Money

Call for operators to fundraise for Ukraine

10-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Staff at the Piano Works, central London have called for operators to unite and fundraise for the people of Ukraine who are suffering from lack of shelter, safety, water and food.

The Lock In Podcast

Money trouble: Pub finance challenges

17-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

With finances facing an ever-growing squeeze and debts coming home to roost next month, the Lock In team take a look at what pub operators should be thinking about when it comes to managing cash flow, dealing with debt, handling the current utilities...

New polymer £50 note revealed

08-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A new polymer £50 banknote will be joining the £20, £10 and £5 notes when it is released into circulation later this year.

Special report

Pub of the Future: How technology can save your business money

19-Feb-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Technology for pubs has advanced light-years in recent time, but arguably pubs themselves haven’t taken up much of the new tech. That's all changing though, so read on to find out what's new and how the right tech can benefit your business....

Economy shrinkage ‘less than feared’ but 1m job losses and low earnings loom

06-Aug-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

The Bank of England has predicted that the economy will not shrink as much as first thought following the coronavirus pandemic, but it will take longer to recover while job losses are likely to hit 7.5% later this year and average earnings likely to shrink....

Publican’s daughter recoups stolen £3.4k takings

25-Feb-2020 By Alice Leader

A theft of more than £3,000 worth of pub takings almost saw a hospitalised publican become homeless as the burglary threatened the pub’s closure – but his daughter’s fundraiser saved the day.

9 things to know about the new £20 note

20-Feb-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The new polymer £20 note is due is being released into circulation today (20 February) and it has various security features that can help operators confirm the money is genuine.

What funding options are available to pub operators?

18-Oct-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Picking the right type of finance is crucial so you don’t end up out of pocket – this guide could help you save more than a pretty penny.

Pubs ‘ideal’ venue for new ATMs in £1m cash machine rollout

02-Oct-2019 By Stuart Stone

Communities with limited access to ATMs will be able to request a no-charge cashpoint under a new £1m scheme, with rural pubs highlighted as ‘ideal’ locations.

How pub workers can beat the January blues

09-Jan-2018 By Stuart Stone

In light of seasonal splurging and early December paydays, the Licensed Trade Charity has issued a short guide to help pub workers beat January money blues.

Festive appeal to remove fake banknotes from circulation

06-Dec-2017 By Stuart Stone

Independent crime stopping charity Crimestoppers has appealed to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit notes.

What does the interest rates rise mean for pubs?

02-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

For the first time since July 2007 the government has increased interest rates. Here’s how the decision could affect the average British pub.

Pub fights £22,000 electricity bill that could shut premises

27-Oct-2017 By Fred A'Court

A pub husband and wife team are fighting a £22,000 electricity bill that they fear, if unresolved, could force the closure of their pub by Christmas.

Consumers twice as likely to use smartphones to pay for lunch

20-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

People are more likely to use their smartphone to pay for lunch than they were a year ago, new research from Vianet has revealed.

Publican ordered to pay more than £100,000 after he 'avoided paying business rates'

11-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A publican was ordered to pay more than £95,000 in unpaid businesses rates and £16,000 in legal costs to Basildon Council last week.

Mitchells and Butlers introduces frictionless payment with Flypay

12-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) is rolling out frictionless payments across its estate to allow people to pay at their table and run a bar tab using apps and Flypay technology.

Larger employers now paying into apprenticeship levy pot

10-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Businesses with an annual wage bill of more than £3m have had to start paying the apprenticeship levy.

BEER

Innis & Gunn smashes £1m crowdfunding target in just 72 hours

03-Nov-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn (I&G) has raised £1m in equity via crowdfunding after running a campaign for just 72 hours. 

Greene King

Greene King to offer discounted services for licensees

27-Oct-2016 By Liam Coleman

Pub company Greene King has launched a 'toolkit' to help licensees save money on various services relating to the day-to-day running of the pub.

Technology

What new technology are we going to start seeing in pubs?

13-Jul-2016 By Nigel Huddleston

Last month saw the ninth anniversary of the iPhone, the game-changer that transformed the humble mobile phone into a family photo album, record collection, video library, shopping mall, game centre and mind-blowing universal information resource.

The Big Interview: Oakman Inns founder Peter Borg-Neal

23-May-2016 By Oli Gross

Peter Borg-Neal is different to many pubco chief executives, having worked in just about every role in the business. Oli Gross finds out more about him.

My shout

"Publicans are working harder than ever"...Star Pubs MD, Lawson Mountstevens

01-Mar-2016 By Lawson Mountstevens

There have never been more pressures on the great British pub.

Global Payments

Anger as card machines crash on one of the trade's busiest nights

14-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Publicans have vented their frustration after payment system Global Payments crashed on one of the industry’s biggest trading nights.

Punch

Punch tenant calls for more pubco support

14-Sep-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A Punch Taverns tenant has urged pub companies to provide more support after falling behind with rent payments and being asked to leave her pub after seven years.

Technology

Plug in - or get switched off

08-Jun-2015 By James Evison

Pubs are beginning to embrace technology but they must go further to meet customers' expectations and identify the areas where they are still lagging behind. James Evison reports.

