Professional Services & Utilities

Media Protection Services in liquidation

14-Aug-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Media Protection Services (MPS), the company that was previously responsible for investigating and prosecuting licensees for the use of foreign satellites, has been placed into liquidation.

Tim Martin: 'Pubs are still over-rented'

01-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin has told the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report that a lot of pubs are still “greatly over-rented” as a legacy of the last financial boom.

Shelving minimum pricing saved on-trade from £62m revenue drop, says new report

23-Jul-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The Government’s decision to shelve a 45p minimum unit price for alcohol has saved the on-trade from a £62.2m drop in revenue.

Orchid is the youngest pubco to gain Investors in People accreditation

19-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The Orchid Group has become the youngest pub company to receive accreditation from Investors in People.

Molson Coors staff dispute continues after pay deal vote

02-Jul-2013 By John Harrington

The threat of strike action by workers at Molson Coors’ brewery in Burton-on-Trent remains after employees rejected a deal on pay, conditions and new shift patterns.

Fears around cash flow and late payment has risen, says new study

24-Jun-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Fears around cash flow and late payment among small and medium business (SME) is on the rise, according to a study conducted by the Forum of Private Business.

Molson Coors staff vote for strike action over pay and shifts

30-May-2013 By John Harrington

Workers at Molson Coors’ Burton brewery have voted by a margin of 97% in favour of strike action in a dispute over payment and shift patterns.

Booker announces growth plans following Makro merger

24-May-2013 By Jo Bruce

Food and drink wholesaler Booker aims to hit £6bn in sales and become the UK’s leading wholesaler following its merger with Makro.

Adnams battles tough trading conditions

07-May-2013 By John Harrington

Adnams, the Suffolk brewer and pub operator, has said that difficult trading conditions exacerbated by continuing poor weather summed up its first quarter.It said that the bad weather had a particular impact on its hotels, tied pubs and free-trade beer...

Concerns raised over City of London 'traffic light' system for problem premises

23-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Industry leaders have raised concern about a ‘traffic light system’ which is set to be introduced for to tackle ‘problem’ licensed premises in the City of London

Drinkaware urged to make 'substantial changes' to its operations

18-Apr-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Drinkaware is being urged to make ‘substantial changes’ to the way it operates after an independent review raised concerns around funding, its governance model and the way it carries out its core activities.

People 1st and Hospitality Guild call for employer support to access share of £250m skills funding pot

15-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

People 1st and the Hospitality Guild are co-ordinating an industry-wide bid for the industry to get a share of £250m pot available within the government’s Employer Ownership Fund.

Pub loses more than £1k after customer leaves without paying

14-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee has been fleeced of more than £1,000 after a man stayed five nights at her venue and left without paying the bill.

The day I became a pubco CEO

18-Feb-2013 By Robert Sayles

An official looking letter arrived through the post last week. It was an invitation to Number 10.

FSB urges action from banks on mis-sold interest rate swaps

01-Feb-2013

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for “swift” action from banks to compensate businesses caught up in the mis-selling of interest rate swaps.

Pubs 'don't get credit they deserve' claims new Drinkaware CEO

25-Jan-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Pubs “do not get the credit” they deserve, Elaine Hindal the new CEO of Drinkaware has claimed.

Ooberstock secures £600,000 in second round of funding

16-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Ooberstock, the drinks distributor, has secured £600,000 in a second round of fundraising to take the business “to the next level of growth”.

WaverleyTBS debtors dispute Deloitte payment demands

11-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees have hit out at the way Deloitte is collecting money from them following the WaverleyTBS fallout last year, with concerns that some may be over-paying.

The Corner Pin in Morton receives £5K makeover from Glidden Trade

19-Dec-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Licensee Steven Pyatt, at the Corner Pin in Morton, Derbyshire will receive a business boosting makeover worth £5,000 after winning the Glidden Trade  Paint and a Pint competition. 

WaverleyTBS debtors face debt collection letters

06-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Businesses that were in debt to former drinks supplier WaverleyTBS when it fell into administration are being forced to pay their debts in seven days or face legal proceedings.

Alcohol Strategy plans for Cumulative Impact Zones will cost £18.9m

05-Dec-2012 By John Harrington

Plans to add a health-related licence objective for venues in cumulative impact areas (CIAs) will cost the industry £18.9m per year, according to Government estimates.

Fleurets predicts major pub deals in 2013

30-Nov-2012 By John Harrington

Major deals in the pub market are likely to surface in 2013 after a slowdown in the past year, according to Fleurets in its annual review of the pub sector.

The real cost of repairing your pub

27-Nov-2012 By Robert Sayles

“Hello there. I’m Dr. Frasier Crane. Welcome to another show dedicated to the beleaguered publican. Today we’ve got an open agenda, so feel free to ring in with any problems, or perhaps I should say misunderstandings you might be experiencing with your...

Revealed: WaverleyTBS creditor list in full

14-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock

Nearly 200 companies are listed as creditors of WaverleyTBS following the company’s collapse last month.

Landlords may start forcing rent reviews, says pub property agent Fleurets

02-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Landlords who have bought pubs as an investment may start forcing rent reviews - that’s the warning from Fleurets director David Sutcliffe.

