Property

Five alive: the Bristol opening for Tonight Josephine brings its site total to five

Not Tonight Josephine, it’s Tonight Sophie

By Gary Lloyd

A new Tonight Josephine bar that opened on Friday 30 September has been renamed Tonight Sophie after a social media competition to rebrand the bar in the name of a woman was won by resident Sophie Turner.

Exciting times ahead: New sites planned from BOXPARK and Alcotraz

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

BOXPARK and Alcotraz set to open new sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BOXPARK is set to launch its sixth site next year, with Alcotraz' planning its biggest penitentiary yet, as Barrio Familia launches a new venue today.

Thinking out loud: Ed Sheeran recognises the importance of music venues such as pubs (credit: Dan Martensen)

Ed Sheeran backs MVT plan to save music pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Music star Ed Sheeran is backing a campaign from Music Venue Trust (MVT) to take control of the freeholds of music venues, such as pubs, that put on live music to save them from closure.

Climbing costs: Business rates set to soar to £5bn next April (Getty/ Andrew Brookes)

Business rates up £5bn in April

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Business rates are set to rise by £5bn next April, after they were left out of the Chancellor’s mini budget today (23 September 2022).

Improving situation: City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson and new site Oyster House

City Pub Group trade better than pre-pandemic

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator City Pub Group has announced it is trading better than it did pre-pandemic in 2019, according to its results for the six months ended 26 June 2022.

Difficult times: Insolvencies of UK businesses rise (Getty/ valentinrussenov)

59% hike in hospitality insolvencies

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Insolvencies of pubs, bars and restaurants have increased by 59% from 1,354 to 2,156 over the past year, with spikes in energy bills forcing many to consider closure.

Mixed future: while it is anticipated the sector is expected to gain £8bn of lost value from the pandemic, further growth is being threatened by current challenges (image: Getty/PM Images)

6 pubs expected to close every week

By Nikkie Thatcher

This year, it has been predicted the pub and bar market will see the net closure of six pubs each week – an outlet decline rate of 0.7%.

Soaring costs: Altus Group has predicted business rates will increase by more than £2bn if they are based on the inflation rate of August (image: Getty/Eoneren)

Inflation signals £2.66bn business rates hike

By Nikkie Thatcher

Should last month (August)’s inflation rate be repeated in September, business rates will soar by more than £2bn next year without Government intervention, experts have claimed.

Can't cope: Soaring energy costs force Brighton pub to close (Getty/ Rogan Macdonald)

Energy costs force seaside pub to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rising electricity bills and issues caused by Brexit have forced Brighton Beer Dispensary in East Sussex, to close its doors for good.

Zero Carbon Forum: Mark Chapman says firms can cut carbon and save money on energy bills

Zero Carbon Forum: onus on operators to cut carbon

By Gary Lloyd

Not-for-profit eco-friendly group Zero Carbon Forum has argued the onus is on sector operators to cut their carbon footprints but they can also save on energy costs at the same time.

Power play: co-founders Charlie Gilkes (pictured) and Duncan Stirling will launch the site in October

Inception Group to open power station-themed bar

By Gary Lloyd

London-based bar operator Inception Group will open a 1950s-themed site in Battersea Power Station’s historic Control Room B on 14 October when the grade II*-listed building opens its doors to the public.

Compliance tips: staffing is just one of the current issues Poppleston Allen highlights as a challenge for the sector at the moment (image: Getty/sturti)

Licensing hub - legal with Popplston Allen

Compliance in the face of adversity

By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

With the pandemic now fading somewhat into the background, a whole new series of challenges seem to be making life as difficult as possible for operators.

Shuttered venues: the rate at which pubs closed in the first six months of 2022 is near on double that of the last half of 2021 (image: Getty/Philip Openshaw)

Long-term pub closures double

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of pubs that have closed due to business failure or have an uncertain future has doubled in the first half of 2022 against the last six months of last year, according to new figures.

Operator caution: BrewDog boss James Watt warned the energy crisis could cause more business casualties than the pandemic

BrewDog ‘no choice but to close 6 bars’

By Nikkie Thatcher

James Watt, co-founder and CEO of BrewDog, has revealed the company closed six of its bars due to rocketing energy costs and has blasted the Government as "clueless".

