Kent

The George Pub, Bethersden, opens cafe

‘If you don’t diversify you get stuck behind’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub in Kent has celebrated the launch of its community café, and has advised operators to focus on quality coffee, keep adapting, and diversify the offering if they want to do the same.

Building a rapport: securing guest taps in pubs crucial to success for small breweries (pictured: Titsey Brewery new taproom)

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Top tips from Titsey on brewing success

By Rebecca Weller

Building a strong rapport with local communities to secure guest ale taps in pubs is crucial to the success of a small brewery, but quality and marketing are top of the list for Kent-based Titsey Brewery.

Initiative comeback: The Shepherd Neame Cask Club was launched in 2019

The Cask Project

Shepherd Neame’s Cask Club returns

By Nikkie Thatcher

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has announced it is bringing back its real ale initiative Cask Club next month (February).

All too much: Soaring costs force Kent-based pub to close (Getty/ Rogan Macdonald)

Family pub to shut up shop

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Wig and Gown in Dartford, Kent will shut its doors in the new year after costs doubled and footfall plummeted.

Finalist info: here's a deeper dive into this year's Stonegate Pub of the Year shortlist

gbpa 2022

Meet the finalists for Stonegate Pub of the Year

By The Morning Advertiser

Ahead of the 2022 Great British Pub Awards in a just a few days time, here's the lowdown on the finalists in running to be named Stonegate Pub of the Year.

Shortlisted venues: ahead of the awards next week, we've taken a closer look at the Admiral Pub of the Year finalists

gboa 2022

Meet the finalists for Admiral Pub of the Year

By The Morning Advertiser

With the Great British Pub Awards just days away from announcing and celebrating some of the best bars in the business, we take a look at some of the finalist that are in the running to take home some silver. Today it’s the turn of the bars that are competing...

Final few: find out more about the last six standing in the Greene King Pub of the Year category

gbpa 2022

Meet the finalists for Greene King Pub of the Year

By The Morning Advertiser

With the Great British Pub Awards just days away from announcing and celebrating some of the best bars in the business, we take a look at some of the finalist that are in the running to take home some silver. Today it’s the turn of the bars that are competing...

Let's get the party started: Pubs look forward to the Platinum Jubilee weekend

Platinum Jubilee weekend: How are pubs celebrating?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

With licenced premises permitted to open for two hours extra across the Platinum Jubilee weekend, pubs are pulling out all the stops with events ranging from beer festivals to art exhibitions, Rolls Royce rides to BBQs, and afternoon teas to fancy dress...

Here's to many more years: Operators celebrate 43 years at Kent-based pub the Anchor

Licensees celebrate 43 years behind the bar

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Licensees of the Anchor in Sevenoaks, Kent, have celebrated their 43rd anniversary behind the bar as they opt to sign another 10-year contract with pubco Admiral Taverns.

No delivery: Lack of gas at the Chaser inn, Kent (Getty/ B2M Productions)

No delivery from Calor Gas forces pub to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A Kent pub was forced to close for a few days after Calor Gas failed to top up gas levels, which the managing director of the pub group has claimed was “not forgivable”.

Award-winning: Two pubs bag Michelin stars

Two pubs awarded Michelin stars

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Bridge Arms in Canterbury, Kent and the Cumbria-based the Dog & Gunn Inn have scooped their first Michelin stars today (Wednesday 16 February) in the 2022 Michelin Guide.

Christmas Part Two: Licensee Pete Marshall wants to give customers the December they wanted but couldn't have (Credit: Getty/ Martinns)

Kent pub offers customers a second chance at Christmas

By Rebecca Weller

Following announcements from Prime Minister Boris Johnson in December, including the advice to limit socialising over Christmas, the Kings Arms in Bexleyheath saw 400 cancellations in just six days, but licensee Pete Marshall is giving customers a second...

The Dog at Wingham:

December set to be weakest trading period of 2021

By Rebecca Weller

December is set to be the weakest trading month of the year following the surge in Omicron cases and the announcement of Plan B restrictions causing cancellations, lost revenue, and decreased footfall, according to one Kent-based operator.

Martyn Hillier: Micropubs are about bringing communities back together (Getty/ Instants)

Micropubs ‘bring communities back together’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Micropubs strip pubs back to traditional values of “friendship” and “conversation” and “bring communities back together” said the founder of the world’s first micropub Martyn Hillier.

Social hub: phone-bans promote conversation and interaction (Getty/ Riou)

Phones kill conversation say micropub owners

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UK micropub owners said that phones “kill” conversation and show a “lack of respect”, while pub phone-bans help promote social interaction after lockdown-induced isolation.

What’s in the news 30 April?

MA’S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘We’re still feeling a bit like the fun police’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington spoke with Phil Thorley of Thorley Taverns to discuss the most recent on-trade news - including the latest on vaccine passports.

Blue sky thinking: 'The level of optimism and positivity in the business, after a very, very challenging period, is sky high at the moment,' Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame said

‘Number one priority is to restore the business’

By Stuart Stone

Sharing a heartland with Covid-19’s ‘Kent variant’ has seen the vast majority of Shepherd Neame’s 300-odd sites shuttered for more than five months. As such, CEO Jonathan Neame is looking forward to what he believes will be a ‘very good summer’.