Hotel

How to plan for a medal-winning year

28-Feb-2012 By Neil Morgan

Last year was hardly the annus horribilis for the pub trade that many either predicted or would lead you to believe. The market more than held its own. Parts of it, particularly the freehouse sector, positively thrived.

Fund to slash VAT hits £379k

10-Feb-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A fighting fund to lobby for cut in VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry has hit £379,000 — with family brewers alone contributing £240k.

Convivial reports trading turnaround

24-Jan-2012 By John Harrington

Convivial London Pubs, the eight-strong London estate that was previously run as Capital Pubs II, has reported a turnaround in trading performance in the year to 1 October 2011, with pre-tax profits up 32.3% to £474k.

Feast opens first pub

03-Jan-2012 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Feast, the Gloucestershire-based premium catering and hospitality company, is to operate its first pub after securing the Swan in Berkshire.

Arkell's buys Enterprise pubs

03-Jan-2012 By Mark Wingett

Arkell’s, the Wiltshire-based brewer and pub operator, has acquired a pair of pubs from Enterprise Inns.

Sector business failures on the rise

07-Nov-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

The number of businesses falling into administration in the licensed trade increased by more than one quarter between Q2 and Q3 2011, according to new down-beat figures from the Insolvency Service.

The Big Interview: Ross Sanders

04-Nov-2011 By Phil Mellows

The Lazy Cow is the latest, controversial, twist in the tale of Ross Sanders. Phil Mellows meets the entrepreneur at the steak-house-ale-house hybrid and chews the marbled fat.

Pipe & Glass named Michelin Pub of the Year

03-Nov-2011 By Jo Bruce

The Pipe & Glass in South Dalton, near Beverley, East Yorkshire, has been named Pub of the Year in the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2012.

Pubs triumph in AA Hospitality Awards

31-Oct-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The Feathered Nest in Gloucestershire was named England’s Pub of the Year in the AA Hospitality Awards last week.

New Inn lands H&W’s top accolade

12-Oct-2011

The New Inn in Salisbury, Wiltshire, has been named Public House of the Year and won a prize of £1,000 at brewer Hall & Woodhouse’s 2011 Business Partnership Awards.

Hotel Inspector joins the Freehouse Business Club for get-together

22-Sep-2011 By Jo Bruce

Ruth Watson, star of The Hotel Inspector TV show, is among the exciting line-up at the PMA’s next Freehouse Business Club event.

Shepherd Neame buys Kent hotel from Thorley Taverns

19-Sep-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Shepherd Neame, the Kent-based brewer and pub operator, has bought the freehold of a coastal hotel from multiple operator Thorley Taverns for an undisclosed sum.

Faucet Inn acquires Ramsay's The Warrington

04-Aug-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Faucet Inn, the London and south-east multiple headed by Steve Cox, has agreed to acquire The Warrington in London's Maida Vale from Gordon Ramsay...

Unite to maximise the benefits of 2012

03-Aug-2011 By Stephen Crawley

If there is a genuine spillover benefit for the whole UK in 2012, let's ensure all areas outside London are ready to capitalise, writes Stephen Crawley.

Inn the Pub to expand hotel base

02-Aug-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Lancashire based leisure company Inn the Pub is to focus on the expansion of its hotel operations over the next six months, with the opening of two...

Song released to help save great British pub

29-Jul-2011 By Lesley Foottit

Stocktaking company Venners' very own David Fitzgerald, aka Will Francis, has released a new single in support of the great British pub.

'Take country pubs back to what they were', says Pierre White

25-Jul-2011 By Becky Paskin, Restaurant

Chef and pub owner Marco Pierre White believes country pubs need to be taken back to what they were originally if they are to survive.

Travelodge targets pubs to develop

13-Jun-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Travelodge has unveiled plans to open 100 small hotels in prime locations by 2020, with former pubs among the properties being sought.

Borel: VAT cut for pubs by 2014

19-May-2011 By Michelle Perrett

The UK hospitality industry could have a targeted VAT cut by April 2014, according to the influential French lobbyist Jacques Borel.

Residents drinks issue is here to stay

03-May-2011 By Peter Coulson

News of the proposed link-up between Travelodge and some pub groups may bring up the whole question of drinks for residents again.

Wetherspoon hits 800-site milestone

03-May-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has reached the milestone of 800 venues following the opening of its 19th pub-hotel last week.

Travelodge in £100m pub group link up

18-Apr-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Travelodge is to link up with several pub groups, including Greene King and Mitchells & Butlers, as part of a £100m expansion programme.

Drake & Morgan's MacLean wins accolades

01-Apr-2011 By Lesley Foottit

The woman behind Drake & Morgan has won the Outstanding Entrepreneur award at the Women 1st Shine Awards. Jillian MacLean was also named as one...

Peach buys 14th pub and eyes expansion

30-Mar-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Peach Pub Company has bought its 14th site — a pub previously been run by high-profile chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Thwaites opens first Inn of Character

29-Mar-2011 By Graham Ridout

The first of a new brand of pubs with rooms developed by brewer and retailer Thwaites has opened for business. The concept, Inns of Character, is...

