Finance

Results boost: Revolution Bar Group has published its 2022 financial year figures

Revolution reports revenue rise to £140.8m

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bar Group has reported revenue of £140.8m in its annual report for the 52 weeks ended 2 July – up from £39.4m in financial year (FY) 2021.

Great results: Nightcap chief executive Sarah Willingham (Credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap reports strong first full year of trading

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and Barrio Familia bars, has reported an increase from £6m revenue to £36m for its first full year of trading and gross profit of £28.6m up from £4.5m.

Why CMBC's Hobgoblin could help cask category

Seeking a younger market for cask

By Gary Lloyd

Cask is often associated with old men and an out-of-fashion drink but if modernising the beverage and bringing down the average age of the customer is the answer to reinvigorating the category – could Hobgoblin help the category?

Ceasing trade: Historic pub forced to close (Getty/ Luis Alvarez)

13th century pub forced to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Historic pub the Ring of Bells in North Bovey, Devon, closed its doors for the final time on 1 November.

Warning: JDW chair Tim Martin reiterated threats to the sector ‘continue to apply’

JDW to put 7 more sites on market as sales slow

By Gary Lloyd

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced like-for-like sales were slow throughout October and it will put seven more pubs on the market, according to its trading update for the 14 weeks to 6 November 2022.

News of the brews: CAMRA estimated some 70% of beer made in the UK is produced by a few global brewers (image: Getty/Jonathan Knowles)

Eagle Brewery sale ‘highlights UK beer market imbalance’

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has reacted to the recent news of Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) selling the Bedford-based Eagle Brewery, stating it ‘highlights the dominance of global brewers in the UK and further squeezes small, independent...

Restricted spending: while overall consumer spending grew by 3.5% year-on-year in October the hospitality sector saw its smallest uplift since March 2021 (Credit:Getty/bogdankosanovic)

Consumers taking 'restrained approach' to Christmas

By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector saw its smallest uplift since March 2021 during October despite consumer card spending having grown 3.5% year-on-year, data from Barclaycard has revealed.

A warm welcome: Pubs open doors to customers wanting free heating (Getty/ IanGoodPhotography)

Pubs offer free warm spaces for guests

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs are opening their doors to customers for free warmth, hot drinks and company as the cost-of-living crisis forces some to pick between heating or eating at home.

Skyrocketing costs: sector leaders have called for more Government support to secure the future of British breweries (Credit: GettySusumu Yoshioka)

Breweries facing 'tsunami' of operating costs

By Rebecca Weller

Industry leaders have urged the Government to provide sector specific support to secure the future of British breweries as “skyrocketing” costs across the board cause a “perfect storm”.

No respite in sight: food and drink inflation has risen by more than 10% for eight months in a row (credit: Getty/Muhammad Farhad)

Food and drink inflation rises to record-high 18.8%

By Gary Lloyd

Inflation in food and drink prices hit a record high of 18.8% in September 2022 – the eighth consecutive month of double-digit rises – according to the latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index.

Top tips: we will be providing information on how businesses can battle the ongoing energy storm

The MA Energy Focus in partnership with Heineken

Time for action on energy

By Ed Bedington

With energy prices spiralling, The Morning Advertiser (MA) is launching a new series of features, in partnership with Heineken, to give operators some much needed advice and support to help mitigate the challenges.

Long way to go: on-premise drinks sales 2% ahead of 2021 over Halloween but inflation holds growth down (Credit: Getty/shironosov)

Drinks sales 2% up vs 2021 over Halloween

By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales by value in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 29 October were 2% up compared to the same week in 2021, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Executive comment: CMBC boss Paul Davies says he is grateful to his colleague and their Damm counterparts for their 'collaboration throughout the process of making the agreement a reality'

CMBC sells Eagle Brewery

By Nikkie Thatcher

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is planning to sell the Eagle Brewery, Bedford to Spanish brewer SA Damm (Damm) for an undisclosed sum.

Thumbs up: government guidance on the deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers in Scotland has been welcomed by its administer Circularity Scotland (credit: getty/bunhill)

DRS administrator welcomes ‘cost-cutting guidance’

By Gary Lloyd

Circularity Scotland (CS), the scheme administrator for the deposit return scheme (DPS) in Scotland, has welcomed new guidance from the Scottish government that will “significantly reduce the cost of the scheme for industry and consumers”.

Save Our Simpsons: Manger aims for £385k target to reopen tavern (Getty/ Paul Campbell)

£65k raised to save historic chophouse

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

£65,060 has been raised to save a chophouse visited by Charles Dickens - the Simpsons Tavern in central London - after the landlord locked the doors in a dispute over rent.

Making a difference: Stonegate team raises more than £13,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Association

Stonegate raises more than 13k for charity

By Rebecca Weller

Pubco Stonegate Group has raised more than £13,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association through its Tour de Stonegate 2022 virtual cycling fundraising drive.

Pricey pints: Brits could spend millions of pounds more on beer as inflation rockets (Getty/ miodrag ignjatovic)

Brits could spend £6.9m on pints per hour

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Inflation could cost Brits an extra £4m on pints per hour, research from Real Business Rescue has revealed following reports of £7 pints.

Groundswell of interest: 98% of homeworkers would be interested in a work from the pub package

Work from pub packages new avenue for income

By Rebecca Weller

More than 95% of consumers who usually work from home would be interested in a ‘work from the pub package’, presenting businesses with a new avenue for potential income, recent research conducted on behalf of Star Pubs & Bars has revealed.

