Punch Pubs & Co

Punch Taverns dismisses pre-pack administration option

19-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has reiterated to stakeholders that a pre-pack administration of the company “cannot be executed” and such a move is not in their interests.

Punch Taverns to the rescue after licensee allegedly flees with punters' money

17-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns has stepped in after a former licensee allegedly made off with deposits from customers for a chartered plane to take them to a football match.

Punch Taverns reports improving trends

05-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub operator, has reported another quarter of improved trends in the business, although profits, revenue and EBITDA all declined across the 28 weeks to 2 March 2013.

Bondholders reject Punch restructure proposals

02-Apr-2013 By Mark Wingett

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) Special Committee of Noteholders has rejected the restructuring proposals put forward by Punch Taverns last month but said it was prepared to work with the tenanted pub operator “to reach a quick & efficient...

Cirrus Inns set to acquire Guy Ritchie pub the Punchbowl

19-Mar-2013

Guy Ritchie-owned pub the Punchbowl in London's Mayfair is set to be acquired by Cirrus Inns, the investment vehicle launched to back a premium estate of freehold pubs with rooms.

Punch Taverns reports slowing decline in like-for-like sales

12-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the leased and tenanted pub company, has reported improving trends in the 12 weeks to 2 March, with a slowing of the decline in like-for-likes across its core estate from 5.2% in Q1 to 3.5% in the period.

Licensee slams Punch Taverns over Strongbow price rise

07-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Punch Taverns has come under fire from one of its licensees after it increased the price of Strongbow for his pub by the equivalent of 19p per pint (22p a pint including VAT).

Punch Taverns licensee outraged over ongoing refurbishment problems

05-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A publican who was reimbursed for poor building work during a refurbishment is still outraged with the state of the work and blames pubco Punch Taverns for failing to manage the contractor.

Punch Taverns licensees offered 30% Sky discount in Molson Coors deal

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Punch Taverns has teamed up with Molson Coors to offer a 30% discount on Sky Sports to its 4,500 pubs.

Punch Taverns confident over debt restructure

08-Feb-2013

Punch Taverns is confident it can complete a debt restructure in the first half of this year, according to finance director Steve Dando.

Punch Taverns to deliver apprenticeships to licensees

04-Feb-2013

Punch Taverns has teamed up with training provider Charnwood Training Group to deliver the BIIAB Level 2 Apprenticeship in Licensed Hospitality to its licensees.

Punch starts mystery shopper programme

01-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns has introduced its mystery-shopper programme to provide feedback for its leased and tenanted pubs.

Punch boss Roger Whiteside warns on increase in pub disposals

29-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The outgoing chief executive of Punch Taverns, Roger Whiteside, has warned that pub disposals could increase if regulation forces pub-owning companies to offer more free-of-tie leases.

Roger Whiteside to leave Punch Taverns

24-Jan-2013 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has announced that Roger Whiteside has informed its Board of his intention to resign as chief executive to take up the position of chief executive of Greggs, where he is currently a non-executive director.

Punch launches team to focus on pub investments

24-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns has become the first tenanted and leased pubco to introduce a team of regional launch managers (RLMs) to focus on its pub investments.

Punch Taverns performance 'in line with expectations'

14-Dec-2012 By M&C Report

Punch Taverns has this morning said that its average profit per pub is stable and overall profit performance is in line with management expectations, while discussions regarding a financial restructuring of the business were ongoing.

Publican secures 40% rent reduction with Punch

14-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Brewer and pub operator Nick Davis of Hobsons brewery has secured a 40% rent reduction with Punch Taverns.

Licensee slams Punch Taverns' insurance matching promise as "dishonest"

06-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

A multiple operator has slammed Punch Taverns’ ‘price-matching’ promise on building insurance as “dishonest”.

Punch Taverns holds second National Partner Forum for its tenants

04-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Punch Taverns licensees from across the UK attended a National Partner Forum last month to discuss issues about their business with fellow Punch Partners and senior figures in the company.

Punch Taverns plans to restrict director pay and bonuses

16-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Punch Taverns chief executive Roger Whiteside saw his basic salary increase by £25,000 to £430,000 in 2012, although his bonus payment dropped significantly and the company said it would further restrict bonuses for the CEO and finance director going...

Punch Taverns in restructuring talks after fall in pre-tax profits

24-Oct-2012 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub company, has reported a fall in EBITDA and pre-tax profits in the 52 weeks to 18 August and says it has begun restructuring talks.

Punch trials franchise tenancy deal

23-Oct-2012 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns, the leased and tenanted pub operator, is trialling its “franchise tenancy” concept at seven pubs, company director Andy Slee has told M&C Report.

Punch Taverns to recruit regional launch managers to help with major pub refurbishments

04-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns is to launch a number of initiatives for its pubs over the coming months including free Wi-Fi, a mystery shopper programme and new regional launch managers (RLM) to oversee new investments.

Famous Punch Tavern pub reaps reward of Olympic celebration parade

11-Sep-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Tavern on London's Fleet Street reaped the rewards of the Olympic and Paralympic celebration parade.

Flood-damaged Yorkshire pub offers shares to investors as it looks to buy freehold from Punch

16-Aug-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Yorkshire licensee whose pub was devastated by the floods which hit the region last month is hopeful of raising over £200,000 to secure its freehold from landlords Punch Taverns.