Marco Pierre White acquires Maypole Group

24-Mar-2011 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Marco Pierre White has completed the acquisition of the Maypole Group, the operator of six rural inns, out of administration for an undisclosed sum.

'Punch Taverns considering pub sell-off'

06-Mar-2011

Punch Taverns is considering selling nearly one-quarter of its 6,800 pubs as part of a strategic review that would see it focusing on its managed...

Chance for pubs to boost tourist trade

31-Jan-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

The Publican has teamed up with leading website English Country Inns to launch a reader offer to help pubs and inns boost their trade. Readers are...

Norfolk operator rebrands pubs and launches cake business

26-Jan-2011 By Lesley Foottit

A Norfolk pub operator is rebranding two of his sites and has launched a cake business to help boost trade.

Government set to ditch hotel star-rating system

25-Jan-2011 By Becky Paskin, Restaurant

The star rating system used to rank the quality of hotels is set to lose Government backing in favour of consumer review sites.

UCL to rollout boutique hotels at expense of pubs

21-Jan-2011 By Ewan Turney

MA 250 member Urban & Country Leisure plans to invest £20m over the next three years to rollout its Lazy Cow boutique hotel concept.

Marston's announces its pub of the year

01-Dec-2010

A pub in Leeds has been named Marston's pub of the year. The Mustard Pot in Chapel Allerton was came out on top out of the Marston's 1,700 pubs for...

Top50 winner: Gastropub award will be great for business

19-Nov-2010 By Lesley Foottit

Jacquie Pern of the Star Inn at Harome in North Yorkshire speaks to the Morning Advertiser about her victory in the Top50 Gastropub competition.

Former Bristol Walkabout Hotel re-let

16-Nov-2010 By Ewan Turney

A former 27-bedroom Walkabout hotel in Bristol has been re-let to Brooks Hotels for an undisclosed sum.

RICS upbeat on pub costs surveys

01-Nov-2010 By John Harrington

The pub sector will soon have "good quality information" on running costs, which are used to set rents, for the first time - so says RICS.

UCL opens first boutique hotel

29-Oct-2010 By The PMA Team

UCL, the expanding pub restaurant management operator run by Ross Sanders, opens its first exclusive boutique style hotel today.

Baker Tilly is administrator for Maypole Group

27-Oct-2010 By Ewan Turney

Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP has been appointed as administrators of the Maypole Group. Partners Simon Bower and Bruce Mackay will act...

Powder Train opens second pub with Marco Pierre White

22-Oct-2010 By Jo Bruce

Pub company Powder Train has opened its second joint venture with Marco Pierre White. The Kings Arms, in Henley Common, near Fernhurst, West Sussex,...

BII urges pubs to take on interns with new scheme

20-Oct-2010 By Matt Eley Matt

Pubs across the country are being encouraged to take youngsters on as interns in a new programme being launched by the BII. The trade body is...

Mass support for pub over clash with Travelodge

14-Oct-2010 By James Wilmore

Nearly 3,000 people have thrown their support behind a popular music pub threatened with a licence review after noise complaints from a newly-opened...

Hospitality sector to lead economic recovery

13-Oct-2010 By Martyn Leek, M&C Report

The UK hospitality industry could become one of the key building blocks for an economic recovery, according to a new report released today. The...

Pubs savour AA honours

08-Oct-2010 By Jo Bruce

The winning pubs in the AA Hospitality Awards 2010 have been announced — the Black Swan at Oldstead, North Yorkshire, is Pub of the Year.

Urban & Country Leisure to create £15m hotels division

17-Aug-2010

Urban & Country Leisure (UCL) is to splash out £15m on an ambitious expansion plan which, it claims, will add more than 20 pubs restaurants and...

UCL expands into small hotel market

17-Aug-2010 By The PMA Team

Urban & Country Leisure has unveiled plans to expand into the small hotel market with the launch of its first boutique-style hotel.

Urban unveils boutique hotel plan

16-Aug-2010 By The PMA Team

Urban & Country Leisure has unveiled plans to expand into the small hotel market with the launch of its first boutique style hotel.

Chris Evans sells pub to Celtic Manor Resort

02-Aug-2010 By Jo Bruce

Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans has sold one of his pubs to Celtic Manor Resort — the Newbridge Inn, at Tredunnock, near Usk.

Pubs can help drive economic recovery, says new BHA boss

19-Jul-2010 By Hamish Champ

Pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants could be the engine of the UK economy's recovery, says the new head of the British Hospitality Association (BHA)....

Lady Chatterley pub for sale

25-Jun-2010 By Gemma McKenna

A country house hotel named after the fictional home of Lady Chatterley — subject of DH Lawrence's novel — has come on the market at £995,000.

Thwaites pub goes to Swiss chef

27-May-2010 By The PMA Team

Swiss chef Michael Riemenschneider has taken over a Thwaites-owned pub in Cheshire and relaunched it as a restaurant under the same name.

JW Lees buys two ex-Mercury pubs

24-May-2010 By Ewan Turney

North West brewer and pub operator JW Lees has acquired two ex-Mercury Inns pubs out of administration. JW Lees bought the freeholds of the Red Lion...