Serious change: sector sales down 7.1% in October (Credit: Getty/AleksandarNakic)

Hospitality sales down 7.1% in October

By Rebecca Weller

Sales in the hospitality sector were down for the second consecutive month compared to the same period in 2021, figures from S4labour have revealed.

Survey says: the level of confidence business leaders have in the sector has fallen again (image: Getty/champc)

Business leaders’ confidence plummeting

By Nikkie Thatcher

The impact of rocketing energy and supply costs alongside economic uncertainty have significantly dented business leaders’ confidence in the sector.

Huge tragedy: two nightclubs a close amid soaring inflation (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Gov 'ripping the heart out of nightlife'

By Rebecca Weller

The Government is “ripping the heart out of nightlife” with the number of nightclubs declining as businesses await the Chancellors budget that has already “failed them twice before”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has stated.

We're stuffed: Avian flue wreaks havoc for turkey farmers (Getty/ Monty Rakusen)

Avian flu means turkey prices could soar

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Turkeys are expected to rocket in price as avian flu forcers farmers to cull livestock and freeze birds for the festive season.

Hard times ahead: Blackouts would be last resort (Getty/ IanGoodPhotography)

National Grid: Blackouts would be last resort

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Blackouts would be a last resort this winter if energy supplies run low, National Grid has revealed, after operators voiced concerns they would damage the sector.

Cash investment: Peach Pubs founder Lee Cash (centre) with Cat & Wickets team Harry Gurney (left) and Stuart Broad

Peach Pubs founder invests in cricketers’ pubco

By Gary Lloyd

Founder of Peach Pubs, Lee Cash, has invested in The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, which was established by cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad – who plan to have two sites open in April 2023 and five by 2025.

Continuous battle: Andrew Pern's the Star Inn the Harbour pub in Whitby to close next month following lack of support from council

Andrew Pern pub to close due to 'lack of support'

By Rebecca Weller

Andrew Pern’s Michelin-listed Yorkshire pub the Star Inn the Harbour, will close its doors for good next month following “utter lack of support” from the local council in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Mixed response: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin has welcomed some of the review’s outcomes but expressed disappointment with other aspects

BBPA disappointed with recycling review outcome

By Gary Lloyd

Sector trade body the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has expressed disappointment over a packaging recycling consultation that has failed to extend a compliance period that has previously proved valuable in the past.

Encouraging sign: drinks sales exceed 2021 levels for fifth successive week but inflation holds trade down in real-terms (Credit: Getty/Caia Image)

Drinks sales top 2021 levels for fifth week in a row

By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales have topped last year’s levels for a fifth successive week, but inflation has continued to wipe out real-terms growth, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Unprecedented step: UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has announced the trade body’s energy advice is free to all businesses

UKH makes guidance on energy pricing public

By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has taken the unprecedented step of making its energy guidance available to all hospitality businesses as soaring energy prices threaten sites this winter.

Dining in the dark: the Tollymache Arms (pictured) launches new event to highlight energy crisis

Pub hosting 'dining in the dark' evenings

By Rebecca Weller

A Northampton based Wells & Co pub has hoped to increase footfall and reduce its energy usage by launching a new ‘Dining in the Dark’ event for this Winter in honour of the battle hospitality businesses currently face regarding energy bill price hikes.

Further kick in the teeth: thousands of hospitality businesses at risk of closure following alcohol duty freeze U-turn (Credit: Getty/sturti)

Sector battling 'vicious inflationary circle'

By Rebecca Weller

Thousands of SME’s are at risk if new Prime Minister and Chancellor refuse to act regarding the rise to Alcohol Duty with many already facing “untenable” financial footing, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has claimed.

New PM: How has Sunak supported pubs?

What has Rishi Sunak done for pubs?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rishi Sunak has been called on to support the sector after he was appointed Prime Minister and Conservative leader yesterday (25 October).

Food trends: Sustainability, cost-efficiency and social media are key to your winter menu

FEATURE

FEATURE: What’s on the menu for food trends?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Christmas is round the corner. But with a cost-of-living crisis squeezing budgets, there’s little room for festive cheer with 40% of consumers dining out less frequently than usual. Operators can make sure their pub is the place to celebrate this winter...

Desperate need of relief: sector petitions Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fulfil his previous commitments (Credit: Getty/mammuth)

Sunak urged to fulfil previous commitments

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs and brewers in “desperate need of relief” as leaders from across the sector urge newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to recognise the importance of pubs and breweries before it’s “too late”.

Party on: Young people will keep going on nights out despite cost-of-living crisis (Getty/ Flashpop)

Gen Z will party on despite rising costs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Soaring inflation rates will impact the way consumers spend at clubs but Gen Z will pay to keep the party going, according to research from Rekom UK.

Drinks on James: 'Good vibe' pints from BrewDog CEO

Free pints from BrewDog CEO

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BrewDog co-founder James Watt is handing out free pints to the public for three days this week to spread “positivity and good vibes”.

Tumultuous time: average drinks sales ahead of last year but rising inflation leaves them down in real terms (Credit: Getty/Klaus Vedfelt)

Inflation holds sales down in real terms

By Rebecca Weller

Drink sales in Britain’s on-trade have exceeded last year’s levels for the fourth week in a row but remained down in real terms due to rising inflation, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Spotlight

(credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast episode 78 Making the most of your ghost 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

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