Cask ale - Hospitality

Old Speckled Hen revamp to be rolled out to pubs and bars

09-Dec-2014 By Robyn Black

Greene King is to roll out a new look for its Old Speckled Hen brand across the on-trade, following an off-trade launch in November.

M&B opens first Orchid conversion

08-Dec-2014 By Mike Berry

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has opened the first of its pubs converted from the 173-strong Orchid estate it bought earlier this year for £266m.

Head-to-Head: Brigid Simmonds and Greg Mulholland on MRO option

26-Nov-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds and Greg Mulholland MP, who tabled the market rent only amendment, share their views on the implications of the new clause

WATCH LIVE: Committee meets to discuss pubs code

14-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

From fears over “draconian measures” to an insistence that current proposals do not go far enough to tackle a “deeply flawed” pubco model, there is little agreement over the Government’s pubs code proposals.

Cask Matters launches website

30-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

A website has been launched to help licensees look after and sell cask ale successfully.

Pete Brown on the Cask Report

25-Sep-2014 By Pete Brown

Working in beer often feels like living in a busy, hyperactive bubble - less so now that beer is finally enjoying the mainstream media attention it deserves.

Cask Report says pubs need culture change to capitalise on ‘beer revolution’

25-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

The annual Cask Report has called on the pub trade to abandon ‘outdated stereotypes’ about ale drinkers and end the war with craft beer.

The Cask Report: What is 'craft beer'?

24-Sep-2014 By The Cask Report

A great deal of the new interest in beer focuses on the notion of ‘craft beer’. The term lacks a precise definition because, by its nature, it describes a broad and diverse category of beers. Among beer aficionados and around the industry, there is a...

The Cask Report: The main findings

24-Sep-2014 By The Cask Report

The Cask Report 2014 revealed there was a beer revolution occurring in Britain and cask ale was right at the heart of the story.

Wear Inns sets out acquisition plans on back of strong performance

23-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Wear Inns has set a target of a 40-strong estate as it reported positive results.

Pub companies outline their plans for Cask Ale Week

18-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Cask Ale Week (CAW) 2014 is almost upon us. Here is a rundown of what some brewers and pub companies have planned…

JD Wetherspoon reports rise in like-for-like sales

12-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the year to 27 July, with profit before tax and exceptionals up 3.1% to £79.4m.

Greene King expands its Local Hero scheme

29-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

A Greene King initiative encouraging pubs to champion all things local has now reached 30 pubs.

Camerons continues estate revamp and secures first new Head of Steam

22-Aug-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Camerons Brewery, the Hartlepool-based brewer and pub operator, has announced plans to refurbish almost one third of its estate and has reopened eight closed sites from its disposal list, M&C Report has learnt.

The Big Interview: Martin Hayes, Craft Beer Co

29-Jul-2014 By John Harrington

If anyone knows what makes a good craft beer, then that person is surely Martin Hayes, founder and MD of the renowned pub group Craft Beer Co that has grown to an estate of seven sites over half a decade. John Harrington spoke to him.

Are you ready for the Great British Beer Festival 2014?

16-Jul-2014 By Adrian Tierney-Jones

The Great British Beer Festival is one of the key events in the industry’s diary. Adrian Tierney-Jones highlights this year’s stand-out features

New pub sells food, drink and furniture

26-Jun-2014 By Jo Bruce

Midlands pub/bar operators John Molnar and Matt Saunders have opened a new pub which is selling furniture.

Pub installs cask ale 'cellar' at the bar

16-Jun-2014 By James Wallin

A pub is hoping to tap into customers’ passion for cask ale with a new innovation.

Analyst predicts rise of 'new regionals' in pub sector

16-Jun-2014 By Ruth Williams

The number of pubs owned by microbreweries could grow from 1% of the market to 10% over the next decade, with financial buyers also busy in the sector, according to Nigel Parson, independent analyst from Dryburgh Research.

Everards gets CAMRA award for championing pubs and brewers

12-May-2014 By James Wallin

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has given out its Bill Squires Award for the first time in ten years.

If your pub is threatened, follow the Fox

22-Apr-2014 By Roger Protz

Roger Protz says we should all be inspired by the battle to save a much-loved pub in West Yorkshire.

Ex-tenant's fury as Marston's holds back funds in tie violation row

03-Apr-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

An ex-tenant is in dispute with Marston’s for holding back more than £2,300 on his final settlement after the pub company claimed he bought out of tie.

David Cameron pledges to 'look very carefully' at pubcos

02-Apr-2014 By James Wallin

David Cameron insisted the Government would ‘look very carefully at the activities of some pub companies’ but stopped short of saying when legislation would be brought in.

Publicans not meeting customer expectations, new research shows

18-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Publicans are not talking their customers’ language when it comes to food and drink, according to new research.

