Multi-Site Pub Operators

Village people: the Urban Village Pubs team celebrates victory at the Publican Awards in March 2023

The three keys to Urban Village Pubs’ success

By Gary Lloyd

Making a community a stronger place is one of the reasons why Urban Village Pubs won Best Community Pub winner at the Publican Awards, according to the pubco’s co-founder Ian Grundy.

Demand for Hogs Back Brewery cask from pubs rises

The Cask Project

Hogs Back sees uplift in cask demand from pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Demand for cask ales from Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery is rising towards pre-Covid levels as the brewer has secured listings with a number of pub operators for its brands and new variants.

Big Hug and Greene King release charity beer

The Cask Project

Big Hug teams up with GK for charity drive

By Gary Lloyd

Socially conscious beer brand Big Hug has teamed up with brewer and pub operator Greene King (GK) to launch a collaborative version of its Pave The Way (4.6%) pale ale for GK’s seasonal cask calendar.

Wait and sea: Brighton Pier Group is eyeing strategic acquisitions in the long term (credit: Getty/Ron Bambridge)

Brighton Pier Group lfl sales fall 11% in 2023

By Gary Lloyd

Like-for-like (lfl) sales for the first three months of 2023 at Brighton Pier Group were down 11% versus 2022 with 76% of the shortfall coming from its Bars division.

End of legal battle: Star Pubs & Bars and the pubs code adjudicator have settled their High Court case

Star to pay £1.25m settlement over pubs code breaches

By Gary Lloyd

Star Pubs & Bars has agreed to pay £1.25m to end a High Court litigation with the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) that began in 2019 after an investigation was launched into the pubco breaching the pubs code.

Call to step in: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin says energy suppliers are being allowed to profiteer

BBPA: Ofgem is acting too slowly to save UK businesses

By Gary Lloyd

Energy regulator Ofgem is moving at “glacial pace” when it comes to disciplining suppliers and putting hundreds of thousands of businesses on the verge of collapse, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

City certainty: Newcastle has a rich cultural history (image: Getty/ChrisHepburn)

MA LEADERS CLUB

What is Newcastle like to run pubs in?

By Nikkie Thatcher

With the next MA Leaders Club event set to hit the streets of Newcastle in under a month (Thursday 18 May), The Morning Advertiser has taken a look at the area in more detail and what it is like to trade in.

Community focus: director of Admiral Taverns’ Proper Pubs division Mark Brooke

BIG INTERVIEW

FEATURE: Communities reliant on last bastion

By Gary Lloyd

Pubs are the “last hub standing” in UK communities, says director of Proper Pubs Mark Brooke, and it is vital they are allowed to continue doing what they do.

Green credentials: M&B's approach to sustainability impressed the judges

PUBLICAN AWARDS 2023

Best Sustainable Pub Company winner, sponsored by Sky: Mitchells & Butlers

By The Morning Advertiser

With great scale comes great responsibility and as the UK’s second largest pub operator, with 1,660 sites, Mitchells & Butlers’ (M&B) size is both its biggest strength and greatest challenge when it comes to reducing its impact on the planet.

Mass closure: Bristol pubs shut doors (Getty/ Emely)

4 pubs in 500-metre radius shut doors

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Four pubs in Bristol within a five-minute radius of each other all announced they were shutting for good last week.

Star showing: Danni Fraylich and Tim Galligan

FEATURE – Business development managers

FEATURE: Why the BDM is a Star attraction

By Gary Lloyd

One of the most important people in the life of a licensee is their business development manager (BDM), in this feature we learn a little about two people and their roles in the Star Pubs & Bars set-up.

Non-Domestic Rates bill: the workload passed to ratepayers will increase and counter the pledge made by Tory leaders says Colliers (credit: getty/andresr)

Business rates reform will cost sector even more

By Gary Lloyd

The promised reform of business rates will not cut costs for the sector but will, conversely, include a 7.1% increase in rateable values, according to property expert Colliers.

New beginnings in Spring: Plenty of pubs open doors in time for Easter

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Golf Fang launches 6th site, pubs open after revamps

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Big Fang Collective has launched its sixth UK site in Wales after a £1.5m makeover, and Fuller's and Inn Collection Group sites have also opened their doors.

Best Pub Brand / Concept winner at Publican Awards 2023

PUBLICAN AWARDS 2023

Best Pub Brand/Concept, sponsored by Moet Hennessy: BrewDog

By The Morning Advertiser

Craft brewer and bar operator BrewDog continues to push the boundaries and has demonstrated its strength with huge site openings in London Waterloo and Las Vegas despite economic headwinds battering the sector.

Food focus: the knowledge and enthusiasm demonstrated by the Brucan team impressed the judges

PUBLICAN AWARDS 2023

Best Food Offer winner: Brucan Pubs

By The Morning Advertiser

Brucan was the undeniable winner for the “Best Food” category in 2023, according to the judges.

Oakman update: the group will have 40 sites by July 2023, including the recently opened Grand Junction in Buckingham

Oakman CEO demands VAT reform as sales rise

By Gary Lloyd

Oakman Group chief executive Peter Borg-Neal took a shot at the Government over sky-high tax as the business announced a rise in sales in a trading update for the first 38 weeks of its financial year (FY) 2022-23.

Rooms right: Grosvenor Pubs impressed judges with its accommodation offer

PUBLICAN AWARDS 2023

Best Accommodation Operator winner: Grosvenor Pubs

By The Morning Advertiser

The judges were blown away by the energy and passion of owner Jason Myers and his team in creating a package that sets new standards for modern pub accommodation.

Double win: sport will help increase footfall and licensees can win prizes too (credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

Sporting days out for licensees up for grabs

By Gary Lloyd

Licensees who have a Sky Sports subscription are in with a chance of driving a Formula 1 car or watching a day of Ashes cricket and will be able to drive footfall with increased summer sporting content.

North Yorkshire brewery: Black Sheep Brewery CFO John Hunt has stepped down

Black Sheep Brewery CFO steps down

By Gary Lloyd

Black Sheep Brewery’s chief financial officer (CFO) John Hunt has stepped down from his role for personal reasons, with Anthony Hill appointed as interim CFO.

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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