Cost

What is the best workwear for pub staff?

10-Apr-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Operators explain why striking a balance between clothes that look the part and workwear that helps get the job done is important.

Brewer announces price freeze for 250 pubs

24-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Lancashire-based brewer and operator Thwaites is freezing the price of its beer sold to its tenants across its 250 leased and tenanted estate, for the second year in a row.

Big brewers announce 2018 price hikes

21-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

AB InBev and Molson Coors will raise beer prices to above inflation over the next 12 months, making some beers and ciders up to 3.9% more expensive than in 2017.

Food price inflation is the biggest challenge for 81% of operators

18-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The rising cost of ingredients is the number one challenge for operators, according to a survey from data experts.

7 ways to combat food price inflation in your pub

09-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Food price inflation is nothing new, and many a pub operator will be used to that one local who sits in the corner complaining that his ploughman’s and pint of bitter is far more expensive than it used to be.

Pub operating costs rise above 50% of turnover, ALMR report reveals

11-Jul-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Operating costs in the pub sector have risen above 50% of turnover for the first time, according to the latest Benchmarking report from Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and Christie & Co. 

Sky price rise limited to 5% to account for spiralling business rates

16-Jun-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Sky has revealed that it is to increase prices from 1 August 2017, but promised that no pub would see an increase of more than 5%.

BT Sport announces price freeze

22-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

BT Sport will not raise the prices of its subscription packages when the new business rates are announced in April, the broadcaster has confirmed.

How will 2017's price increases affect the trade?

08-Feb-2017 By Michelle Perrett

With licensees facing increased expenditure ranging from brewery beer price increases to business rate revamps, what do some of those affected think will happen in the sector?

Food suppliers blame Brexit as record price hikes hit pubs

03-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Food companies issued a record number of price rise notifications over the past four months, citing Britain’s impending exit from the European Union as a major cause. 

Thwaites freezes beer prices to tenants

30-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Thwaites has revealed it is to freeze its own beer prices to its tenants this year.

Carlsberg and Heineken unveil price increases

23-Jan-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Carlsberg and Heineken are the latest brewers to unveil beer price increases for 2017.

BREXIT

Post-Brexit wine price fears: a storm brewing or scaremongering?

26-Oct-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Wine experts have warned that the severe economic uncertainty left by Britain’s vote to leave the EU is likely to disrupt the UK’s wine industry and raise prices. But how tangible will the knock-on effect be on UK pubs and should licensees be worried? 

Beer prices

The average cost of a pint in each county in Great Britain revealed

29-Sep-2016 By Liam Coleman

There is an 87p difference in the price of a pint of ale between the cheapest and most expensive regions of the country, according to the Good Pub Guide 2017.

Punch to trial energy cost-saving scheme

01-Apr-2016 By Oli Gross

Punch will trial an energy deal that aims to help its licensees cut the cost of utilities and reduce admin burdens.

CAMRA SPAT

Licensees reject "ludicrous" half pint pricing campaign

29-Feb-2016 By Oli Gross

Licensees have defended their right to charge extra for half pints in response to a ‘ludicrous’ campaign urging them not to.

Adnams to hold beer prices due to 'troubling' closure rates

08-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Suffolk-based brewer Adnams has revealed it will hold its beer prices in 'a bid to support the pub industry'.

Menu prices

High street pub food menu prices decline following increased competition

09-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

The strain of increased competition in the eating out sector has forced many high street pubs to slash the prices of their dishes, while the amount of side dishes sold increased significantly, according to the latest Horizons’ Menu Trends report.

‘Haggle on your turkey prices,’ operators told

06-Oct-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

Operators are being urged to take advantage of low inflation by haggling on the prices they pay for their Christmas produce, such as turkey and other meats.

Revealed: cheapest place to buy a pint

01-Jul-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Krakow and Kiev are the cheapest cities in the world to buy a pint according to the latest Beer Price Index, with the average price of a 33cl beer in a bar costing just £1.52.

Comment

Punch director: Squeezing everything to find an extra profit

30-Jun-2015 By Paul Pavli

Are you converting sales into profit?

Beer

Infographic: The rising cost of beer to tenants

21-Apr-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Tenanted pubcos react to wholesale increases.

Star to buy big ticket items for new lessees

02-Apr-2015 By Mike Berry

Star Pubs & Bars has said it will pay for big ticket items such as ovens, fridges and grills for lessees taking on new pubs.

Brewers defend wholesale price increases

15-Jan-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

Brewers have defended their position in regards to wholesale price increases and claimed they strive to “keep costs competitive”, after licensees slammed the move that will see rises of up to 5p per pint in some instances.

ALMR benchmarking survey shows red tape threatening recovery

09-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

Licensees are now spending more than 5% of annual turnover dealing with red tape, according to the latest Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers’ Benchmarking Survey, exclusively revealed in today's PMA.

BII accounts show membership fall but promise 'exciting' year ahead

09-May-2014 By John Harrington

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has revealed plans for major changes in 2014 including a brand relaunch, new benefits to members and a new constitution giving a “leaner and more responsive decision-making process”.

