25-Feb-2010 By Alastair Darby
As we move from economic winter into spring, the trade should concentrate on growth, says Marston's Pub Company boss Alastair Darby.
04-Feb-2010 By Ewan Turney
New Enterprise managing director east Nick Light tells Ewan Turney his views on the thorny topics of beer ties, rents and transparency.
Pubs reminded of free PRS dispute system
22-Jan-2010 By James Wilmore
Licensees who feel they have been unfairly treated by music fee collection firm the Performing Rights Society (PRS) are being reminded they can...
New energy rules should help trade
21-Jan-2010
New rules that should stop energy suppliers rolling over small business customers' contracts without them realising have been welcomed by the trade....
23-Dec-2009 By John Harrington
More than half a billion pounds worth of loans have been secured under a Government-backed scheme aimed at small and medium firms. More than 5,840...
Orchid buys Premium Bars & Restaurants venues
15-Dec-2009 By Hamish Champ
Orchid Group, the private equity-backed pub operator announced today it had bought 43 venues from the administrators of Premium Bars &...
18-Nov-2009 By John Harrington
A £600,000 marketing campaign has been launched to get punters into Manchester's bars and shops over Christmas. It will see ads on TV and in the...
16-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney
The Forum for Private Business has called for a freeze on all new business legislation to allow Government to re-assess the burden of red-tape. The...
OFT urged to address 'phoenix companies'
13-Nov-2009 By Hamish Champ
The issue of companies that go bust and then re-appear under a new name leaving small creditors unpaid must be looked into by the Office of Fair...
28-Oct-2009 By Ewan Turney
The Government must not sacrifice support for small businesses to plug the gap in public finances, the FPB has warned.
Old Orleans could return to Punch Taverns
19-Oct-2009 By Hamish Champ
Punch Taverns could find itself running a number of Old Orleans restaurants if Regent Inns is the subject of a pre-pack administration this week...
14-Oct-2009 By Roger Whiteside
Roger Whiteside took over as boss of Punch's leased division a year ago. He talks about what he has discovered — and the way forward. I joined...
Tories promise more help for small firms
14-Oct-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Shadow licensing minister Tobias Ellwood has unveiled Tory proposals to help pubs fight back against the recession. Speaking at the Best Bar None...
25-Sep-2009 By Ewan Turney
Lord Mandelson has "gone a long way to saving" thousands of pubs by deciding to delay implementation of the mandatory alcohol retailing code. That's...
FPB offers pubs help with employment law
17-Sep-2009
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has launched an Employment Guide to help small businesses comply with employment law. The increasing number of...
FSB urges government to take action against the tie
27-Aug-2009 By Matt Eley Matt
Beer prices charged by pubcos is a problem for nearly 90 per cent of tied licensees, according to a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses...
26-Aug-2009 By Gemma McKenna
Pubs selling for alternative use are being snapped up by buyers from other commercial sectors such as retail operators and car dealerships. That's...
17-Aug-2009 By Ewan Turney
Small businesses could now wait up to four months to be paid by Danish brewing giant Carlsberg. The brewer has come under fire from the Forum of...
12-Aug-2009 By Ewan Turney
Drinks wholesaler WaverleyTBS is set to axe 65 jobs following a proposed restructuring of its sales force. Waverley said the jobs would go in its...
17-Jul-2009 By John Harrington
Business Minister Ian Lucus has promised to raise the issue of banks not lending to pubs in Government. It followed a question in Parliament by Greg...
Greene King: Fit for the future?
12-Jul-2009 By Hamish Champ
A passing remark from Greene King chairman Tim Bridge in the brewer's results announcement - that the Suffolk brewer had made no acquisitions during...
06-Jul-2009 By Ewan Turney
Rural pubs must be offered 100% rate relief if they are to survive, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
25-Jun-2009 By David Elliott
it's very disappointing that local authorities are adding significantly to the failure of pubs and small businesses, says Greene King Pub Partners managing director David Elliott.
18-May-2009 By Ewan Turney
Half of all small business are unclear about what they need to to become more energy efficient, according to a new poll by British Gas Business....
07-May-2009 By Ewan Turney
Drinks giant Diageo has reported flat sales for the nine months to 31 March on last year. The Guinness brewer and spirits and wine producer said net...