Skyrocketing prices: Energy bills at Kendal inn set to soar (Getty/ image source)

Historic inn’s energy bill set to soar by £80k

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A South Lakeland inn, whose annual energy bill is set to rise by £80,000, is bracing for “long-term problems” at the operator says he will do all he can to protect staff’s jobs.

Heart of the community: Punch Pub site the Moorend Spout reopens following £350k investment

Punch site reopens after £350k refurb

By Rebecca Weller

Independent pub company Punch Pubs site the Moorend Spout in Nailsea, Somerset, has reopened under new management following a £350,000 investment from the pub company.

Talks fail: the licensees of a Hampshire pub have been forced to quit over surging costs (credit: Getty/mauro_grigollo)

Soaring costs force licensees to quit pub

By Gary Lloyd

The operators of Hampshire pub the White Horse Inn have said an emotional farewell after failing to negotiate terms with pubco Admiral Taverns to keep the pub open.

Business growth: Rekom UK chief executive Peter Marks previously said the company was moving forward with its strategy of cluster openings

Rekom to open UK’s first Proud Mary pub

By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Rekom will open as the UK’s first Proud Mary pub at the end of October after having acquired the former Yard Bar on Cardiff’s St Mary’s Street.

Info provided: Poppleston Allen outlines the Licensing Act 2003 (image: Getty/SolStock)

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Minor or major – it makes a difference

By Andy Grimsey, senior consultant solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Those with a long licensing memory will recall the years between November 2005 (when the Licensing Act 2003 first had effect) and June 2009.

Looking ahead: CGA director for hospitality operators and food EMEA Karl Chessell predicted further churn of opening and closures over the second half of the year (image: Getty/shank_ali)

Almost 1,000 closures in second quarter of 2022

By Nikkie Thatcher

While there were nearly 1,000 closures of licensed premises over the second quarter of this year, almost the same number opened as other businesses took their place.

Alfresco dining and drinking: Roché awnings have resulted in increased covers at the Junction Bar, Chesterfield

Promotional content

Increase revenue made from outdoor space this winter

By Roché Systems

Summer 2022 has been the summer of sport. With Wimbledon, The Open, the Women’s Euros and the Commonwealth Games, UK sports fans have enjoyed a competition-filled season. But it’s not over yet.

North-east bound: The Botanist menu includes hanging kebabs, recycled banana and ginger cocktails and vegan choices

North-east opening for The Botanist

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator New World Trading Company (NWTC) is set to launch a new site for its brand The Botanist in Sunderland.

Monies owed: calls made for chancellor to intervene on tax rebates (credit: Getty/RistoArnaudov)

Pubs waiting on tax rebates worth £750m

By Gary Lloyd

Pubs and bars in England are among the many UK businesses waiting on £750m in tax rebates amid calls to chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to speed up settlements.

Government decision: the result of the leadership contest is set to be announced in September (image: Getty/RichVintage)

What should the new PM make a priority?

By Nikkie Thatcher

With Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak fighting it out to become the next Conservative Party leader, we want to know what you think should be a priority for the next PM to concentrate on to help to the sector.

Portfolio growth: the Engine Room in Ashton-under-Lyme was acquired from City Pub Group

Amber Taverns acquires three new sites

By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA

Amber Taverns has completed on three new sites, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Peterlee and Shrewsbury, managing director James Baer has told MCA.

Strong return: As trading has picked up, economic headwinds could create more activity on the pub property market (credit: Getty/sturti)

Pub property market to ‘ramp up’ this year

By Gary Lloyd

The pub property market is set to “ramp up” during the second half of 2022 with sales of sites expected to come from Stonegate, Marston’s and Amber Taverns, according to a new report from Christie & Co.

End of an era: Prince of Wales in Moseley (interior pictured) to close at the end of the month (Credit: Greene King website)

Former BII award-winner to leave pub

By Rebecca Weller

A former British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) licensee of the year award winner has confirmed the closure of Birmingham pub.

Delighted: Nightcap chief executive Sarah Willingham (credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap announces 23.6% revenue increase

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has reported a 23.6% like-for-like revenue increase for the final 13 weeks of its financial year, ended 3 July 2022.

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...

Most popular News

Follow us

The MA Lock In Podcast

Join us for a Lock In

Pub Trade Guides

View more