BUSINESS FOCUS

My pub: The White Swan, Wighill

07-Dec-2014 By Sheila Mcwattie

Wesley Chamberlain, chef and co-tenant of the privately leased White Swan at Wighill, North Yorkshire, tells Sheila McWattie about boosting business with bartering, cyclists’ snacks, veg and cake shows and a breakfast club

Licensee offered surprise customer payment ‘owed’ since 1958

03-Dec-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The manager of a pub and hotel has spoken of her surprise when a former guest returned to the outlet to settle a £1 bill from 56 years ago.

Bramwell owed £60.6m at collapse

10-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

Bramwell Pub Company collapsed owing £60.6m to creditors, according to a new report that says the decision to put the company in administration followed a deterioration of trade and was sparked by one of its suppliers reducing its credit terms and demanding...

Suffolk licensee challenges legal ruling over backdated electricity bill

21-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Suffolk licensee is disputing a legal ruling by the energy ombudsman after being forced to pay a backdated electricity bill 14 months after leaving the pub.

Jacques Borel's VAT Club fined for late VAT payment

10-Oct-2013 By Rob Willock

Jacques Borel’s VAT Club has been fined £9,201 for late payment of VAT.

PMA helps resolve £3,000 British Gas bill row

30-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

British Gas has agreed to pay more than £3,000 to resolve an electricity bill dispute with a Buckinghamshire licensee after the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) intervened.

Ten tips on dealing with debt

15-Jul-2013 By Business Debtline

Business Debtline helped 26,000 struggling small businesses last year, a proportion of which were pub licensees. In this article, the charity offers 10 tips you can use to help get back on the road to financial health.

Winemaker Chapel Down secures new funding

08-Jul-2013 By Mike Berry

English winemaker Chapel Down has secured over £4.3m in new funding and appointed ex-Scottish & Newcastle chief executive John Dunsmore to the board as it gears up for expansion.

Wacky Warehouse looks for children to test new play centre in Cardiff

03-Apr-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Spirit Pub Company-owned Wacky Warehouse is on the look-out for a playful child to test the company’s soft play centre.

The day I became a pubco CEO

18-Feb-2013 By Robert Sayles

An official looking letter arrived through the post last week. It was an invitation to Number 10.

The Big Interview: Steve Benger, WaverleyTBS

04-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Steve Benger is probably using a degree of understatement when he describes the recent period around WaverleyTBS’s demise as “fraught”.Few business collapses in this industry have had such a impact, and affected so many people so quickly, as that of Waverley.

WaverleyTBS debtors dispute Deloitte payment demands

11-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees have hit out at the way Deloitte is collecting money from them following the WaverleyTBS fallout last year, with concerns that some may be over-paying.

WaverleyTBS debtors face debt collection letters

06-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Businesses that were in debt to former drinks supplier WaverleyTBS when it fell into administration are being forced to pay their debts in seven days or face legal proceedings.

Paddington licensee 'may have to sell lease of pub' to pay British Gas energy bill

14-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Paddington licensee fears he may have to sell the lease of his pub in order to pay a £19,000 energy bill from British Gas.

Thousands of pubs at risk after business rates revaluations pushed back

25-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Thousands of pubs could be forced out of business by the Government’s decision to postpone the next business rates revaluation to 2017.

Pub host struggles to pay £13k utility bill

25-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

A Warwickshire licensee has advised others not to “bury their head in the sand” over utilities bills as he struggles to repay British Gas for two years’ worth of electricity.

Host slams Punch internet charge

30-Aug-2011 By Michelle Perrett

A licensee has hit out at Punch Taverns for charging £25 for every internet money transfer she makes to pay her rent and other fees.

Fair Pinter keeps pub but has to pay £135k S&NPC debt

15-Jul-2011 By Adam Pescod

A founding member of Fair Pint, Mark Dodds, has three years to pay back around £135,000 he owes Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC)....

Pubs warned over AWP VAT rebates

02-Jun-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees need to set aside their VAT rebates on amusement with prizes (AWP) machines, warns expert. A European Court of Justice case, scheduled for 30 June, could set a precedent allowing HMRC to appeal the refunds.

Bars and restaurants 'are most distressed'

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

Bars and restaurants are showing the biggest signs of financial distress amongst UK businesses, according to the latest Red Flag Alert released by...

Pub host urges caution over energy bills

01-Apr-2011 By Gurjit Degun

A licensee is urging others to keep an eye on their bills and bank balance, after encountering an ongoing energy nightmare with several suppliers....

Electricty giant halves £25k bill after Publican intervenes

24-Feb-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

A utilities giant has shaved £12,000 off a licensee's electricity bill after The Publican intervened on his behalf. Neil Crampton, who runs the...

Horror as pub's electricty bill goes from £800 to £20k

16-Feb-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

A couple of licensees were left stunned when their quarterly electricity bill rocketed from £800 to a staggering £20,000. Rob Wilson, who runs the...

Hamish Champ: London Calling?

14-Feb-2011 By Hamish Champ

According to legend or myth or whatever it was, Dick Whittington was persuaded by the peeling of bells to stick to his guns and return to seek his...

Councils push for higher licence fees

27-Jan-2011 By John Harrington

Local councils are pushing for reform of alcohol licence fees in a way that could ratchet up costs for pubs. Town hall lobbyists say fees should...