Northern Ireland

Viral ad ‘reminder a pub is for life, not just for Xmas’

29-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

A festive advert from a Northern Irish pub that has been viewed by millions highlights the importance of pubs to communities, one trade organisation has said.

Pub’s Christmas ad about loneliness goes viral

27-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

A Northern Irish pub’s Christmas video has gone viral, racking up millions of views on social media.

New NI trade deal ‘encouraging’

28-Feb-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The new Windsor Framework has been welcomed by a number of trade bodies, alongside hopes it will deliver clarity for businesses in Northern Ireland.

Hospitality Ulster calls for lifting of NI restrictions after worst trading week in months

19-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hospitality Ulster has called for strict measures to be lifted and nightclubs reopened in Northern Ireland, after data revealed the week commencing 3 January 2022 to be hospitality’s worst week of trading in two months.

CAMRA calls on the Government for "urgent support packages" for pubs

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, has called for the Northern Ireland Government and UK Government to work together and “come up with an urgent support package for pubs”.

Pubs in Northern Ireland at 'wit’s end'

08-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs and hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland are “at their wit’s end” the leading trade association Hospitality Ulster has claimed, as the NI Executive has revealed some relaxation of restrictions.

Financial support for Welsh pubs to outstrip English and Scottish counterparts several times over

04-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The average Welsh pub will receive four times as much grant funding as Scottish sites and more than three times that of the average English pub during the festive period, new research has found.

Analysis

What financial support is available to UK pubs this winter?

01-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that England would be plunged into its third national lockdown in an address on 4 January, The Morning Advertiser rounds up what funding is available across the UK.

Furlough extension welcomed ahead of 'tough winter'

05-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of March.

Analysis

Who did it best? How other countries are treating pubs during Covid-19 second spike

08-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

With pandemic restrictions being imposed on hospitality businesses both across the UK and further afield, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has taken a closer look at how night spots in some of Europe's major cities are being affected by Covid-19's...

‘Outdated’ laws stifle small brewery growth, say campaigners

06-Feb-2020 By Alice Leader

Small brewers across Northern Ireland are calling for changes to current alcohol laws restricting their ability to sell beer directly to the public.

Entries for Dog-Friendly Pub Awards doubles

18-Sep-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Organisers of the second annual Dog-Friendly Pub Awards said they have so far received an "incredible" response from pubs entering.

Heineken completes acquisition of 1,900 Punch pubs

30-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Heineken has said it will 'fully integrate' the 1,900 Punch pubs into its existing Star Pubs & Bars estate after completing the acquisition, as part of a back-to-back deal with Patron Capital, yesterday (29 August).

New study reveals 'ongoing importance of pubs' to the UK

21-Jul-2017 By Georgina Townshend

More than half of all pubgoers champion their local pub as the place for food and drink, with one in five visiting between once and three times a week, a study has found.

What the Conservative and DUP deal means for pubs

07-Jul-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The Conservatives’ deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to form a majority Government has already given the hospitality sector hope in the form of a potentially softer Brexit and a reduction in VAT.

North-west boasts most award-winning pubs in UK

17-May-2017 By MA Editorial

North-west pubs are officially the best in the country compared to any other region, if awards are anything to go by.

Irish craft brewery Brú eyes UK pub estate

27-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Republic of Ireland craft beer brewery Brú plans to launch a UK pub estate this year, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has learned. 

Revealed: the worst areas for pub food hygiene

13-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Four London boroughs have been named and shamed as having some of the worst pub food hygiene standards in the country. 

Food Safety

Diners demand pubs be forced to display hygiene ratings

05-Dec-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Public support is overwhelmingly in favour of legislation that would force pubs across England to publicly display their food hygiene ratings.

Sport

Full-time Fletch reflects on 2016

02-Dec-2016 By Darren Fletcher, BT Sport commentator

Darren Fletcher reflects on why from Leicester to Northern Ireland, 2016 will be looked back on as the year of the underdog.

Great British Pub Awards

Pub Awards: Best Family Pub shortlist

08-Sep-2016 By MA

The list of finalists for this year's Great British Pub Awards 2016, Best Family Pub.

Charity

Pubs ‘challenged’ to take part in charity fundraising event for Prostate Cancer UK

05-Aug-2016 By Sara Hussein

Prostate Cancer UK is urging licensees to host a fundraising night after last year’s launch of the pop-up pub fundraiser, the Men United Arms. 

Summer of Sport

Making the most of Euro 2016 in your pub

03-May-2016 By Nigel Huddleston

This summer’s Euro 2016 sees the expansion of the tournament finals from 16 to 24 teams, resulting in 20 more matches being available for football fans to watch in an atmosphere that is second only to a stadium itself — the pub.

Sponsored: Pizza Report

Sponsored - Four pizza recipes to try in your pub

09-Feb-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Pizza is gaining traction on the menus of pubs across the UK, from large pub companies to smaller chains and independents.

Pub openings

Pub openings gallery: September 2015

08-Oct-2015 By Oli Gross

The Publican's Morning Advertiser takes a look at pubs up and down the UK which newly opened or have been refurbished in September 2015.