Buying the freehold of your pub is worth the hassle

26-Oct-2012

For the 30 years I have been in pubs, owning your own freehold has always seemed the holy grail: freetrade prices, capital growth, no area manager, rent reviews or flow monitoring. Affordable freeholds have always been available, but not in our area.

Business Debtline accuses pubcos and breweries of lack of flexibility over rent payments

09-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A debt advisory service that is receiving an increasing number of calls from tied tenants has said pub companies and breweries are not offering enough flexibility in rent payments.

Pub property agent hits out at property developer tactics

26-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A property agent has hit out at property developers who are trying to push out their pub tenants by increasing the rent, upping the wholesale price of tied products, or supplying substitute products that do not suit the customers.

How pub business rates are calculated

11-Jul-2012 By Michael Yass

Business rates are one of the highest costs for pubs, and many licensees disagree with how much they have to pay. So how does the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) work it out? Ratings surveyor Michael Yass, director at Chesterton Humberts, de-mystifies the...

Pub company CEO defends business model: Part 3

04-Jul-2012 By Robert Sayles

Last week the city was rocked by news that recently retired pubco CEO and long time friend Roland Rodent had emerged from retirement to oust his successor William Weasel following a shareholder revolt.

Isn’t talk of credit a little premature?

18-Jun-2012

Well it seems that credit was being tossed around in abundance last week. No sooner had fellow blogger Mark Daniels suggested we acknowledge the positive changes taking place within the BII than PMA editor Rob Willock pops up and asks us to give property...

The benefits of micropubs

23-May-2012 By Robert Sayles

‘It appears to have everything prospective publicans crave; low start up costs, choice of location, competitive rent and FOT on a fantastic range of cask ales. It's the way to go for many of those thinking about entering the trade, isn’t it?’

Businesses are missing out on opportunities to cut energy bills

13-Apr-2012 By Adam Pescod

Nearly half (47%) of businesses, including pubs, are overlooking simple opportunities to cut their energy bills, despite more than two thirds (68%) making operational efficiency their top priority in 2012, according to new research by British Gas.

More customers paying by card in pubs and bars

03-Apr-2012 By Gurjit Degun

An increasing number of customers are using their credit and debit cards in pubs and bars, a survey by card payments specialist CardSave has found.

Collapsed Calco owes £23m

30-Mar-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Calco Pubs, the 79-strong pub group, which was placed into administration in January, collapsed with debts of £23.4m.

Responsibility Deal: Companies pledge to cut 1 billion units

23-Mar-2012

Drinks companies, brewers, wholesalers and supermarkets have pledged to cut a billion units of alcohol as part of the Responsibility Deal with the Government, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.

Men jailed for £5m keg theft plot

28-Feb-2012 By Adam Pescod

Five men from the Midlands have been handed jail sentences totalling 14-and-a-half years for their part in a plot to steal £5 million worth of beer kegs from across the region.

Unlicensed security director ordered to pay £550K

15-Feb-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Unlicensed security director Ernest Bewick has been ordered to pay £550,000 from his business or face five years in jail.

New £1m fund for alcohol partnerships

15-Feb-2012

Partnership schemes to tackle alcohol-related problems in local areas could receive a boost with news of a new £1m Government funding package.

FLVA defends decision over fees

14-Feb-2012 By Tony Halstead

The FLVA has defended its decision to impose a premium fee for new members for handling major negotiations such as rent reviews and dilapidations charges.

PMA Powersaver: Switch and save on your utility bills

03-Feb-2012

The Publican's Morning Advertiser has teamed up with Utilities Direct to relaunch the PMA PowerSaver to help licensees get the best deals on electricity and gas bills.

Business Profile: The Bull, Great Totham, Essex

18-Jan-2012 By Matt Moggridge

David Milne, owner of the Bull at Great Totham, near Maldon, Essex, talks Champagne dinners, learning from pricing mistakes and spirit pourers with Matt Moggridge.

Business profile: The Phoenix Tavern, Faversham, Kent

17-Jan-2012 By Alison Baker

Licensee David Selves, of the Phoenix Tavern in Faversham, Kent, talks game nights, the Battle of Trafalgar and presidential elections with Alison Baker.

Festive trading brings positive results

12-Jan-2012

Pub operators saw positive trade over the festive period, hailing the two long weekends and Christmas falling on a Sunday as an excuse for more people to go out.

PM pays surprise visit to Blackpool pub

09-Jan-2012 By Adam Pescod

Prime Minister David Cameron visited a pub in Blackpool yesterday during his whistle stop tour of Britain in support of local small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups.

GMB calls for trading standards action over 'under-filled' pints

20-Dec-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The GMB has called on a range of trading standards offices to take action against pubs serving short pints.

SBPA calls for trial period for minimum pricing bill

16-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has called for the Scottish Parliament to include a trial period as a provision in the minimum pricing bill, if it goes ahead.

Business Focus: Shaws Booksellers, London

15-Dec-2011

Licensee Adam Sykes, of Shaws Booksellers in the City of London, talks Star Wars, Toptable success and evening tapas with Sheila McWattie.

BII sets up scheme to accredit brokers

08-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod & Gurjit Degun

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) is working with Punch Taverns to improve access to finance for licensees wishing to purchase the freehold of their pub, or to buy another pub on the open market.

Host sells bonds to clear pub debts

17-Nov-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A publican is issuing bonds after failing to secure a bank loan to cover cash-flow over Christmas.