Cost

Gov’t needs to relieve tyranny of rising costs

29-Sep-2011

The past week has been dominated by the latest round in the on-going tenant and pubco debate. But there’s one issue that we can all agree on. Businesses have been hit by wave after wave of cost increases in the past decade. The increase in regulatory...

‘Control of costs and margins are key’

16-Sep-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Will Clayton, the entrepreneur behind Gresham Inns and Leicester Square wine bar, the Cork & Bottle, claims that many businesses are spending a disproportionate amount of time looking to increase sales, when they are running a business where costs...

Price increases at 3663

16-Sep-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Food-led pubs are set for more doom and gloom over food prices, as foodservice company 3663 has confirmed that it will increase the cost of 35% of its products this month.

Pubs’ food costs spiral upward

02-Sep-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Food-led pubs are having to explore different menu options and cooking techniques in a bid to keep costs down as food inflation reaches 20% on some items.

BISC: Pubcos attacked over national rent database

07-Jul-2011 By John Harrington and Michelle Perrett

Pubcos were attacked for failing to provide information for a national database on rents and other costs for tenants. The Royal Institute of...

UKIP calls for investigation into pub trade

01-Jun-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Royal Commission to investigate the pub industry is being recommended by the UK Independence Party. The proposal has been put forward by the...

Cost of eating out in pubs reaches all-time high

27-Apr-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The cost of eating out in pubs shot up by 7.5% during 2010, pushing up the average price of a dish across all courses to an all-time high of £6.78.

Restaurant Group: pubs trading well

09-Mar-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has reported an increase in margins and profits at its pub restaurants for the 53 weeks to 2 January.

RPI hike to hit beer prices and rent

15-Feb-2011 By Gurjit Degun

The BBPA has called for the Government to scrap "record-breaking" tax rises on beer, as the RPI reaches 5.1%

Business Advice: An eye on the health of your business

09-Feb-2011

Nothing prompts a careful (re)assessment of business operations and costs like a recession. Sadly some businesses leave such assessment until it is...

M&B: impossible to gauge impact of VAT hike

27-Jan-2011 By Ewan Turney

M&B announced a 3.1% like-for-like sales increase for its latest period — an analysts conference call shed more light on its strategy.

Councils push for higher licence fees

27-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Local councils are pushing for reform of alcohol licence fees in a way that could ratchet up costs for pubs. Town hall lobbyists say fees should...

VAT hike raises fears over January trading

09-Dec-2010 By James Wilmore

Pub operators are bracing themselves for an extra tough New Year - with the VAT hike expected to force the price of a pint up by around 7p. VAT will...

Good advice — why people don't use it

10-Nov-2010 By Paul Wigham

I sat this week on the inaugural meeting of the BII Panel of Professional Advisors and it sparked debate on a number of issues, says Paul Wigham.

Underage drinking costs NHS £19m a year

25-Oct-2010 By Ewan Turney

Underage drinking, fuelled by the "ludicrously cheap price of alcohol" in supermarkets, is costing the National Health Service £19m a year. The...

Four price options to curb below cost sales

05-Jul-2010 By Peter Cripps, The Grocer

The Government has put forward four options to ban below-cost selling of alcohol and is planning to take the proposals to a public consultation...

Pub tenants hit by 19-year RPI high

18-May-2010 By Ewan Turney

Bad news for tied pubco tenants as the Retail Price Index reached a 19-year high in April — it will mean extra rent rises for some.

M&B to reveal review details next week

19-Mar-2010 By Martyn Leek, M&C Report

Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), the embattled managed pub group, has revealed that it will release details of its latest strategic review next week.

Luminar to cut costs

12-Mar-2010 By Martyn Leek, M&C Report

Luminar, the embattled nightclub operator, is to start a rigorous cost reduction exercise after revealing it had seen no upturn in recent trading and...

Bright ideas on a budget

01-Mar-2010 By Sheila McWattie

Building your business doesn't always require ambitious plans and a massive outlay. Sheila McWattie investigates a few cheap, but well-targeted initiatives.

Heineken makes "excellent progress" in UK

23-Feb-2010 By Hamish Champ

Heineken, the Dutch-owned brewer that acquired Scottish & Newcastle two years ago, said it made "excellent progress" in improving its UK...

BBPA: OFT's beer tie report was robust

05-Feb-2010 By Ewan Turney

The Office of Fair Trading's original decision on the beer tie was "robust", according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

Alcohol code will cost pubs £859

02-Feb-2010 By Gemma McKenna

The mandatory code will cost £859 per pub in the first year — £613 more than original estimates. The Home Office estimates the total cost across...

JW Lees freezes prices

28-Jan-2010 By John Harrington

Manchester brewer JW Lees plans to freeze the wholesale and retail price of its beers during 2010. The brewer said it would be "cynical" to raise...

Pub benchmarking survey open to all

17-Nov-2009 By Ewan Turney

A benchmarking survey of pub operating costs — designed to help in rent calculations — has been opened up to the whole trade for the first time....

Enterprise reports sharp drop in profits

17-Nov-2009 By The PMA Team

Enterprise Inns has reported a £55m drop in full-year pre-tax profits to £208m for the year to 30 September. Profit after exceptional items was £11m compared to £209m in 2008.

