Multi-Site Pub Operators

Fears Stonegate sites at risk as TDR looks to refinance £2.5bn debt

11-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

More than 650 Stonegate pubs could be put at risk as its parent company seeks to refinance £2.5bn worth of debt, though the firm claims it is “well-placed” to deliver on its long-term objectives.

Arc reports record December alongside openings pipeline

11-Jan-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has reported record sales in the last month of 2023 and has revealed plans for expansion.

THE CASK PROJECT

Theakston celebrates new listings for lower alcohol beer Quencher

10-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

T&R Theakston is celebrating new listings throughout the UK for one of its newest beers – Quencher.

Nightcap’s Willingham ‘could not be prouder’ after record Xmas

10-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap has reported record trading for the Christmas period in an update to the end of 2023.

Red Oak acquires further four pubs from Marston's

09-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

Red Oak Taverns has begun its 2024 acquisition programme by adding a further four pubs to its portfolio from Marston's Pub Company.

Former East London Pub Company sites on sale

09-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Four pubs of the former East London Pub Company (ELPC), which went into administration in November last year, have been placed on the market.

JDW sets new Euston Station pub opening date

08-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is to open its new pub near Euston Station on Tuesday 9 January, which will create 55 new jobs.

Pubs urged to strike energy deals while costs are low

05-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs should lock in price deals on energy as commodity costs continue to reduce and are 60% lower than a year ago.

The surge in applications to run a pub

05-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

“New year, new me.” So often the cry of someone who managed to survive the previous 365 days despite facing hammer blows all the way with the intention of reversing such misfortunes in the time it will take for the Earth to revolve around the sun again.

Review of the Week

'We need to go to war on VAT'

05-Jan-2024 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington met up with Oakman Group's Peter Borg-Neal to get his take on the week's news, from a knighthood for Sir Tim through to closures and Christmas trade.

Revolution Xmas lfl sales up 9% but eight sites to shut

05-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group saw like-for-like (lfl) sales for the festive month rise by 9% – which is its best December trading since 2019.

Amber Taverns reports strong festive trading

04-Jan-2024 By Shwetali Sapte

Amber Taverns has reported strong trading over the festive period across its pub portfolio, with like-for-like sales up 20% in the period spanning 18 December to 1 January 2024.

Darts star Luke Littler is pride of Joseph Holt pub

03-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Darts sensation Luke Littler was the centre of attention for fans of the sport across the world last night (3 January) but it was particularly special for his bartending older brother Leon.

Motorcycle crash victim operating his own pub two years on

02-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

A former landscape gardener, who stopped breathing after a motorcycle accident and was in a coma for six days, has become a licensee at his own pub just two years after the crash.

Star shines as Marston’s T&L pub of the year

22-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Publican Ally Heath praised her team after the Star in Penkridge saw off all other competitors to be crowned pub of the year in Marston’s tenanted & leased annual awards.

PUBLICAN AWARDS

2024 Publican Awards finalists revealed

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

With the first stage of the rigorous judging process complete, the 2024 Publican Awards finalists can now be unveiled.

NWTC enjoys record trade leading up to Xmas

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

New World Trading Company (NWTC) has reported a record week of sales in the festive lead up.

Anglian Country Inns reports strong revenue growth

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Anglian Country Inns (ACI) has revealed a 25.8% uptick in revenue, partly driven by price increases to offset inflationary costs with the majority coming from a rise in footfall.

Roxy celebrates milestone as it gears up for 19th opening

20-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

Roxy Leisure is celebrating a decade of trade as it prepares to open its 19th site in York early next year.

Knipe re-takes control at Blackrose

20-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

Blackrose Pubs has been bought back following the purchase of the business brand by former managing director Daren Knipe.

Admiral invests almost £1m in four pub revamps

19-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns has invested close to £1m in the renovation and reopening of four of its pubs in the past month.

Festive lifeline needed to save firms

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of small to medium business (SME) owners will have to close, put plans on hold or find other employment if Christmas isn’t a successful trading period, research has found.

The Big Interview

'I've got a ridiculous addiction to pubs' - Stonegate's Payne takes a look back

19-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

After more than 50 years in the pub trade, Stonegate founder and chairman Ian Payne is hanging up his bar blade. The MA met up with him to chat over 50 amazing years in the trade.

Robinsons reopens pub after six-week transformation

19-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Stockport-based brewer and pub operator Robinsons has reopened the Navigation pub in Marple, Greater Manchester, following an extensive six-week long refurbishment.

Greene King kitchen academy offers work lifeline to prisoners

15-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Greene King is giving prisoners a second chance by opening a kitchen training academy at HMP & YOI Grampian prison.

