Emma Mcclarkin

OPINION

Back apprentices who are the future of the sector

12-Feb-2024 By Emma McClarkin, CEO, British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA)

As National Apprenticeship Week 2024 draws to a close, we once again raise a glass to celebrate integral role of apprentices in the UK’s vibrant and dynamic hospitality industry.

‘Targeted support’ on Welsh business rates welcomed by WBPA

16-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

The Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) has welcomed proposed reform to business rates in Wales that will allow “targeted support”.

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: part two

21-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

In the second part of our look ahead we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what 2024 will hold.

‘Rising energy costs hitting firms at worst possible time’

07-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Rocketing energy bills are crippling the sector at “the worst possible time”, following the impact of Plan B guidance over the festive period and ahead of Government support such as the lower VAT rate and business rates support ending.

BBPA ‘encouraged’ by fresh CO2 deal yet more details needed

02-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Government’s new deal, which will keep supplies of industrial-grade carbon dioxide (CO2) flowing is encouraging, yet details are “urgently needed”, said the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Plan B rules lift ‘good news’ but severity of impact ‘must not be underestimated’

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government's latest announcement that Plan B rules are being scrapped has been cautiously welcomed by trade bodies, alongside calls for further support.

Industry warns of devastating impact of ‘plan B’

15-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The Government’s has been warned that plans to hold vaccine passports in reserve while revealing it in its ‘Plan B’ Winter Covid plan that compulsory face masks and ‘last resort’ lockdowns could be implemented could have a drastic impact on the pub and...

Investment and support needed for Welsh pubs

09-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Welsh pubs reopened on Saturday (7 August) with most restrictions removed including social distancing and table service.

Industry responds to accusations about minimum wage

09-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The industry has responded to accusations the industry needs to review the payment of the minimum wage, highlighting the impact of the pandemic and loss of non-British workers.

NHS app change ‘not a silver bullet’

03-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A software update to the NHS Covid app, meaning it will notify fewer contacts from a Covid positive case has been cautiously welcomed by trade bodies.

Hospitality qualifications to be included in Lifetime Skills Guarantee

29-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Trade bodies have welcomed the announcement of catering and hospitality qualifications are set to be featured as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Restriction easing delay 'to cost pubs £400m'

15-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The four-week postponement of lockdown easing from Monday 21 June to Monday 19 July will cost the trade £100m per week, one trade body has estimated.

Pubs to miss out on £3m worth of sales during England v Croatia

11-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Football fans in England will buy 3m pints this weekend during England’s first game in the UEFA Euro 2020 against Croatia, it has been estimated.

45,000 pubs expected to reopen for indoor service

14-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 45,000 pubs are estimated to reopen to trade inside from Monday 17 May, serving 3m pints, leaving 2,000 unable to open their doors due to limited space, one trade body has predicted.

Energy companies refusing to supply pubs ‘simply unacceptable’

25-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Utility businesses are refusing to provide energy to pubs with some refusing to renew contracts, according to one trade association.

60% of pubs would remain closed if outdoor trading rule enforced

16-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 29,000 pubs will have to stay shut if the Government rules outdoor service only is permitted in April.

Opening pubs with alcohol ban is ‘not reopening at all’

08-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The trade has reacted to rumours that the Government is considering scrapping 10pm curfew and substantial meal measures as well as barring reopened pubs from selling alcohol.

87m pints of beer wasted since start of pandemic

05-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Up to 87m pints of beer may have been wasted, costing the industry £331m, since the coronavirus crisis began.

2020 cost trade 6,000 licensed venues

22-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK lost in the region of 6,000 licensed premises in 2020 - almost three times the number closed in 2019, new figures have revealed.

'Completely unacceptable': over half of November lockdown grants still yet to be paid out

19-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of grants that were announced to support pubs in the second lockdown still haven’t been paid, an industry survey has found.

Closing pubs until May ‘simply unviable’

11-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The rumoured closure of pubs until May has been slammed as “simply unviable” by UKHospitality (UKH) boss Kate Nicholls.

39 million fewer pints to be sold in pubs this Christmas

23-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

This Christmas is set to be the quietest on record for pubs with 39m fewer pints and 5m fewer Christmas dinners to be served amid the coronavirus restrictions across the nation.

Increase in tier 3 regions forces another 2,000 pubs to shut

17-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Health secretary Matt Hancock announced a further eight regions will be added to tier three from this weekend in an address to the House of Commons, while three areas moved down a tier.

December beer sales set to be 90% lower than ‘normal’

14-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Beer sales in pubs are expected to be 90% lower than ‘normal’ this month – a drop of 270m pints, one trade association has estimated.

Re-watch Tom Kerridge and panel tackle pub issues

09-Dec-2020 By Ed Bedington

Top pub operator Tom Kerridge followed on from his recent TV series with a live hour long broadcast to address some of the issues the trade was facing.

Estimated 2,500 pubs lost in 2020

09-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than 2,000 pubs have been lost this year, over double the number in previous years, it has been estimated.

Kerridge to lead expert panel session on Saving Britain’s Pubs

04-Dec-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

Celebrity chef and pub operator Tom Kerridge is set to follow up the success of his recent BBC series with a live Q&A for the pub sector with a panel of experts.

Over 50 trade bosses pen letter to PM labelling pubs 'scapegoats'

26-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than 50 pub and brewing firms have signed a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, telling him the trade is being “scapegoated” and could be lost for good unless he takes action.

Stop 'scapegoating' pubs and produce evidence, CAMRA urges

25-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government has once again faced calls to produce the evidence underpinning its stringent lockdown restrictions on pubs.

Christmas bubble plan ‘makes mockery’ of trade

25-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s proposed plans to ease restrictions and allow people to form a “Christmas bubble” makes a mockery of the additional measures on pubs, one trade body has stated.

New tier two and three rules ‘to cost wet-led pubs £1.5bn’

24-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Wet-led pubs placed in the two highest tiers of the new restrictions once lockdown is eased will collectively lose £1.5bn in turnover, it has been estimated.

Lockdown 2.0 – what it means for pubs

02-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs will close again for at least one month in England’s second national lockdown set to go ahead on Thursday 5 November.

MA’s Review of the Week

Furlough extension must be reviewed by Government to save pub jobs

11-Sep-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

If the Government does not extend furlough to the pub trade then it must give other financial support to the sector or see mass unemployment at a time when the economy needs support.