Finance

Government help: BII survey sheds light on a struggling sector (Getty/ Vladimir Vladimirov)

15% of pubs say business no longer viable

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has called for Government support to ensure the future survival of pubs, after a survey of its members revealed the fragility of the sector as it battles huge economic challenges.

Absolutely right: new legislation withholds employers from keeping staff tips (Credit: Getty/ Peter Muller)

Allocation of Tips Bill 'welcome boost'

By Rebecca Weller

The terms outlined in the Allocation of Tips Bill were “absolutely right” and a “welcome boost” according to trade bodies and industry leaders across the sector.

Relentless pressure: CGA data shows foodservice sector inflation hit 10% in May (Credit: Getty/Zorica Nastasic)

Inflation in foodservice sector tops 10%

By Rebecca Weller

Inflation in the foodservice sector topped 10% for the fourth successive month in May, the latest edition of the CGA by NielsenIQ and Prestige Foodservice Price Index has revealed.

Record year: Nick Collins and Alex Reilley (right) of Loungers

Loungers plans to open ‘at least’ 500 sites

By Gary Lloyd

All-day bar-restaurant brand Loungers said it expects to open at least 500 sites across its Lounge and Cosy Club brands, after reporting a record year of financial and operational progress.

UK economy grew 0.5% in May: accommodation and food service activities saw a decline of 0.2 percentage points (Credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

GDP grows 0.5% but sector remains behind

By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector saw a decline in May despite the UK economy having grown by 0.5%, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed.

Scandalous and unfair: Industry officials criticised the Pubs Code

Pubs code labelled ‘wholesale failure’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The pubs code came under fire as a “wholesale failure” at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee meeting yesterday (12 July), designed to assess the usefulness of the code.

Urgent reforms called for: Colliers says business rates reduction must not be gradual (credit: Getty/AlexKozlov)

Next Tory leader must reform business rates

By Gary Lloyd

Tory leadership hopefuls must reform business rates and rule out a phased downwards transition to cut tax and save the high street, according to commercial estate agent Colliers.

Discovery Forum 2022: why pubs make great venues for corporate meetings (Credit: Getty/Extreme Media)

Corporate meetings 'big opportunity' for pubs

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs offer a versatile space to hold corporate meetings but the industry needs to do more to utilise what pubs already offer to capitalise on this market, according to leaders across the industry.

Ongoing rise: 'All dairy products are seeing high levels of price increase and operators have to expect that to continue,' says Lynx Purchasing boss Rachel Dobson (image: Getty/Adam Gault)

Pubs warned ‘dairy isn’t cheap any more’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Amid reports of a potential dairy shortage, on-trade operators have been urged to shop around when purchasing and make sure they make the most of such goods to ensure their spend is not wasted.

CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker: sales 3% down compared with 2019 in week to 2 July (Credit: Getty/AleksandarNakic)

Drink sales down 3% vs 2019

By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by value in Britain’s managed venues in the seven days to Saturday (2 July) were 3% down on the same week in 2019, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.

Financial input discussion: Peter Borg-Neal (right) at the Pub Conference with MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany

Oakman contemplates minority stake sell-off

By Finn Scott-Delany

Oakman Group is in talks with private equity groups to put more cash in the balance sheet and accelerate its expansion plans, MCA’s Pub Conference has heard.

Enticing interior: the Famous Three Kings pub is dedicated to sport

SPORT FEATURE

FEATURE: Building a sports offer at your pub

By Gary Lloyd

Many pubs make a real profit from increased footfall by screening top sports action but using a service such as Sky or BT Sport can be expensive.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 46

The Lock In Podcast

Lock In season finale - coping with what lies ahead

By Ed Bedington

The second season of the Lock In podcast draws to a close as the team take a look at what lies ahead for the pub sector and seek some expert advice to allow operators to prepare.

Gen Z driving sector's recovery: 16-24-year-olds spend almost £70 a week in the on trade (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Gen Z spending the most in the on trade

By Rebecca Weller

Those aged 16-24, commonly referred to as Gen Z, have been driving the recovery of the hospitality sector, new research from guest experience platform SevenRooms has revealed.

Sector held back by lack of investment incentive: Bank of England warns lenders should prepare for “deteriorated economic outlook” (Credit: Getty/Oleksandr Siedov)

Pubs held back by 'lack of incentives to invest'

By Rebecca Weller

The Bank of England has warned the global economic outlook has “deteriorated materially” and was “very uncertain” as part of its Financial Stability Report, published yesterday (Tuesday 5 July).

Coronavirus impact: according to Simply Business, independent pubs and restaurants have lost about £40,000 each as a result of the pandemic (image: Getty/itsarasak thithuekthak)

1 in 3 firms fear running out of cash

By Nikkie Thatcher

As many as 32% of small business owners are worried about running out of money as the cost-of-living crisis bites, data has found.

