Finance - Hospitality

Loungers reports 17% lfl growth, will open 30 sites

14-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Bar group Loungers has credited its brands’ “relevance and resilience” for a 17% growth in like-for-like (lfl) sales versus 2019 in a trading update for the 24 weeks ended 2 October 2022.

Autumn rugby series on two HD channels

13-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs will be able to screen the Autumn Nations Series of rugby matches in HD after Prime Video teamed up with Sky Business to broadcast them.

Pubs and suppliers need 'better communication'

13-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

A Suffolk-based operator has called for sector specific support from the Government and distributors as well as "better communication" between pub customers and suppliers before small pubs and breweries "disappear".

Energy bills discount 'too little too late'

13-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Despite initially positive feedback from the sector, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) extension is “too little too late” for many businesses to survive, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has claimed.

Economy grows when sector 'fires on all cylinders'

12-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Shrinking GDP shows when the hospitality sector “fires on all cylinders” the economy grows, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has stated.

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Arc Inspirations to open 5 sites in 2023, Gosnells opens bar

12-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A 6,000 sq ft multi-purpose site is set to open in Manchester, London's only meadery have opened a new bar and Arc Inspirations set sights on five new sites for 2023.

NWTC ‘aiming to open 5 to 8 sites a year’

12-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) is planning to open between five and eight venues a year going forward, it revealed in its latest financial results.

Energy contracts discount 'extremely welcome'

12-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Government's move to expand its Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) to help businesses, including pubs, deal with energy prices has been welcomed by UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls.

Hickory’s acquired by Greene King

11-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

North west-based business Hickory’s has been acquired by Greene King for an undisclosed sum.

Card spending sees smallest uplift since February

11-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Consumer card spending grew 1.8% year-on-year in September, the smallest uplift since February 2021 and well below the 9.9% consumer price inflation, data from Barclaycard has revealed.

Multimillion-pound scheme launched to tackle staffing crisis

11-Oct-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hundreds attended the launch of a multimillion-pound recruitment campaign in central London yesterday (10 October), which aims to breathe life back into Westminster’s hospitality sector.

Omicron variant hits Marston’s FY sales

11-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Total like-for-like (lfl) sales at community-focused pub operator Marston’s were 1% down on the same period in 2019 – the last time unrestricted trading was possible – the group said in its trading update for the 52 weeks to 1 October 2022.

Pub closure numbers ‘alarming but not surprising’

10-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The rate at which pubs are closing is ‘alarming but not surprising’, one trade body has said in response to the figures.

Whitbread pumps £15m into staff pay rises

10-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub, restaurant and hotel firm Whitbread has laid out a pay support package in a bid to help its UK-based hourly paid employees tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Drinks sales up 3% amid 'economic turmoil'

10-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average sales in Britain’s managed venues during the seven days to Saturday 1 October were 3% ahead compared with the same week last year, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsonIQ has revealed.

Diversity is key for the Great British pub

07-Oct-2022 By Ed Bedington

The recent Great British Pub Awards was a triumphant celebration of the diversity and richness of the UK’s pub offer, with businesses of all stripes recognised for excellence across the board.

JDW reports £30m loss

07-Oct-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub behemoth JD Wetherspoon (JDW) revealed a loss before tax of £30.4m and said getting customers back to the on-trade was a "momentous challenge" in its latest trading update.

Food and drink inflation hits 15% for first time

07-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Food and drink price inflation in hospitality hit 15% for the first time in the history of the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index in August, its latest data shows.

BrewDog reports £36.9m turnover

06-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

BrewDog Retail has reported a turnover of £36.9m in the year to December 2021, up from £25.2m in 2020.

Brakspear creates a buzz with initiatives

06-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator and brewer Brakspear has announced it will launch an initiative called ‘Brakspear’s Giving Back’ that will support worthy causes chosen by its 120 pubs through a fund-matching scheme and upscale its efforts to protect Britain’s bee population.

the cask project

Kelham Island Brewery saved from closure

05-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Sheffield’s oldest independent brewery has been saved from closure by a six-strong group made up of beer, music and art fans.

the cask project

Purity pub charges premium price for cask

03-Oct-2022 By Purity Brewing Co

Contrary to some preconceptions, when properly ‘looked after’ and poured, cask ales can range from cool, light, zesty and refreshing to dark, rich and complex, with an infinite variety of styles, flavours and aromas in between.

Trade boosted by extra bank holiday

03-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 24 September were 1% ahead compared with the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Arc Inspirations to open five sites after record year

03-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Leeds-based multiple operator Arc Inspirations has posted record figures and is set to open five sites in the next five months that will create 500 jobs.

