Finance

Priced out: Breweries battle soaring costs and the cost-of-living crisis (Credit: Getty/MontyRakusen)

Insolvencies of breweries jump 82%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The number of UK breweries going insolvent has jumped 82% in the last year, according to audit, tax & advisory firm Mazars.

Trading update: Sarah Willingham-led Nightcap acquired The Piano Works in February 2024

Nightcap positive despite tough trading in 2024

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap – the operator of about 50 bars under brands including The Cocktail Club, Barrio Familia, the Adventure Bar Group and The Piano Works – expects trading to continue to be tough in 2024 but is positive for the future.

Hospitality grows 1.4% in February 2024

1.4% growth in Feb ‘disappointingly slow’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

Essential part of life: research shows consumers prioritise support for on-trade despite economic pressures (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Consumers prioritise support for pubs

By Rebecca Weller

Almost two thirds of consumers believe pubs play a vital role in their local community and continue to prioritise on-trade visits despite economic pressures.

Advice given: Nationwide Energy has outlined ways in which operators can improve their credit score, which can be beneficial when considering suppliers (image: Getty/Galeanu Mihai)

UTILITY UPDATE WITH NATIONWIDE ENERGY

Find out the latest on the utility sector

By Nationwide Energy

With energy markets continuing to fluctuate and operators facing uncertain costs, the MA has teamed up with Nationwide Energy Consultants to provide our readers with a regular update to keep you one step ahead when it comes to the utility sector.

Corner plot: North Laine Brewhouse is stand-out pub in Brighton

Laine’s flagship Brighton pub building on market

By Gary Lloyd

The freehold site of Laine Pub Company’s flagship pub has been placed on the market – but the pubco insists the sale won’t affect the pub and it will be business as usual.

Drinks Tracker: economic challenges continue to damage drinks sales (Credit: Getty/DGLimages)

Economic climate slows drinks sales growth

By Rebecca Weller

Managed venues closed February with further year-on-year drops in drinks sales as “shifting dynamics” make growth more “challenging”, particularly for the spirits category.

Sector overview: The duo outlined challenges and future hopes

Hickory’s CEO ‘excited’ for future

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hickory’s founder Neil McDonnell and pub owner James Kowszun outlined the opportunities in the sector at the MA Leaders Conference in Liverpool yesterday (7 March).

Freeze ends: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (fourth from left) has taken no action on business rates (credit: UK Parliament/Maria Unger)

SPRING BUDGET 2024

Business rates to go up as freeze ends

By Gary Lloyd

Despite the hospitality sector’s calls for a reduced business rates burden in the Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s lack of action on the subject means companies in England will endure a combined tax hike of £1.66bn from 1 April.

Was there a hospitality VAT cut in the Spring Budget 2024

Gov ignores VAT cut pleas in Budget

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Despite pleas from across the hospitality industry, the Chancellor did not announce any changes to VAT in the Spring Budget today (6 March).

What's the story of Amy Lamé? The Morning Advertiser finds out

THE BIG INTERVIEW

The Big Interview: 'You only get one chance to be London's first night czar'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

On Saturday I’m cutting shapes at Fabric. On Monday I’m at City Hall to meet London’s night czar Amy Lamé. 15 minutes before the interview, I phone to get let in. After some confusion, the press officer double checks, “you are at Docklands right?” No....

Rally call: NTIA CEO Michael Kill has called for action on VAT from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (right)

NTIA: 5,000+ call for VAT reduction to 12.5%

By Gary Lloyd

Calls for the Government to slash VAT down to 12.5% from its current 20% level in the Spring Budget have poured into MPs’ offices, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Food pricing: Inflation drop a 'positive sign' but challenges ahead (Credit: Getty/ J Studios)

Food inflation falls to 12.6%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index recorded year-on-year inflation of 12.6% in January – a drop of 1.2 percentage points from December’s rate of 13.8%.

Great ingredients that shine: The premise of the dish reflects Wall's ethos and style

DISH DECONSTRUCTED

How to make: Braised cod loin, potato & mussel ragu

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Dave Wall, head chef at Britain's no.1 gastropub, the Unruly Pig, takes us through how to make braised cod loin with potato & mussel ragu, with caper, raisin and dill.

Business landscape: the figures looked at the closures in the sector last year (image: Getty/Anukoon Supawong)

194 pubs lost forever in 2023

By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 194 pub buildings were lost due to conversion or demolition last year, new figures have found.

Grab your sports fans: the new F1 season about to begin

Higher footfall and sales expected as new F1 season starts

By The Morning Advertiser

Formula One (F1) fans are frequent visitors to pubs and bars so sites screening the action can expect higher footfall when the season starts in Bahrain between Thursday 29 February and Saturday 2 March.

Cash laws: New tipping legislation will come into force on 1 July (Credit: Getty/Drazen Zigic)

How can pubs prepare for new tipping laws

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

WMT Troncmaster Services managing director Peter Davies has offered advice on how pubs can prepare for new tipping laws which are due to come into force this summer.

All change: new banknotes featuring the portrait of King Charles III are set to enter circulation in June

8 things to know about King Charles III banknotes

By Nikkie Thatcher

With new banknotes showing the portrait of King Charles III set to enter circulation this summer, we’ve looked at what you need to know about the new notes and delved into the history of polymer cash.

New horizons: Two exciting sites open in the capital and there are also openings elsewhere

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

New bars open in the capital

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

An Italian seafood bar is set to open in the capital, while a Welsh pub reopens under new ownership and Inception Group launches a new site.

Latest acquisition: The Piano Works concept is now in the Sarah Willingham-led Nightcap portfolio

Nightcap acquires The Piano Works

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap – the operator of 46 bars under brands including The Cocktail Club, Barrio Familia and the Adventure Bar Group – has acquired live entertainment concept The Piano Works.

Threadbare tightrope: rising beer prices 'grim reflection' of modern life (Credit: Getty/FreshSplash)

CAMRA: beer prices a 'grim reflection' of modern life

By Rebecca Weller

Rising beer prices are a “grim reflection” of modern life and demonstrate the “threadbare tightrope” pubs and brewers are walking upon, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has said.

Administration sale: Rekom UK sold for £19.5m (Pictured: Rekom UK chairman Peter Marks)

Rekom UK sold for £19.5m

By MCA

The assets of late-night operator Rekom UK were sold to a connected party for £19.5m in a pre-pack administration process.

Business research: a survey from sector trade bodies showed a quarter of businesses are out of cash reserves (image: Getty/claudiodivizia)

1 in 4 firms out of cash

By Nikkie Thatcher

A quarter of businesses have no cash reserves left while less than a third (29%) have under three months’ left, new research has shown.

Come and tech a look: technology is now vital for smooth service across all aspects of the on-trade

FEATURE - Technology

FEATURE: Finding the right tech to fit your pub

By Fiona Griffiths

Pub operators everywhere are facing challenging times but choosing the right technology solutions can help your business to survive – and even thrive.

Blue Monday: Parkers Arms chef-patron Stosie Madi ponders why quality from suppliers is allowed to fall while prices remain high

OPINION

Price increase, quality decrease

By Stosie Madi, chef-patron of the Parkers Arms

It is uncanny how product quality has decreased and prices have increased.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 76 Winning ways! Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year Scrum down to the pub: the Albany in Twickenham is an England and Harlequins favourite pre and post matches My Pub: the Albany Pub & Dining Room, Twickenham, Surrey The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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