Economics

The MA's Review of the Week

Never been a greater need for innovation

10-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Creative Hospitality's Bruno Nunes for his take on the big news this week, from pessimism in the face of the oncoming challenge through to reinvention for survival.

Are we all doomed?

09-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

According to Luke Johnson, we might as well pack up our bags and go home, but are we as doomed as he suggests?

New ‘powerful voice’ vows to fight for pub rights

22-Feb-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

New trade organisation UKHospitality, a fusion of the ALMR and BHA, has promised to fight hard for the £130bn hospitality sector after members voted in favour of its creation yesterday (21 February).

ALMR welcomes proposals to reform business rates

18-Dec-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has embraced business rates reform schemes from both the Scottish Finance Minister and the London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Government urged to take 'critical action' to protect hospitality jobs and growth

26-Oct-2017 By Claire Churchard

The Government must protect the hospitality sector’s ability to create jobs and invest in the UK ahead of the Budget on 22 November, according to the ALMR.

Star Pubs & Bars licensees ‘positive’ about year ahead

25-Oct-2017 By Claire Churchard

A survey of Star Pubs & Bars licensees has revealed they are optimistic about the year ahead in spite of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the UK economy.

ALMR calls for hospitality minister

27-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is calling on the Government to appoint a hospitality minister.

Young's reports like-for-like sales increase

11-Jul-2017 By by MCA

Young’s has reported like-for-like sales in its managed houses up 8.6% in the first 13 weeks of the year, with revenues for the division up 10.8%.

New Government needs a ‘flourishing pub sector’, says Fuller’s boss

12-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Fuller’s brewery and pubco chief executive Simon Emeny highlighted the importance of a “flourishing pub sector” for the UK economy as he urged the new Government to tackle the three biggest issues for the pub industry.

Food costs cause concern for business leaders

08-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Rising food prices and business rates are major concerns for business leaders, according to the CGA Peach.

General Election 2017

Tories promise long-term reforms to business rates system

18-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Conservative Party has admitted that the business rates system “presents considerable challenges” to small businesses and has promised to make longer-term reforms in its pre-election manifesto.

Pub trade optimistic as Brexit talks set to start

27-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

There has been a surge in optimism among the leaders of pub-owning businesses since the EU referendum in June 2016.

Food-led pubs have grown despite trade decline

20-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The number of branded food pubs have continued to grow despite evidence showing a small decline in the number of licensed premises.

Chancellor’s £1,000 rates discount will ‘save 25% of pubs’

13-Mar-2017 By Claire Churchard

The £1,000 business rates discount, unveiled by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week, could be the difference between survival and closing down for 25% of small independent pubs, according to a snap poll of 100 sites.

2017 Predictions

2017 predictions: ALMR to focus on ‘employment challenges’ in hospitality sector

20-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has claimed it will tackle “employment challenges” next year as further Brexit negotiations take place.  

Pubs

Wet-led sites fall by 2.1% in the last year

15-Dec-2016 By Sara Hussein

The number of wet-led sites has fallen by 2.1% in the past 12 months compared to the more marginal decrease in the number of food-led premises (0.4%) latest research has revealed.

Star Pubs & Bars

Star licensees optimistic about 2017 trade

12-Oct-2016 By Sara Hussein

Pub operator Star Pubs & Bars received 100% positive feedback from its licensees about their prospects for the year ahead despite staffing concerns. 

Travel

ALMR claims all-night Tube will benefit late-night sector

17-Aug-2016 By James Evison

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has welcomed the opening of London’s Night Tube service, claiming it will provide a boost to clubs and bars.

CGA/AlixPartners data

Analysis: The food-led pub juggernaut rolls on

09-Jun-2016 By Mike Berry

While UK pub numbers generally are in decline — with wet-led outlets losing out to food-led sites — vibrant city centres across the country are bucking the trend. Mike Berry reports.

Boost in spend on premium food and drink good for pubs

08-Jun-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Brits are continuing to buy less, but better quality, which is driving spend in gourmet dining establishments and boosting volume sales of Champagne and craft beer, research from Mintel has shown.

Operators

Robinson's launches buying club to help licensees with energy bills

09-May-2016 By James Evison

Northern operator Robinsons Brewery has partnered with utility management firm UB Services to assist its licensees with rising costs of annual utility bills.

Research

Eating-out sector in vital need of innovation, warns analyst

23-Mar-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

The eating-out sector is in vital need of fresh ideas and innovation in the face of economic uncertainty throughout 2016, a leading analyst has urged.

Hospitality operators' challenges in 2016 highlighted by new report

10-Mar-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Growth in the eating and drinking-out sector has fallen behind other major industries, according to new research. 

Budget

Alcohol duty judged 'too low' according to report

09-Mar-2016 By Emily Sutherland

A new report from the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) has claimed alcohol taxes are too low – despite UK drinkers paying 52p per pint in duty, one of the highest rates in Europe.

beer

Carlsberg 'contributes £9.6bn to society'

04-Mar-2016 By MCA

The Carlsberg group has estimated that it contributes £9.6bn to the economy in the markets in which it operates.