Happy 10th birthday £21bn alcohol cost estimate!

28-Feb-2014 By Pete Brown

The figure for the so-called 'cost of alcohol' to the UK economy is simply a will-o’-the-wisp, says Pete Brown.

Pub Market Report: Sales grow; profits flatline

27-Feb-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Last year’s good summer helped boost pub sales, but increases to business running costs continue to hold back profit growth, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s annual Pub Market Report survey has found.

Booker launches low price campaign for pub customers

03-Jan-2014 By Lesley Foottit

Food and drink wholesaler Booker is launching its next Prices Locked Down campaign.

Statutory code: Marston's believes its franchise agreement should be exempt

19-Dec-2013 By John Harrington

Marston’s has told the Government that its Franchise Agreement should be exempt from the proposed statutory pubco code.

Michelin-starred Star at Harome converts corner shop to bedroom

21-Nov-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Michelin-starred the Star at Harome in north Yorkshire has converted its corner shop into a ninth bedroom.

Sceptre Leisure cites costs and technology investment for price rise

11-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Sceptre Leisure, the operator of amusement machines, has been forced to increase prices by 8.7% from December 2013 citing rising costs and investment in technology.

Punch looks to help tenants lift food profits

01-Oct-2013 By Mark Wingett

Punch Taverns has announced a partnership with CaterCost, a web-based software system, to help tenants design their own menus and increase food profits.

ALMR sees ‘green shoots’ in the pub sector

05-Aug-2013 By Rob Willock

Signs of robust growth and confidence are creeping back into the pub sector, according to the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

Karen Murphy: Local pubs under threat

05-Aug-2013 By Karen Murphy

Licensee Karen Murphy is known by some as the brave heroine who took on the Premier League over foreign satellite football. Here, in an exclusive comment piece, she explains why she is leaving the pub trade.

Compliance costs soar for small firms, says new study

08-Jul-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The cost of compliance has risen by 8.5% in the past two years for small firms, new research has shown.

Food prices overtake rent and rates as greatest overhead

07-May-2013

Food prices have overtaken rent and rates in the list of major overheads facing UK restaurants in the last six months, and now come second only to staff wages, new figures show.

JD Wetherspoon will have to increase prices in response to rising costs

18-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon will have to increase prices as one response to rising costs that are affecting the company, chairman Tim Martin has told the Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report.

Sales for show, profit for dough

28-Feb-2013 By Rob Willock

Another week, another survey highlighting the problems being faced by pub licensees. This one happens to be our own, commissioned for our Pub Market Report among a cross-section of the PMA’s readership.

Locally-set licensing fees expected summer 2013

05-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Government “will shortly consult” on regulations for locally-set licensing fees with introduction expected in the summer, the Home Office has confirmed.

Food inflation to surge for pubs in 2013

07-Jan-2013 By Lesley Foottit

Food inflation will increase by more than one-third from 3.3% to 4.5% this year, according to Prestige Purchasing’s annual Food Inflation Report.

Small wet-led outlets suffer as costs of running a pub increase

15-Nov-2012 By Rob Willock & Adam Pescod

Total operating costs of running tenanted and leased pubs increased significantly last year — with smaller, wet-led pubs bearing the brunt, according to the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA’s) latest Running a Pub benchmarking survey of companies...

Mark Daniels: The birth of the £6 pint…

06-Nov-2012 By Mark Daniels

So last week, following a concerted effort by many publicans, industry personnel and beer lovers to generate a near religious movement on sites such as Twitter that saw an e-petition receive over 100’000 digital signatures, MPs finally had a debate about...

Pub chefs urged to raise food prices on menus to offset inflation

18-Oct-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Publicans are “going to be in trouble” if they don’t adjust menu prices for rising costs of core menu items now.

J D Wetherspoon reports 3.2% rise in like-for-like sales

14-Sep-2012 By Mark Wingett

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has reported a 3.2% rise in like-for-like sales for the 53 weeks to 29 July, and said that with taxation and input costs expected to continue to rise it was aiming for a “reasonable outcome” in its current financial...

Pubs are facing cost pressures ‘similar to the 1950s’

02-Jul-2012 By Lesley Foottit

Pub and restaurant businesses are facing the same cost pressures as 60 years ago, reveals Livebookings’ European Dining Index.

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?’

Landlords urged to prepare empty pubs for winter

09-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Empty pub owners have been warned to prepare their property for the winter to avoid damage in harsh weather conditions.

‘Customer malaise’ hits InnBrighton

17-Nov-2011 By John Harrington

InnBrighton, the Brighton & Hove-based licensed multiple retailer, has posted a 19.1% fall in EBITDA for the year to 30 June 2011, with rising costs, poor weather and “customer malaise” hitting sales.

InBev announces 7.8% price hike

04-Oct-2011

InBev UK, the Stella Artois, Budweiser and Becks brewer, has announced it will increase the wholesale prices of its brands by 7.8% from 2 January 2012.The figure is duty exclusive.