Punch pub gets top Cask Marque Quality Service Award

20-Jul-2012

A country pub in Suffolk has become the first pub in the UK to be awarded 100% for its excellent service standards when assessed for Punch Taverns’ Quality Service Award.

Punch plans to roll out Champs brand

04-Jul-2012 By M&C Report

Punch Taverns is to examine plans to rollout the Champs US sports bar brand after buying the intellectual rights to the concept that derives from the iconic Sheffield venue, M&C Report has learnt.

Punch like-for-like sales drop

28-Jun-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub operator, has reported a 6.4% decline in like-for-like sales in its core estate in the 12 weeks to 26 May due to the poor weather and difficult comparatives, although it said it remains on track for full-year...

Punch Taverns pubs take part in UK’s biggest pub darts competition

26-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

More than a quarter of Punch Taverns’ 5,000 pubs are taking part in the UK’s biggest pub darts competition Great British Pub Darts Classic.

Punch Taverns pub wins 13,000 pints of beer

20-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Bell at Kesgrave, Ipswich, has been crowned the place to celebrate the Summer of Our Lives by Punch Taverns, winning a dray of beer totalling more than 13,000 pints.

Punch Taverns issues warning on rogue business rates agents

08-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns has issued a warning over rogue business rates agents charging up to £1,000 for lodging an appeal, in a leaflet sent out to all of its tenants.

Punch puts the lease of licensee Dave Mountford's Rising Sun up for sale

07-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The lease of the Rising Sun, in Middleton, Derbyshire — the pub run by licensee Dave Mountford — has been put up for sale on the Punch Taverns website.

Punch Taverns chief Roger Whiteside crowned pub trade's most influential

24-May-2012 By Mike Berry

Punch Taverns chief executive Roger Whiteside has been named the pub industry's most influential person in the annual Publican's Morning Advertiser Top 50 list.

Punch Buying Club hits 100,000th order

04-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

The Punch Buying Club, the online purchasing website, has just celebrated its 100,000th order.

Dave Mountford agrees "private" deal with Punch over rent review

02-May-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Taverns and controversial licensee Dave Mountford have come to an agreement over the rent review of his pub the Rising Sun, Middleton, Derbyshire - although the details are not being disclosed.

Punch BRMs become first to achieve BII level 4 qualification

16-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Punch Taverns business relationship managers (BRMs) have become the first to achieve the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) level 4 qualification.

Punch licensee Dave Mountford heads to court on 3 May over lease

13-Apr-2012

A court hearing between Punch Partnerships and licensee Dave Mountford of the Rising Sun in Middleton, Derbyshire, is due to take place on 3 May at 3pm, at Derby County Court.

Punch in line to meet FY expectations

12-Apr-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Punch Taverns this morning said it was on track to meet full year expectations despite a drop in first-half profits after experiencing weaker consumer market conditions in recent months.

Punch trials low ABV beers

27-Mar-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Punch Taverns is trialling a scheme to let its tied licensees stock lower-alcohol cask ales that qualify for a 50% reduction in duty.

Punch issues proceedings against Dave Mountford

27-Mar-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Punch Partnerships has issued legal proceedings against licensee Dave Mountford of the Rising Sun, Middleton, Derbyshire.

Punch to improve training for BDMs

14-Mar-2012 By John Harrington

Punch Taverns has an-nounced plans to ‘upskill’ all its business relationship managers (BRMs) in the core estate by the end of 2012.

Soft trading dents Punch L-F-L

09-Mar-2012

Punch Taverns has reported a 0.8% growth in average net income per pub in the 12 weeks to 3 March due to its on-going disposal programme, although softer trading after Christmas dented like-for-like net income.

Punch found in minor code breach

23-Feb-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Punch has been found in minor breach of its code of practice by using “incorrect” and “misleading” comparables in its rent review of Dave Mountford of the Rising Sun, Middleton, Derbyshire.

US fund fined £7.2m over Punch trading

26-Jan-2012

Greenlight Capital, the US hedge fund, and its owner David Einhorn have been fined a total of £7.2m, for trading Punch Tavern shares on the basis of inside information by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Punch launches new year recruitment drive

05-Jan-2012

Punch Taverns has placed adverts on the back of Carlsberg delivery trucks as part of a recruitment drive aimed at attracting potential licensees from a range of backgrounds to the company.

Punch extends Gamestec deal

23-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has signed a two-year supply agreement with Gamestec, the country’s largest leisure machine operator.

Ex-Punch licensees publish book about life in pub trade

21-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod

Two former Punch licensees have published a book recounting their time in the licensed trade, and giving an insight into life behind the bar.

Punch warning on outlook as sales increase

16-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns, the tenanted and leased pub company, continued to see improvement in like-for-like trends across its core estate for the 16 weeks to 10 December, driven by its pubs in the South, which offset declines across its sites in the North, and...

Punch licensee launches marketing service

14-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Punch Taverns multiple operator has launched a bargain marketing scheme that is helping to fill other Punch pubs with customers.

Punch: good year of progress

20-Oct-2011 By Ewan Turney

Punch Taverns, the leased and tenanted operator, has reported its first growth (0.9%) in average net income per pub for three years as it continues to downsize its estate from 5,000 to 3,000 pubs.