Pubs paying second highest business rates bill in UK

23-Nov-2015 By Emily Sutherland

British pubs are carrying one of the heaviest tax burdens in the UK economy according to a new report from Oxford Economics, paying six times more than justified.

Pub property

Is it a good market for first-time buyers?

23-Sep-2015 By Nicholas Baker

Nicholas Baker provides us with his thoughts on the current environment for pub finance and tips for applying for finance as a first-time buyer.

MA300

Hundreds of operators competing as London sites change hands for 'crazy money'

18-Aug-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Operators looking for sites in the booming central London market will be competing with up to 100 rivals according to Inception Group co-founder Charlie Gilkes.

£10m-worth of red tape slashed for small businesses

20-May-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Conservatives have unveiled their first plans for small businesses ahead of the Queen’s Speech next week.

Guidance

Licensed Trade Charity launches sickness guidance

20-Apr-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

The Licensed Trade Charity has launched new guidance to help prevent long-term sick and disabled people working in the licensed trade getting into financial problems.

Government consults pubs on business rates

10-Apr-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Pubs and bars are being urged to share their views on business rates in a new consultation.

Cider makers call for Government to support industry and scrap duty escalator

22-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

The UK’s cider industry is the most vibrant, diverse and successful in the world – that was the message delivered to MPs and government officials at a Westminster reception earlier this week.

Licensees 'missing out on tax relief'

21-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub licensees are missing out on thousands of pounds in unclaimed tax relief, known as capital allowances — that’s according to a chartered accountancy firm.

BII appoints new director of brand and business development

08-Jan-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The BII has appointed former Publican editor-in-chief, Caroline Nodder, to the executive board to head up its membership and communication divisions.

Charles Wells launches suppliers initiative

12-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Charles Wells, the brewer and pub operator, has begun centralising its suppliers in order to negotiate cheaper deals for its c200 pubs.

Vianet results suffer over pub industry statutory code uncertainty

09-Oct-2013 By Rob Willock

Uncertainty surrounding the Government’s proposed Statutory Code for pub companies is casting a shadow over beer flow monitoring firm Vianet, the company reported in a trading update today - warning that full-year profits will be down circa 10%.

Access to funding and skills shortages biggest factors affecting small businesses

09-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Access to growth capital and skills shortages are the main factors affecting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, according to research compiled by the association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Management...

Young's reports healthy like-for-like sales rise

09-Jul-2013 By Mark Wingett

Young’s, the London-based pub operator, has bought three pubs from Enterprise Inns over the past fortnight for an undisclosed sum.

Punch Taverns to review Buying Club product range

08-Jun-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has revealed plans to review the online product range provided on its Buying Club website.

Shepherd Neame makes 15 redundancies across the business

03-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has made 15 redundancies across the company in March.

A third of businesses do not have money to cover tax liabilities

03-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Nearly a third of hospitality businesses (29%) have admitted they do not set aside the money they need to cover their tax liabilities, according to research commissioned by British Gas.

ALMR slams Lincolnshire PCC's plans to charge pubs and clubs for new CCTV system

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has hit out at proposals by Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to make pubs and clubs pay towards a new county-wide CCTV system.

WSTA warns that minimum pricing will encourage crime and harm consumers and businesses

20-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Minimum alcohol pricing could lead to a rise in crime and damage the UK economy and health of consumers, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned.

Family brewers paid almost half a billion pounds in tax last year

01-Feb-2013

Family brewers paid almost half a billion pounds in tax last year, a new study shows.

Hi-Spirits saved from WaverleyTBS losses thanks to debtor insurance

15-Nov-2012

Drinks company Hi-Spirits has revealed it was protected from a six-figure loss following the collapse of WaverleyTBS thanks to its debtor insurance cover.

Number of pubs selling for change of use doubles since 2009, says Savills

14-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The percentage of pubs selling for alternative use has nearly doubled since 2009, according to figures from property agent Savills.

Pubs saved from an average 11% rise in business rates, show VOA stats

13-Nov-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs have been saved from an average 11% rise in business rates payments, following the Government’s announcement to push back revaluations by two years.

Hospitality sector business survival rate lower than average

31-Oct-2012 By M&C Report

The survival rate among pub, restaurant and hotel businesses that were on the brink of collapse in 2006 was significantly lower than the average among troubled UK firms, new figures show.

WaverleyTBS: Overcrowded wholesale market and slim margins responsible for failure

12-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

An overcrowded wholesale market combined with slim margins were the major reasons for the failure of WaverleyTBS, leading drinks suppliers have claimed. 

Wigham: Pub trade must unite to achieve VAT cut

08-Oct-2012 By Paul Wigham

Those who know me are aware that I am a very involved council member at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) — the industry’s foremost representative organisation for licensed operators.