Excellent performance: Oakman Group reports £51.2% higher like for like sales for the 2020/2021 financial year (Pictured: Oakman Group executive chairman Peter Borg-Neal and CEO Dermot King)

Oakman Group reports total group sales of £65.1m

By Rebecca Weller

Large multi-site pub operator Oakman Group has reported total group sales of £65.1m for the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, up 79% compared vs 2020/2021 and 55.4% compared with 2018/2019.

Moving up: Young’s expects its recent site acquisitions to benefit the business this year

Young’s revenue up 39.7% in Q1 2022

By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Young & Co’s Brewery has announced revenue is 39.7% for the first quarter of this year, in a trading update ahead of its AGM on Tuesday 5 July.

Further strike action: RMT officials issue contradicting statements regarding future strikes (Credit: Getty/Monty Rakusen)

Avoidance of further rail strikes 'imperative' to sector's health

By Rebecca Weller

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has stated it will take “further effective strike action” if negotiations surrounding pay and job security cannot be settled, according to RMT general secretary Mick Lynch.

Drinks sales down 7% in week to 25 June: rail strikes impact trade (Credit:Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Drinks sales down 7% vs 2019 during week of rail strikes

By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by value for managed venues in the seven days to Saturday 25 June were 7% down on the same week in 2019 as the biggest rail dispute for more than 30 years impacted city-centre and after-work occasions, according to the latest CGA by NielsenIQ...

Record low: number of pubs in England and Wales falls to below 40,000 for first time (Credit: Getty/AndyRoland)

Number of pubs in England & Wales reaches record low

By Rebecca Weller

The number of English and Welsh pubs fell below 40,000 for the first time during the first half of 2022, having fallen by 7,107 in the past 10 years, new research from real estate adviser Altus Group has revealed.

Industrial action: workers at Budweiser's Samlesbury site will strike later in July (image: Getty/stocknshares)

BBG worker strikes to continue into July

By Nikkie Thatcher

Budweiser Brewing Group (BBG) staff who work at the company’s Samlesbury brewery are set to strike later this month (July) after crisis talks collapsed.

What's in the news 1 July

The MA's Review of the Week

'Tax relief can help hospitality businesses to reinvest'

By Ed Bedington

Owner of the Veeno wine bar business, Rodrigue Trouillet shared his thoughts on the weeks news with the MA's Ed Bedington, from tax relief to the ongoing recruitment challenges.

Demising margins: proposed Government campaign encouraging businesses to offer discounts to consumers poses a “slippery slope

Gov discount scheme poses 'slippery slope' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

A proposed Government campaign encouraging businesses to offer discounts to consumers without any financial backing poses a “slippery slope” amid demising margins, according to one Canterbury-based licensee.

Jobs for all: Dharia is on a supported internship programme, in partnership with Mencap, at the Hendon pub in north-west London

GK – career advice must be same for bar work as uni degrees

By Gary Lloyd

Greene King (GK) has called for training in bar and restaurant staff to be given equal footing to university degrees in terms of career advice after its research found almost half of young people (48%) believe the hospitality sector does not offer good...

Trading update: Shepherd Neame boss Jonathan Neame said the company remained optimistic in spite of external economic headwinds

Shepherd Neame ‘actively pursuing growth’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Operator and brewer Shepherd Neame has revealed the business had emerged from the pandemic in a strong position and is actively pursuing opportunities again to invest and grow.

Investor news: BrewDog co-founder James Watt has defended the company's latest initiative

BrewDog set to ‘tokenise’ Punks’ money

By Gary Lloyd

James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog, has announced the business is working with digital finance company Globacap to give its shareholders the option of having their equity “tokenised”.

Critical situation: 74% of operators surveyed stated energy costs biggest contributor to ‘plummeting’ profitability (Credit: Getty/ Dimensions)

Profitability ‘plummets’ as operating costs soar

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality trade bodies have called on the Government to tackle inflationary headwinds and introduce a new tax and investment regime to get the industry back on track and recognise the contribution it could make to the economy.

Low levels of trade: city pubs hit hard as limited rail services provided over the weekend due to strikes (Credit: Getty/Dan Pratt)

City pubs see 50% decline in weekend sales following rail strikes

By Rebecca Weller

Weekend rail strikes saw hospitality sales “hugely affected”, particularly in London and Manchester, with some city pubs having reported a 50% decline in sales, according to S4labour and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Warnings issued: Hospitality Ulster chair Tony O’Neill, CEO Colin Neill and vice-chair Stephen Magorrian

Triple whammy warning over NI hospitality sector

By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland are facing a triple threat from rising business costs to a lack of consumers’ disposable cash and labour shortages, according to Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill.

Deal revealed: FB Taverns have acquired the seven pubs from Admiral (image: Getty/metamorworks)

Admiral disposes of pub package

By Nikkie Thatcher

Admiral Taverns has sold seven pubs, as part of its requirements from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), after its purchase of Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company.

Post-lockdown depletion: delivery and takeaway sales in managed pub and restaurant groups 29% below May 2021 levels (Credit: Getty/Luis Alvarez)

Delivery and takeaway sales more than a quarter below 2021

By Rebecca Weller

Combined delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant and pub groups have fallen to 29% below the level of May 2021, the CGA by NielsenIQ and Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker 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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