Wells & Co adds first new French sites since 2019

15-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Bedford-based brewer and pub operator Wells & Co has expanded its French pub estate by two sites – welcoming the House of Parliament and HMS Victory in Bordeaux to its portfolio.

Amber Taverns to reach 170 sites with four openings

13-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Amber Taverns will open pubs at four new locations in spring 2024.

Valiant acquires 4 pubs from McManus

13-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator McManus Pub Company has sold four Northamptonshire-based pubs to Valiant Pub Co.

Trio of community heroes hailed by Admiral division

13-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns’ community wet-led Proper Pubs division has announced a trio of winners for its Community Hero Awards.

Admiral opens 200th Proper Pubs site

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns has opened the 200th site in its Proper Pubs division in time for Christmas.

OPINION

Where have all the pubs gone?

11-Dec-2023 By Stephen Owens, managing director – Pubs & Restaurants, Christie & Co

It seems hardly a day goes by without the media commenting on the rate of pub closures or the rising price of a pint.

Sky Sports to show record number of Premier League fixtures

08-Dec-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Sky is set to show up to 100 more Premier League matches per season as part of a new four-year deal.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

'We need a fair deal, potential to make profit and ability to get on with it'

08-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Jonathan Neame of Shepherd Neame to discuss the top headlines of the week.

Kidd joins Windmill to roll out Mc & Sons

07-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

Former Nightcap group commercial director Tom Kidd has joined forces with Windmill Taverns to roll out the company’s Mc & Sons concept.

BIG INTERVIEW

The Big Interview: James Lyon-Shaw of Brucan Pubs

06-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Humble and honest are two of the qualities that come through clearly when talking to James Lyon-Shaw.

Marston’s revenue rises 9%

05-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Marston’s pub company has reported a 9% uplift in revenue in its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 30 September 2023.

Couple plan to travel the UK after 27 years at the bar

04-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

A couple that has spent 27 years at the helm of a North Yorkshire pub and raised more than £100,000 for charity are quitting to travel the UK and spend time with friends.

M&B reports record market outperformance

01-Dec-2023 By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported financial results for the year ended 30 September 2023 (FY23), with like-for-like (lfl) sales growth of 9.1% against FY22.

'I was lucky!'

30-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

As the McElhinney family celebrate more than three decades in the UK pub trade, the MA speaks to founder Jack, and son Ryan, to find out the secrets to their success.

Ex-England cricketers’ pub celebrates first anniversary

29-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Ex-England cricketer Harry Gurney feels “pretty ecstatic” as his pub surpasses trading expectations while rounding off its first year of opening.

Loungers: ‘we’re very positive about 2024’

29-Nov-2023 By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Loungers plans to leverage the versatility of its offer, with a pipeline in place across multiple types of locations, chief executive Nick Collins told The Morning Advertiser's sister publication, MCA.

PROPERTY ROUND UP

Trio takes on Shepherd Neame pub

28-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Three friends have come to the helm of a Shepherd Neame pub, while another venue has launched a fish & chip shop as operators expand their estate.

Loungers to create 1,000 jobs, CFO to step down

28-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

All-day café-bar-restaurant operator Loungers said it is on track to create 1,000 jobs through the opening of 34 UK sites by the end of 2023.

MY PUB

My Pub: the Red Lion, Freshwater, Isle of Wight

27-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Red Lion in Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight, is located in a building more than 1,000 years ago and is a foodie heaven for many.

THE CASK PROJECT

Why Cask Ale Week is a highlight on the pub calendar

24-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Plenty has happened in recent times when it comes to the world of cask ale – not least Cask Ale Week, which was, as usual, a huge success.

Extra time to enter 2024 Publican Awards

24-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The entry deadline for next year’s Publican Awards has been extended, meaning operators have an additional week to be in with a chance of being named the best of the best.

Train strikes hit trade at Nightcap, revenue up 42.7% in FY23

23-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Current trade at Nightcap has been hit by rail strikes and warm weather but revenue in its financial year to July has risen by 42.7%.

James Watt accuses Durham council of 'staggering incompetence'

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

BrewDog’s James Watt has condemned Durham County Council for its “staggering display of incompetence” regarding the firm’s new site in the city, yet the council says it has worked "tirelessly" to help the Ellon-based firm.

Inn Collection completes multi-million-pound refurb

21-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

This week's property round-up features refurbishments and investments from Inn Collection, Admiral Taverns, Roxy Leisure and Joseph Holt.

Shepherd Neame expands tenanted estate

21-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepheard Neame has expanded its tenanted estate with the acquisition of a historic seafront pub in the South-East.