Finance

Remain alert: new border checks could 'put momentum back into inflation' (Credit: Getty/Photo_Concepts)

New border checks risk fuelling food inflation

By Rebecca Weller

New border checks could cause disruptions to supply chains and push foodservice price inflation, the latest Foodservice Price Index (FPI) from CGA and Prestige Purchasing has warned.

Right thing to do: WSTA calls for duty cut in Spring Budget (Credit: Getty/Carlo Prearo)

WSTA: 'duty cut would offer much-needed boost'

By Rebecca Weller

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty to combat both falling sales volumes and reduced revenue to the Exchequer ahead of the Spring Budget in March.

Positive future: sales up 11.5% at Fuller's

Fuller's sales up 11.5%

By Rebecca Weller

Fuller, Smith & Turner has reported like-for-like sales growth of 11.5% in the 42 weeks to Saturday 20 January 2024.

Support an Independent Pub Day: London Pub Explorer urges people to support their local pub in the face of challenging economic headwinds (Pictured: Tuesday Roberts at the Northcote Arms)

EXCLUSIVE

Support an Independent Pub Day launched

By Rebecca Weller

The London Pub Explorer has launched ‘Support an Independent Pub Day’ in a bid to raise awareness of challenges and closures across the hospitality sector.

Property refurbs: this week's round-up features Brotherhood, Shepherd Neame and Inn Collection Group

PROPERTY

Brotherhood bars invests £500k into refurb

By Rebecca Weller

This week's property refurb round-up includes investments from sports bars operator Brotherhood, pub with rooms brand Inn Collection and Shepherd Neame.

Tim Martin: JDW has seen 'consistent but slow' recovery from pandemic

JDW reports 10.1% growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has announced financial growth in its trading update for the six months ending 28 January 2024.

Fleurets Survey of Pub Prices January 2024: pub numbers expected to continue declining (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Number of pubs expected to decline in 2024

By Rebecca Weller

The total number of pubs in the UK will “continue to decline” as more than a third of freehold sites sold in 2023 no longer operate as pubs, according to the Fleurets Survey of Pub Prices January 2024.

Ominous escalation: cost of a pint increases by 10% YOY (Credit: Getty/MarioGuti)

Pint prices jump 10% YOY

By Rebecca Weller

The Government “must act to secure the future of pubs” as the average cost of a pint of draught lager in the on-trade soars by more than 10% year-on-year (YOY).

No surprise: UKH urged Gov to mitigate costs for sector to avoid further fuelling inflation (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

UKH: 'inflation rise no surprise'

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms will have “no choice” but to pass further costs onto consumers without “action to mitigate costs”, further fuelling inflation.

Call on Government: BII CEO Steve Alton (left) with The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington

BII demands Gov support for pubs in Budget

By Gary Lloyd

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has demanded Government investment in pubs in the upcoming Budget as more than six out of 10 pubs reported revenues losses or flat trade in 2023.

Finding more ways to prosper: Professor Victoria Wells

OPINION

Pubs have had to diversify to survive

By Victoria Wells, Professor of Sustainable Management School for Business and Society, University of York

As a pub researcher I’m almost always given pub (or beer) related gifts for Christmas and birthdays – Christmas 2023 was no exception.

CGA Prestige shows food inflation fell to 15% in November

Food inflation fell to 15% in November

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Food Inflation as measured by the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (FPI) fell again during the month of November to 15.0% - its lowest level since July 2022.

Fresh challenge: taking on a pub or moving to a different site could be just what the doctor ordered (credit: getty/andresr)

The surge in applications to run a pub

By Gary Lloyd

“New year, new me.” So often the cry of someone who managed to survive the previous 365 days despite facing hammer blows all the way with the intention of reversing such misfortunes in the time it will take for the Earth to revolve around the sun again.

What's in the news 5 January?

Review of the Week

'We need to go to war on VAT'

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington met up with Oakman Group's Peter Borg-Neal to get his take on the week's news, from a knighthood for Sir Tim through to closures and Christmas trade.

Cautiously optimistic: drinks sales up 7% in final fortnight of 2023 (Credit: Getty/ zeljkosantrac)

Drinks sales up 7% during last two weeks of 2023

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales were up 7% year-on-year during the final fortnight of 2023, indicating “positive trends” for 2024 despite continued “difficult trading conditions”, according to CGA.

Gig economy: Live music expected to boom in pubs this year (Credit: Getty/mixeto)

Live music in pubs could skyrocket in 2024

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Gigs in the ‘seed’ music industry – those staged in hospitality venues across the UK – soared 37% over the festive season, providing a boost for artists and the pubs they performed in.

Strong festive trading: Amber Taverns targets 185 sites by the end of 2024 (Pictured: The Railway in Caerphilly, South Wales)

Amber Taverns reports strong festive trading

By Shwetali Sapte

Amber Taverns has reported strong trading over the festive period across its pub portfolio, with like-for-like sales up 20% in the period spanning 18 December to 1 January 2024.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 S4 Ep. 14: Stars in bars! (Feat. James May, Candice Brown and more) 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 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

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