Punch Pubs & Co

Punch demands Cable meeting after 'gone bust' gaffe

03-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns chief Stephen Billingham has written to Vince Cable demanding a meeting after the business secretary’s gaffe last week.

Punch warns on debt default again

28-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has stated that it would default on its debt payments within 30 days of the 15 April covenant testing date if it fails to achieve its restructuring plan, and warned of the “material negative impact on the business” if its plan is not approved...

Punch tenants' deposits 'not secure' as pubco withdraws debt restructure proposals

12-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns is unable to guarantee that tenants’ deposits would be secure in the event of a default on its £2.3bn debt mountain, but suggested it would be highly unlikely that an administrative receiver would not protect the funds.

Coming days 'crunch time' for Punch Taverns, warns boss

05-Feb-2014 By John Harrington

The next few days will be some of the most important in the history of Punch Taverns, the group’s executive chairman Stephen Billingham has said as it nears the date where noteholders vote on its debt restructuring proposals.

Punch Taverns and MP Greg Mulholland in war of words

05-Feb-2014 By Michelle Perrett

A spat has broken out between Punch Taverns and Save the Pub group chairman and MP Greg Mulholland over beer prices and deposits. 

Punch tenants angry over 'surprise' stock audits

30-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns tenants have expressed their anger after the pub company recruited a third party agency to carry out surprise stock audits in its pubs, as part of a fresh crackdown on licensees buying outside the tie.

Punch restructure proposals rejected by ABI

27-Jan-2014 By Mark Wingett

A group representing Punch Taverns noteholders has said it’s unable to support the pub company’s plans for its debt restructure.

MP Greg Mulholland asks for reassurance over Punch tenants deposits

24-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

Save the Pub Group chairman MP Greg Mulholland has asked Punch for reassurance that its tenants deposits are secure in the event that the company goes into administration.

Sides clash over Punch debt restructure

22-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns executive chairman Stephen Billingham and a committee representing senior Punch noteholders have clashed over the process of the company’s debt restructure.

Punch announces full restructure proposal

15-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub operator, has announced the full terms of its debt restructuring proposal and said that failure to effect the restructure would be expected to lead to a default in the near-term.

Punch disposals to take longer than anticipated

07-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub company, expects its pub disposal process to take about two years longer than initially thought.

Statutory code: Punch predicts 415 job losses at contractors and suppliers

19-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns says 415 jobs could go among its external contractors and suppliers if the Government introduces its proposed statutory code as planned.

Punch Taverns writes to Prime Minister refuting Mulholland beer price allegations

17-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns has written to Prime Minister David Cameron refuting accusations made against the company by MP Greg Mulholland during Question Time in the House of Commons last week.

Punch backs new charity website and helpline

11-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

Punch Taverns is the first company to promote the new Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) website and helpline to its staff and licensees.

Punch Taverns launches latest proposals for debt restructure

09-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has this morning set out its latest proposals for restructuring its debt securitisations, and said it will launch its final proposal by 15 January.

Punch operations director Giles Kendall new BBPA Midlands chair

28-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns operations director Giles Kendall is the new chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) Midland Counties.

Punch posts 1.4% rise in lfl core estate net income

27-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub operator, has reported a 1.4% rise in like-for-like net income in its core estate in the 12 weeks to 9 November, and maintained its view that it intends to announce restructuring proposals in December.

Punch launches new advice line for licensees

21-Nov-2013 By Lewis Brown

A free 24/7 legal advice line has been set up by Punch Taverns for its licensees.

Punch wins National Business Award

14-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns was announced 'Business Enabler of the Year' at the National Business Awards in London earlier this week.

Punch Taverns fined for fire safety failings

06-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns and leaseholder Graham Dennett, of the Rams Head Inn in Grappenhall, Cheshire, have been fined for failing to implement adequate fire safety measures.

Punch launches new wine club

30-Oct-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has launched a new wine club following feedback from partner forums.

Punch Taverns' Dando in line for hefty restructure bonus

25-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns finance director Steve Dando could receive a one-off payment of up to 100% of his annual salary - £275,000 - on successful completion of the company’s capital restructure project, according to Punch’s Annual Report (PDF).

Punch found in breach of code of practice at its first PICA-Service case

17-Oct-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Punch has been found in breach of its code of practice at its first case though the Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service (PICA-Service).

Punch Taverns on course to reach area manager qualification target

10-Oct-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Punch Taverns is “on track” to have all of its area managers pass an industry-recognised qualification in hospitality management, after it revealed more than half had already qualified.

Punch Taverns roadshows 'off to a flying start'

07-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The Punch Taverns roadshows got off to a successful start with 144 Punch pubs from across the North East attending the first event in Newcastle on 1 October.

Statutory Code: Punch labels Government plans as a breach of human rights

26-Sep-2013 By Gurjit Degun and Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns has labelled the Government’s plans for a statutory code for the pubco-tenant relationship a breach of its human rights.

