Finance

Pints galore: Pubs are in with a chance to bag £150k cider

£150k of Stowford Press cider up for grabs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Westons Cider is giving 12 pubs the chance to bag a year’s worth of Stowford Press as part of a £150,000 investment in a bid to boost the hospitality sector.

Cost and consequence: operator warns pubs will not be able to absorb proposed increase to NLW (Credit: Getty/georgeclerk)

Operator warns pubs 'can't absorb' increase to NLW

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs will not be able to “absorb” the increase to the National Living Wage (NLW) as the sector continues to face “unrivalled pressure”, one Suffolk-based operator has warned.

Autumn start: On premise drink sales are behind last year's levels (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Drink sales dip after weeks of growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

On premise drinks sales last week were down year-on-year for the first time since mid-August, CGA by NIQ’s daily drinks tracker has revealed.

Awards finalists: the White Horse's Tosh Lakhnai (centre) and Sunny Hodge (right) of Diogenes The Dog

Trade great for finalists in BIH Spotlight Awards

By Gary Lloyd

Two of the finalists for Pub/Bar of the Year in the Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards have revealed how trade at their sites has improved so much since the pandemic.

How can pubs target their MPs on rates campaign?

Call for pubs to step up on rates campaigning

By Ed Bedington

With many pubs struggling to break even, operators are being urged to increase pressure through their local MPs around business rates relief as the Government Autumn Statement approaches.

Good news: Community venues secure Government funding: (Credit: Getty/ Henrik Sorensen)

Government secures £1.2m for 4 pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

More than £1m has been earmarked for four pubs as part of the Government’s community ownership fund scheme, which UKHospitality (UKH) has celebrated as “really positive news”.

Rum boy rum: Ian Burrell will be giving expert advice at RumFest in October

How to make rum a drink for everyone at your pub

By Gary Lloyd

Leading voice on rum and TV presenter Ian Burrell has told pubs stocking a variety of rums according to quality will mean everyone becomes a customer because they are not being priced out.

Record results: Jonathan Neame is confident for the future

‘Record revenues’ achieved by Shepherd Neame

By Gary Lloyd

Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame is confident “the turmoil of the past few years is now settling” as the company achieved “record revenues” in the 52 weeks ended 24 June 2023.

Treasured jewel: Shepherd Neame invests more than £2.5m into its pub estate (Pictured: the Tom Cribb pub in London)

PROPERTY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Shepherd Neame MD: 'pub's should reflect their heritage'

By Rebecca Weller

Pub refurbishments should reflect market trends while honouring their history, Shepherd Neame managing director Jonathon Swaine told The Morning Advertiser, as the pubco invests more than £2.5m into its estate.

Revved up: Shaun Craven and partner Sophie Starkey at celeb hangout Le Reve

Le Rêve cocktail bar celebrates 10th anniversary

By Gary Lloyd

Independent cocktail bar Le Rêve celebrated its 10th anniversary at the weekend and has been celebrating for the entire month of September with a packed entertainment programme.

Be smart: technology can be used in front and back of house at your premises

FEATURE - Technology

FEATURE: How tech can free up time for your staff

By Fiona Griffiths

Times are tough right now. Pub and bar operators are being hit from all sides with consumers tightening their belts, struggles over recruitment and costs soaring across the board.

Daily Drinks Tracker: sales in managed venues 7% ahead of 2022 in week to Saturday 16 September (Credit: Getty/Royalty-free)

Drinks sales up but real-terms growth 'hard won'

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in managed venues were ahead of 2022 levels for the fifth week in a row in the seven days to Saturday 16 September though real-terms growth will continue to be “hard won”.

On the market: JD Wetherspoon has appointed two estate agents to sell 11 of its pubs (credit: Getty/JanpenBoonbao)

JDW to sell 11 pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has appointed estate agents Savills and CBRE to sell 11 of its pubs.

Not telling the true story: hospitality sector reacts to inflation update (Credit/Getty: Eoneren)

Inflation rate 'not telling true story'

By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies urge the Government to provide “targeted support” for the sector in the November budget as decline to the headline rate of inflation does not “tell the true story”.

Trading conditions: Lumina's new report gives insight into the sector (Credit: Getty/Dimensions)

70% of hospitality leaders face staffing challenges

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Around 70% of leaders in the hospitality sector are facing challenges with tough trading conditions expected to continue, according to the new Lumina Intelligence Top of Mind Report 2023.

BBPA and WRAP collaborate for food waste webinar

GREEN INITIATIVE

BBPA and WRAP team up to battle against food waste war

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs have been invited to find out how they can save money and cut food waste as part of a collaboration between the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

Beer cost: Most pubs charge more than £4 for a pint (Credit: Getty/ nazdravie)

82% of pubs charge over £4 for a pint

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The majority of pubs (82%) are selling pints of lager for more than £4, a recent survey by The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

Fun times: people still love to visit pubs say Karl Chessell and Dani Rowlands of CGA by NiQ

MA LEADERS CLUB

CGA: Love for pub remains for customers

By Gary Lloyd

Customers’ love for pubs has not dampened despite the challenges to the sector remaining “pretty prevalent”, according to experts at insights specialist CGA by NiQ.

Snap poll: would you charge a 'caleage' fee at your pub? (Credit: Getty/AzmanL)

POLL: would you charge a 'cakeage' fee at your pub?

By Rebecca Weller

Operators share differing views on whether customers should be charged a fee for customers bringing celebratory cakes to pubs, have your say in The Morning Advertiser’s snap poll.

Climbing back: Pubs and restaurants weather the storm of summer rain (Getty: Credit/Kar-Tr)

Pub sales growth in August 'encouraging'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs overcame wet weather to record almost 5% growth in sales during August, which one trade body celebrated as “encouraging”.

Hidden costs: Karen Errington of top gastropub the Rat at Anick outlines how rising prices are impacting her business

OPINION

'It's much harder to keep people happy'

By Karen Errington, the Rat, Anick, Northumberland

When I was asked to write an opinion piece on the issues that affect us in the industry today, it was nigh on impossible to write about anything other than rising costs and the struggle for us small businesses to stay viable.

Property round-up: Admiral Taverns and M&B included this week (Pictured: Admiral Taverns site The Camerons)

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Admiral invests £450k into pub estate

By Rebecca Weller

This week's property refurbishment and reopening's round-up includes investments made by Admiral Taverns, Mitchell's and Butlers and Robinsons Brewery.

(image: Getty/sturti)

Stonegate launches dynamic pricing

By Ed Bedington

The UK’s largest pub group has launched a new system of dynamic pricing, which could see prices increase in some pubs during busier periods.

Room at the inn: Spend well and stay core to your values, is this operator's advice

‘Buy once and buy right’ when investing in rooms

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The operator of the Lancashire-based gastropub Freemasons at Wiswell has advised pubs to “buy once and buy right” if they’re looking to invest in accommodation at their site.

'Craziness': James Watt shares the story of a rogue employee

James Watt shares story of rogue employee

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BrewDog chief executive James Watt has shared a story of a fraudulent employee to highlight the less-talked-about side to being a CEO.

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

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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