Multi-Site Pub Operators

Extra flavour: NQ64's Shoreditch opening is its first site to offer food

Inside drinks and gaming bar NQ64's 10th site

By Gary Lloyd

Arcade bar NQ64 has launched its biggest site to date and the first of its 10 locations to offer food. Here are some pictures to show you what to expect there.

Company acquisition: 'These are long-established, well-run bars that fit well with our existing portfolio and our model of running multiple brands in clusters in London and around the country,' Nightcap CEO Sarah Willingham says

Nightcap acquires Dirty Martini

By Nikkie Thatcher

Bar operator Nightcap has acquired the Dirty Martini chain of cocktail bars and Tuttons Brasserie in a £4.65m pre-pack deal.

Openings and revamps: Pubs get fresh looks, Rekom to open site

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Rekom to open 2nd Proud Mary pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rekom is set to launch its second Proud Mary pub in Swansea, while pubs from Hyde, Star, Castle Pubs and SALT have reopened after revamps.

Things are looking up: Business leaders regain confidence

Optimism rising among hospitality leaders

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Optimism among leaders of Britain’s top hospitality groups has risen since the start of 2023, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Fourth.

Summer revamp: Breweries join forces to breathe life into pub

£1m makeover breathes new life into historic pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

SALT Brewing and Ossett Pub Company have announced their joint venture on the renovations and reopening of Georgian pub the Bingley Arms in Horbury, West Yorkshire.

Growth trajectory: The Alchemist reveals its future plans

The Alchemist eyes further UK growth

By Nikkie Thatcher

Creative cocktail bar and restaurant group The Alchemist is looking to expand its portfolio in the UK following its first international opening in Berlin, Germany.

Strong speakers: the line-up for the Pub Conference is jam-packed

Speakers for Pub Conference revealed

By The Morning Advertiser

Pub legends Tim Martin, Ian Payne and Bob Ivell will share the stage at the Pub Conference later this month (Tuesday 20 June).

Cash out: Pubcos are investing heavily in their properties

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

£1.4m ploughed into pubs & music venues

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Proper Pubs has put £1m into upgrades, Admiral Taverns has invested more than £347,000 into two Staffordshire pubs, and around £97,500 has been ploughed into grassroots music venues across the country.

Fair weather led: the Drinks Tracker authors believe the good weather will help continue spending (credit: Getty/Kar-Tr)

Continued drinks sales growth impacted by inflation

By Gary Lloyd

Early May bank holidays have helped pubs and bar drinks sales reach year-on-year growth for fourth week in a row but with inflation still in double digits, real-terms growth remains elusive.

Sector appeal demonstrated: like-for-like sales have improved for the seventh month in a row (credit: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

Sales growth in April tempered by inflation woes

By Gary Lloyd

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in Great Britain achieved like-for-like and year-on-year sales growth of 6.9% in April 2023 against last year, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

Setting sites on new sights: Fresh openings and revamps are on the cards

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Admiral Taverns pub reopens after £155k revamp

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There are new sites from BrewDog and NWTC, while Admiral Taverns, Greene King and Shepherd Neame reopen pubs after significant investments.

Invaluable support: Stonegate Group raises £250k for MND Association

Stonegate raises £250k for MND Association

By Rebecca Weller

The UK’s biggest pub company, Stonegate Group, has raised £250,000 for its corporate charities, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and MND Scotland.

Help for elderly: there are plenty of easy changes pubs can make to be dementia-friendly (credit: Getty/Dean Mitchell)

£7.25m backing for dementia-friendly pubs scheme

By Gary Lloyd

A scheme to introduce simple menus, training for staff and launch a Google map with dementia-friendly pubs charted on it has been backed with £7.25m funding by the UK Government.

Technological advances: Zonal's Glenn Tait highlights how AI can influence and aid businesses in the hospitality sector

MA LEADERS CLUB

AI’s role in hospitality

By Nikkie Thatcher

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be the next piece of technology to help operators grow their businesses, one expert has revealed.

Punch pledge: a new report from the pubco is targeting a more sustainable future starting at a local level

Punch targets ‘world’s goals’ with new sustainability report

By Gary Lloyd

Punch Pubs & Co has strengthened its sustainability credentials with the launch of its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report – Punch Promise – with the aim of “helping its pubs to contribute towards the world’s goals, albeit...

Travel sites: the first in the roll out is at London Gatwick, which is due to open in December

BrewDog to open sites at travel hubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Craft brewer and operator BrewDog is set to roll out expansion plans at airport and railway stations across the UK.

Scene setting: (l-r) The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington quizzed Newcastle business bosses Malhotra Group chief operating office Atul Malhotra, NE1 chief executive Stephen Patterson, Vaulkhard Group director Ollie Vaulkhard

MA LEADERS CLUB

What operating in Newcastle is really like

By Nikkie Thatcher

Delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s MA Leaders Club heard from top operators on what Newcastle is like to operate in and how businesses are battling ongoing challenges.

Story time: Heath Ball at the Red Lion & Sun writes stories about wines rather than tasting notes (credit: Getty/SolStock)

FEATURE: Wine

FEATURE: Let your pub shine with wine

By Michelle Perrett

There are some fantastic pubs serving amazing wines in the UK – but the pub sector does have some challenges to overcome in the category because it has a reputation for being focused on developing its beer menus rather than targeting wine sales.

Farewell to chairman: Liberation Group chair Richard Grainger (right) and CEO Jonathan Lawson (left)

Liberation Group chair to step down

By Gary Lloyd

South of England and Channel Islands brewer and pub operator Liberation Group has announced chairman Richard Grainger will be stepping down after seven years in the role.

MA Leaders Newcastle: the conference is underway as operators and experts share what it is like to trade in the city

MA Leaders Newcastle happening today

By Rebecca Weller

The MA Leaders Club meeting in Newcastle is underway with operators and experts revealing what it’s like to trade in the city alongside where the opportunities and challenges are.