Berkeley Inns.

Upwards trends: Barkby Group has seen positive growth to all sides of its business (credit: Getty/John Lamb)

Barkby Group reports 122% revenue boost to pub arm

By Gary Lloyd

Gastropub operator Barkby Group has reported revenue rise of 122% in its latest FY results ended 2 July 2022, and added it will look to dispose of non-core assets to focus on its property development business and pub arm.