Skinner’s Brewery enters administration

03-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Cornwall-based Skinner’s Brewery has announced it will enter administration as of Monday 3 October.

big interview

BIG INTERVIEW: There’s always time for a Nightcap

03-Oct-2022 By Gary Lloyd

While most businesses hit the wall during the pandemic, Sarah Willingham saw there was a pent-up demand for socialising in hospitality together with a power shift towards tenants from landlords and decided to form Nightcap to get the party started.

Last day of paper £20 and £50 notes

30-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Today (Friday 30 September) is the final day paper banknotes will be legal tender before polymer versions replace them.

Fruit & veg prices soar by 35%

30-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

September seasonal fruit and vegetable prices have climbed by 35% versus the like-for-like period in 2019, adding to the “dangerous cocktail” of soaring costs threatening the sector.

Opinion

Why finding the right funding partner is essential

30-Sep-2022 By Mark Grunnell, co-founder and CEO of Red Oak Taverns

I launched Red Oak Taverns 11 years ago with my co-founder, Aaron Brown and, since then, we’ve grown our portfolio to 208 pubs.

Shepherd Neame: ‘ambition there to scale retail business’

29-Sep-2022 By Georgi Gyton, deputy editor, MCA

Shepherd Neame is planning build its retail pubs and hotels business through a mixture of tenanted conversions and selective acquisitions, chief executive Jonathan Neame has told MCA.

£650k pumped into traditional pub

29-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Roseacre Inns and Star Pubs & Bars have jointly invested £650,000 in the upgrade of a Midlands pub.

Cost of no-shows slashed by £5bn

29-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The likelihood of no-show diners has almost halved from 11% to 6%, reducing the cost of customers who make reservations and don’t turn up by £5bn a year in revenue, research has found.

Food drives trade at M&B but drink sales down

29-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the operator of brands including All Bar One, Premium Country Pubs, Nicholson’s, Ember Inns, Toby Carvery and Harvester, has reported a 5.2% lift in like-for-like (lfl) food sales and a 4.1% loss in drinks sales for...

SLTA: Nine out of 10 pubs will not survive without help

28-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Nine out of 10 pubs and bars will not survive winter without Government support, according to the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA).

Further Gov support critical to sector’s survival

28-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade body leaders have written to the Chancellor following the mini-budget last week, highlighting the urgent need for further support to safeguard hospitality businesses.

Labour plan to abolish business rates is ‘naïve’

28-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Labour party’s pledge to abolish business rates if it were to win the next general election has been described as “naïve” by property agent Colliers.

Shepherd Neame reports return to profit

28-Sep-2022 By Shwetali Sapte

Shepherd Neame has announced a return to profit and significant revenue growth in its results for the 52 weeks ending 25 June 2022.

59% of pub owners think they will be open in 12 months

27-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Almost six in 10 pub operators think their venue will still be open in a year’s time, new research has found.

Birmingham ranked UK’s most vibrant city

27-Sep-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Birmingham has been crowned the UK’s most vibrant city for the first time this year, new research from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social has revealed.

Pubs face festive dilemma after ‘£155m loss’

27-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

UK pubs have been left with a choice between hosting Christmas parties or screening the football World Cup after missing out on a £155m booty in sales for the tournament that would usually have taken place in summer.

NWTC unveils lunch under £10

27-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) has launched a low-cost lunch menu in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

JDW appoints agents to dispose of 32 pubs

26-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Managed pubs and hotels operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has appointed property agents CBRE and Savills to sell 32 of its pubs.

Ed Sheeran backs MVT plan to save music pubs

26-Sep-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Music star Ed Sheeran is backing a campaign from Music Venue Trust (MVT) to take control of the freeholds of music venues, such as pubs, that put on live music to save them from closure.

Drinks sales 1% behind v 2021

26-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the seven days to Saturday 17 September were 1% behind compared to the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has shown.

Gov looking out for ‘big boys’ of the industry

26-Sep-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Last week’s announcements on energy discounts and measures addressed in the mini Budget did not have “any effect” on small businesses but made sure the “big boys” of the industry did “very nicely”, according to a Somerset-based operator.

Promotional content

Cashing out? What the evolution of new payment methods means for operators

26-Sep-2022 By Zonal

‘Cash or card?’ is far from a question of the past. However, with the desire for quick, convenient experiences high on the list of priorities for many customers visiting hospitality venues, cash is increasingly taking a back seat compared to digital payments.

Review of the Week

Reasons for optimism?

23-Sep-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington spoke with trade association bosses Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality and the BII's Steve Alton to get their take on the mini-budget and whether there was any grounds for optimism.