Statutory Code: JW Lees claims mandatory free of tie option would be 'disastrous'

20-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

The introduction of a mandatory guest beer option for pub tenants could be “disastrous” and “endanger the viability” of mid-sized brewers while reducing choice behind the bar, JW Lees has told the Government.

Cask Marque pubs serve a better pint, survey shows

22-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Cask Marque pubs deliver a better quality pint compared to non-accredited outlets, a recent survey has shown.

Pieminister seeks 100 pubs to carry bespoke pie menu

21-Oct-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Pie supplier Pieminister plans to recruit up to 100 pubs UK-wide to sell an exclusive Pieminister menu.

Black Sheep in the red

09-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

North Yorkshire brewer Black Sheep sold almost 6,000 fewer barrels to national pubcos in the year to 31 March 2013, and saw its full-year profit turn into a loss, as it endured a “perfect storm” of negative factors.

One in four Star pubs take cut-price Sky deal

30-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Almost one in four lessees of Star Pubs & Bars, the Heineken-owned leased pub operator, have signed up to the deal that offers 30% off Sky Ultimate if they stock specific Heineken products.

Cask ale has lost old man image

26-Sep-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Cask ale has lost its old man image and more people are making it their drink of choice, claims Pete Brown author of the Cask Report.

Joseph Holt opens new cask-ale-house concept

24-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Joseph Holt, the Manchester-based brewer and pub operator, has opened a new cask-ale-house concept that could be rolled out further across the estate.

Fuller's launches competition to celebrate Cask Ale Week

23-Sep-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Fuller’s is offering one person the chance to become a brewer for the day at its Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, to celebrate Cask Ale Week.

KNDL staff agree 24-hour strike action

05-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Staff at Kuehne + Nagel Drinks Logistic (KNDL) are to hold a 24-hour strike from 10am on Wednesday 11 September that could disrupt drinks deliveries to almost 30,000 licensed premises, the union Unite has said today.

Good Pub Guide: concerned Mulholland launches petition

03-Sep-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has waded into a debate over the Good Pub Guide by launching a petition expressing concern over comments in the guide.

Brakspear eyes managed estate expansion

22-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Brakspear intends to expand its fledgling managed estate and has appointed former tenanted BDM Mat Aket to oversee the company-run pubs, chief executive Tom Davies said as the group announced a 20% rise in full-year profit before tax and exceptional items...

Inbetweeners star Greg Davies to present Great British Pub Awards

01-Aug-2013 By Jo Bruce

Greg Davies, star of The Inbetweeners and Cuckoo, is to present this year's BT Sport Great British Pub Awards.

Hardknott Brewery hits out at local competition after award win

26-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A leading UK brewer says he has been forced to sell his award-winning beers abroad due to a “saturated” local market, blaming brewers increasingly competing on price rather than quality.

Star offers 30% Sky discount if tenants stock Heineken brand

18-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Star Pubs & Bars is offering its tenants a 30% discount on Sky Ultimate for the next three years if they stock a specified range of Heineken products.

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.

Robinsons to segment pub estate into six trading styles

17-Jun-2013 By John Harrington & Phil Mellows

Robinsons, the Cheshire-based brewer and pub operator, is to segment its pub estate into six trading styles as part of a modernisation programme under new operations director Dave Harrison.

BISC statutory code hearing: 'we need reform of the beer tie'

12-Jun-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

A leading pub trade consultant believes the industry faces a stark choice if the relationship between pubcos and their tenanted and leasehold estates is to improve.

Final call for entries to BT Sport Great British Pub Awards 2013

30-May-2013 By Jo Bruce

Licensees have a final chance still to enter the BT Sport Great British Pub Awards and be in with a chance of winning a top BT Sport presenter to host an event at their pub.

Pubs urged to get ready for Cask Ale Week

28-May-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Pubs have been urged to start planning for Cask Ale Week in September after this year’s theme was unveiled.

Enterprise Inns tenant to hold ‘draught wake’ to mark end of the pub selling draught beer

24-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

An Enterprise Inns tied tenant is set to hold a ‘draught wake’ at the beginning of June to mark the end of the pub selling draught beer.

St Austell turnover breaks £100m mark

23-May-2013 By John Harrington

St Austell Brewery, the Cornish brewer and pub operator, saw turnover exceed £100m for the first time in its history in 2012 as it bought more pubs and sold more beer.

The Big Interview: Charles Bartholomew, Wadworth

17-May-2013 By Phil Mellows

Charles Bartholomew caused a stir when he declared that some pub tenants just aren’t good enough. And Phil Mellows discovers the Wadworth chairman is sticking to his principles as he explains how the Wiltshire-based company has been focusing on improving...

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