Small firms need bank mediator, says FSB
21-Apr-2009 By James Wilmore
Small businesses, such as pubs, need a go-between to rebuild ailing relationships with banks and revive the flagging economy, a pre-Budget poll has...
01-Apr-2009 By Ewan Turney
More than half of small leisure businesses (52%) are delaying paying energy bills as long as possible, a new survey has found.
16-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
Government and banks should do more to support small business, according to a new survey from the Forum for Private Business (FPB).
09-Mar-2009 By Richard Miles
Insolvency practitioners must play fair says Richard Miles in our second look at the issue
Mark Daniels: Clubcard Pints!
09-Mar-2009
Following in the business models of giant American retail corporations, who swept through US towns and decimated small businesses in the seventies...
06-Mar-2009 By John Harrington
Local Government minister Sadiq Khan says the Government won't rule out automatic rate relief for small firms "as an option for the future
20-Feb-2009 By David Moore, Begbies Traynor
Pre-pack administrations have become increasingly controversial. David Moore, a partner with business rescue, recovery and restructuring specialist Begbies Traynor, defends the pre-pack.
Cut business rates to reflect falling inflation
04-Feb-2009 By Gemma McKenna
Trade groups and MPs have urged the Government to lower business rates for small firms to reflect the expected fall in inflation.
Booker invites pubs to 'thank you' event
14-Jan-2009
Booker is kicking off 2009 with a two-day 'thank you' to customers.On January 22 and 23, the cash and carry group will empty its head office, with...
A half-decent Christmas and New Year then?
12-Jan-2009 By Hamish Champ
A ring round of managed pub operators to get a sense of Christmas and New Year business proved a rather fruitless exercise last week. While a handful...
20-Nov-2008 By Tony Halstead
Vital cash grants could be on the way from local authorities to help struggling rural and community pubs diversify into new income streams. Rural...
20-Nov-2008 By John Harrington
BII Licensee of the Year Chris Lewis bemoans the return of cheap drinks deals at pubs and clubs, including all-inclusives
Being happy in a recession, the Archie Norman way
17-Nov-2008 By Hamish Champ
Last week I listened to two highly successful businessmen tackle the vexed subject of how businesses could cope in a recession. At The Publican's Pub...
14-Nov-2008 By Gemma McKenna
Council bosses have called for greater powers to give business-rates "breaks" to struggling small firms. This comes in the wake of a new Local...
13-Nov-2008 By John Harrington
A Government minister has assured the Morning Advertiser that the new energy protection scheme will not fail small businesses. The new system, in...
FSB appoints small business professor
07-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has appointed a business professor to help its members in the current challenging environment.
22-Oct-2008 By Ewan Turney
Government measures set out to help small businesses have been welcomed by two trade organisations. The Government yesterday agreed plans for local...
21-Oct-2008 By John Harrington
The Conservatives have called for action to help struggling small businesses through difficult times. Deferring VAT bills for up to six months, and...
07-Oct-2008 By Ewan Turney
The Federation of Small Businesses has called for interest rates to be cut this Thursday to help small businesses fight the credit crunch.
01-Oct-2008 By John Harrington
Government insists new regime for handling complaints, in place of the now defunct energywatch, will offer a better system but concerns still exist that the new Consumer Direct only offers a limited service to businesses.
Lights switch off at energywatch
01-Oct-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
Licensees in dispute with power companies will no longer be able to turn to energywatch. The regulator officially shuts down today and will be...
18-Sep-2008 By John Harrington
A trade leader has urged Gordon Brown to throw struggling small businesses a lifeline on business rates. In a letter to the Prime Minister,...
Cains reports £4.5m loss
28-Jul-2008 By Matt Eley Matt
Liverpool brewer Cains has blamed the smoking ban and reduced consumer confidence for a £4.5m loss. The company reported the pre-tax loss today for...
MA energy victory
17-Jul-2008 By John Harrington john.harrington@william-reed.co.u
Government changes stance on protection The Government has agreed to include most pubs in the forthcoming energy protection scheme. This marks a...
26-Jun-2008 By Mark Stretton, M&C Report
A new group called Yellowhammer Bars has been formed to operate the Sports Café and Candu Entertainment businesses. The move follows the...