'Smoking costs NHS in Wales £1m a day, research reveals'

05-Oct-2009 By James Wilmore

Smoking is costing the NHS in Wales a staggering £1m a day, research today reveals. And the shocking figures show that more than one in five...

Pubs "foolhardy" to raise prices

02-Oct-2009 By Matt Eley Matt

Pubs that put up prices by around 10p a pint following tax hikes have been described as "foolhardy" in this year's Good Pub Guide. The annual guide...

Mark Daniels: To Sky or Not To Sky, that's my question

28-Sep-2009

On the one hand, I'd quite like to be able to offer my customers the ability to watch Sky in the pub, but on the other Sky's pricing model is quite...

Mark Daniels: Hypermiling my electricity bill

21-Jul-2009

I've recently purchased a new car. I'm not saying this because I feel I have bragging rights, nor did I do it because I've got plenty of cash to...

Luminar sales drop 3.3%

17-Jul-2009 By The PMA Team

Nightclub company Luminar has reported same outlet sales fell by 3.3% during the first 18 weeks of the year to 2 July compared to the previous year....

Punch: leased and managed divisions stable

15-Jun-2009 By The PMA Team

Punch Taverns has reported that it has stabilised performance in both its leased and managed division for the 40 weeks to 30 May. Like-for-like...

Pub meal prices could drop to 2006 levels

10-Jun-2009 By Ewan Turney

The cost of a pub meal could drop back to 2006 levels as competition for customers increases, according to one market analyst. Peter Backman of...

Enterprise Inns suspends dividend after profits slide

12-May-2009 By Hamish Champ

Enterprise Inns has announced it is suspending its interim dividend after reporting interim pre-tax profits down £29m at £103m.The UK's second...

Fears grow over tenanted & managed price gap

08-May-2009 By Tony Halstead

The widening drinks price gap between tenanted and managed pubs grew further this week as the real effect of the Budget duty hike became clear. The...

JD Wetherspoon: trading resilient

06-May-2009 By Ewan Turney

JD Wetherspoon recorded a like-for-like sales increase of 0.5% for the 13 weeks to 26 April and is now "slightly more positive" about its prospects.

Price of a pint up 5.5% on last year

20-Apr-2009 By Ewan Turney

The price of a pint of real ale has increased by an average of 5.5% since last year's Budget, according to new figures from the Camra.

Enterprise Inns sets up web "help desk

19-Mar-2009

Enterprise Inns has hired consultancy firm Gleeds to develop a web based help desk for licensees dealing with repair work in their pubs.After Gleeds...

Fuller's increases beer prices by 2.5%

03-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney

London brewer Fuller's has announced plans for a 2.5% increase in beer prices but will absorb cost increases until 1 April. The London Pride brewer...

Fuller's raises beer prices by 2.5 per cent

03-Feb-2009 By Hamish Champ

Fuller Smith & Turner, the London-based brewer and pub operator, is the latest group to raise the price of its beer following rising raw material...

Carlsberg increases beer prices by 2.8%

02-Feb-2009 By Ewan Turney

Carlsberg is to increase its wholesale prices for draught and packaged beers by 2.8% from 2 March. The Danish brewer blamed an increase in material...

Robinsons announces price freeze

27-Jan-2009 By Matt Eley Matt

Brewer Frederic Robinson has revealed it will not be asking its licensees to pay more for its products this year. Tied trade director William...

Marston's: profits down 6% at leased pubs

23-Jan-2009 By Ewan Turney

Like-for-like profits at Marston's tenanted and leased pubs slumped 6% on last year for the 15 weeks to 17 January — but brewer and operator is helping tenants by absorbing wholesale beer price rises.

Nexum boosted by bumper festive season

23-Jan-2009 By M&C Report

Nightclub operator Nexum Leisure has revealed that like-for-like sales at its core estate have increased by 6%. Revealing its sales for a five week...

Spirit will not match Wetherspoons' 99p pint deal

14-Jan-2009 By The PMA Team

Spirit, the managed division of Punch Taverns, will not respond to the 99p-a-pint offer from JD Wetherspoon, according to boss Mike Tye. The company...

Budweiser 7p price rise due to "tough climate

14-Jan-2009 By James Wilmore

Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch has cited the "tough economic climate" as one reason for hiking its prices by an average of 7p per pint on draught...

Pub training costs could top £151m under new plan

14-Jan-2009 By Ewan Turney

The Government could force all bar staff to go through official training qualifications, costing the industry up to £151m in the first year. Under...

InBev hikes beer prices by 7p a pint

12-Jan-2009 By Ewan Turney

InBev UK has slapped an average 7p increase on the wholesale price of a pint from 2 February. The Stella Artois brewer increased prices on two...

InBev announces 7p per pint price rise

12-Jan-2009 By James Wilmore

InBev UK is raising prices on its draught products by an average of seven pence per pint from next month. The brewer, whose brands include Stella...

Marston's full year dividend up despite profit slump

05-Dec-2008 By Hamish Champ

Midlands brewer Marston's has increased its full year dividend to shareholders despite announcing a 13 per cent fall in annual profits.The group said...