Punch Taverns results in line with expectations

25-Sep-2013 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has this morning reported that its performance for the 52 weeks to 17 August 2013 was in line with expectations, with like-for-like sales in its core estate up 0.4% in the fourth quarter.

Fair Deal for Your Local: Enterprise and Punch disposed of a third of pubs

25-Sep-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns collectively disposed of more than 5,000 (33.24%) pubs between 2008 and 2012 – that’s the figures from the Fair Deal for Your Local (FDFYL) campaign.

Punch sets disposals target as restructure continues

13-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns is likely to slow down its disposals to between 300 and 350 in 2014, says finance director Steve Dando, who also said he’s “confident” that the company’s debt restructure will occur in the second half of 2013.

Punch Taverns founder Hugh Osmond: 10,000 pub closures 'long overdue'

11-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Hugh Osmond, the high-profile investor who founded Punch Taverns, has said that the closure of 10,000 pubs in the past decade had been “long overdue” and would ultimately benefit the industry.

Punch like-for-like sales up 0.4%, plans to launch restructuring

03-Sep-2013 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has this morning reported a 0.4% increase in like-for-like net income across its core estate for the 12 weeks to 17 August 2013. 

Punch reveals roadshow details

19-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns has revealed the dates and venues for its 10th annual roadshow event.

Grinning Rat tenant calls Punch 'ridiculous' after losing eviction legal battle

17-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A tenant who has been forced to leave his Ipswich pub after unsuccessful legal action has called Punch Taverns “ridiculous” and said he was making profits.

Former tenant to sue Punch after facing '10 weeks of hell'

11-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

An ex-Punch Taverns tenant has sought legal action against the company after an unpaid gas bill from a previous lessee left him without hot water and the use of his kitchen.

Punch Taverns defends drafting letters for tenants to send to MPs

04-Jul-2013 By John Harrington & Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns has defended its decision to help draft some of the letters sent by tenants to the Government in support of the pub company for the consultation into plans for a statutory code for pub companies.

Punch Taverns licensees attend forum to help drive footfall

03-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Punch Taverns licensees have attended a partner forum to discuss wine, cask ale and future initiatives to drive footfall.

Punch forms New Business Division to support new tenants and lessees

25-Jun-2013 By Rob Willock

Punch is forming a New Business Division to provide dedicated support to all new tenants and lessees.

Punch Taverns tenant fury after gas cut off

20-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A furious Punch Taverns tenant is on the verge of “throwing his keys back” at the pubco after an unpaid gas bill left him without hot water and the use of his kitchen.

Punch announces revised restructuring proposals

10-Jun-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub company, has announced revised proposals for the restructuring of its £2.4bn debt securitisation and says it hopes to have the restructure completed this month.

Punch Taverns to review Buying Club product range

08-Jun-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has revealed plans to review the online product range provided on its Buying Club website.

Punch tenant facing eviction stages sit-in protest

06-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A Punch Taverns tenant who is expecting to be evicted is staging a sit-in protest.

Punch Taverns code accredited under version 6 of the Industry Framework Code

04-Jun-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has become the first pub company to achieve BIIBAS accreditation for its code of practice under version six of the industry framework code, which was released in March this year.

Tenant of Grinning Rat hits out at Punch over eviction

03-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A tenant resigned to leaving his Ipswich pub has hit out at the way Punch Taverns has handled his eviction.

Punch Taverns helps licensees with pub marketing

31-May-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub operator, is to focus on helping its pubs improve their marketing by issuing all its licensees with a CD featuring marketing advice along with a copy of the quarterly guide Marketing Your Pub.

Punch could face break-up as talks over debt hit wall

13-May-2013

Crucial talks between Punch Taverns and its debt holders are approaching stalemate, according to a report in The Mail on Sunday.

Punch Taverns area manager is the first to visit 1,000 pubs as part of Cask Marque’s World’s Biggest Ale Trail

09-May-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A Cambridgeshire man has become to first to visit 1,000 pubs as part of Cask Marque’s World’s Biggest Ale Trail.

Punch Taverns lessee voices concern over “split insurance policies”

01-May-2013 By Helen Gilbert

A Punch Taverns lessee has voiced concern over “split insurance policies” after being left more than £25,000 out of pocket following a sewage tank leak.

Marston's, JD Wetherspoon, Punch Taverns and Stonegate respond to Hartlepool EMRO consultation

30-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pub companies Marston's, JD Wetherspoon (JDW), Punch Taverns and Stonegate have all made representations against Hartlepool Borough Council's decision to introduce restrictions to pub opening hours.

Punch Taverns to review POS support offered in cask packs

25-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Punch Taverns is looking to review the point of sale (POS) support offered in its Punch Finest Cask Packs, after a forum with licensees.

Only five free-of-tie leases were granted though Punch, Enterprise and Marston’s in 2012

24-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Only five free-of-tie leases were granted though Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns and Marston’s in 2012, the first Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Pub Benchmarking Survey has revealed.