C&C Group confirms withdrawal from Spirit bidding

06-Jan-2015 By James Wallin

C&C Group, the Irish producer of Magners, has officially ruled out a bid for Spirit Pub Company, leaving the way clear for Greene King to proceed with its £773.6m acquisition of the Mike Tye-led business.

Video: ITV's Tonight programme on survival of British pub

18-Dec-2014 By Jo Bruce

ITV’s ‘Tonight’ programme, screened on ITV last night (Thursday, 18 December), focused on the threat to the British pub.

Northern Ireland Executive to consult on minimum pricing

04-Dec-2014 By James Wallin, M&C Report

The Northern Ireland Executive has announced it will proceed with an Alcohol Minimum Unit Pricing policy.

Event ideas

Flying the flag: British Food Fortnight ideas

07-Aug-2014 By Elliot Kuruvita

Elliot Kuruvita looks at ideas for how pub caterers can capitalise on this year’s British Food Fortnight

BBPA agrees partnership with Pubs of Ulster

18-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has signed a partnership deal with the Northern Ireland trade association Pubs of Ulster. 

Wetherspoon scoops best loo awards

10-Dec-2013 By Lewis Brown

It’s official, Wetherspoon has the best pub loos in the UK.

Greene King 'targets sites in Ireland'

24-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Greene King and another major British pub group are looking to follow JD Wetherspoon by entering the Irish pub market, according to the Irish Times.

Beer duty cut delivers spending boost to pubs

03-May-2013 By John Harrington

Spending on credit and debit card in pubs has increased by 4% following the cut in beer duty in the Budget, new research from Barclaycard shows.

New head of Star Pubs & Bars announced

19-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Star Pubs & Bars, the Heineken-owned leased pub operator, has announced changes to its management team, with commercial director Chris Jowsey taking on the role of trading director.

JD Wetherspoon flushed with success, again

14-Dec-2012

JD Wetherspoon was once again flushed with success after a clean sweep at Snifter’s favourite awards ceremony, the Loo of the Year Awards 2012.

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company rebrands and offers new support for tenants

15-Nov-2012 By M&C Report

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC) has been renamed Star Pubs & Bars and has launched a new three-year agreement that offers low-cost entry to the trade

Northern Ireland calls for a VAT cut

11-Sep-2012 By John Harrington

A politician in Northern Ireland has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to push for the rate of VAT applied to tourism businesses in the province to be reduced to 5%.

New industry code on drinks promotions in Northern Ireland set to come into force

31-Aug-2012

Licensees across Northern Ireland have been reminded that the new industry code on drinks promotions comes into full force tomorrow (1 September).

Pubs of Ulster welcomes plans to extend opening hours in Northern Ireland

25-Jul-2012 By John Harrington, M&C Report

A trade body for pubs in Northern Ireland has welcomed plans to extend opening hours in the province, although venues that do so would be charged an additional late-night levy.

Leading hospitality companies sign up to cut food waste

27-Jun-2012 By Michelle Perrett

A group of 68 leading pub chains, hotels, restaurants, contract caterers and industry bodies have signed up to a Hospitality and Food Service Agreement, whch aims to cut food and associated packaging waste by 5%.

Irish Gov't consults on banning irresponsible promos

19-Mar-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Northern Irish Government has issued an eight-week consultation on banning irresponsible drinks promotions.

Ireland pubs face more closures

09-Jan-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Almost 1,000 pubs have closed in Ireland since 2006 and Irish publicans are warning that a further 5,000 jobs will be lost during 2012.

Sceptre to develop digital pub offering

13-Dec-2011 By Mark Wingett

Sceptre Leisure, the amusement and gaming machines supplier, has signed a new agreement with the Gauselmann Group, which will enable it to offer its pub customers a fully integrated digital solution and strengthen its position in the developing digital...

Northern Ireland row over value of pubs to economy

07-Oct-2011 By Ewan Turney

A row has broken out in Northern Ireland about the value of pubs to the economy.

Wetherspoon deal to screen Racing UK in pubs

28-Sep-2011

Managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon is to make live Racing UK horse-racing coverage available in just under 10% of its estate after a successful trial in a Nottinghamshire town.

VAT-cut drive reaches NI

02-Sep-2011 By Ewan Turney

The campaign to cut VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry has now reached Northern Ireland and received the backing of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Northern Irish pubs face tough choices

31-Aug-2011 By Ewan Turney

Pubs in Northern Ireland face some tough choices over the coming year as a new survey revealed two-thirds had seen a drop in trade over the past year.

NI pubs group welcomes minimum price push

07-Mar-2011 By Matt Eley Matt

Trade group Pubs of Ulster has welcomed today's launch of a consultation into minimum pricing in Northern Ireland. Ministers are keen to be first...

Belfast pubco in administration

02-Mar-2011 By Lesley Foottit

A west Belfast based pub company that has a chain of pubs in the city has gone into administration. Castle Street Inns owns six bars, which are...

Northen Irish pubs face penalty points

23-Feb-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in Northern Ireland face penalty points if caught serving underage drinkers, in radical new plans by the Irish Assembly. The law is proposed...