Pubs

Brakspear expands with New Dawn site acquisitions

29-Jan-2024 By Ed Bedington

Brakspear has expanded its leased and tenanted estate into Hampshire following the purchase of two pubs in the county from multi-site operators New Dawn Pubs.

Farewell 2023, here's to 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

There's a strange feeling of deja vu as I sit down to write my thoughts on the year and hopes for the year ahead.

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: part two

21-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

In the second part of our look ahead we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what 2024 will hold.

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: Part one

20-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

With 2024 looming, we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what the year ahead will hold.

Further strike action expected to cause Christmas trade disruption

16-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The hospitality sector is braced for further Christmas disruption after train drivers announced plans to stage a fresh round of strikes in early December.

The Lock In Podcast

Going to the dogs...

06-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

With dog ownership booming, the Lock In team get to grips with how pubs can best embrace man's best friend and create the paw-fect (sorry) doggy offer.

Review of the Week

'National living wage is very inflationary'

05-Oct-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with award winning operator Clive Price of Barons Pub Company for his take on the week's news.

Review of the Week

'Can't see it getting a lot better'

04-Aug-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Frisco Pubs boss and podcast legend Heath Ball to get his take on the week's news, from duty changes and utilities profits to the weather.

The Lock In Podcast

Season finale: The challenges ahead

26-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

With season three of the Lock In podcast coming to a close, we take a look at some of the current challenges, energy, supply, inflation etc - and where we see things heading.

OPINION

Strangling hospitality demand not the solution to inflation

16-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

The idea that raising interest rates to try to curb consumer spending in pubs, bars and restaurants is another slap in the face for a sector that seems to have become the whipping boys for the authorities.

Perspective needed on work parties

11-May-2023 By Ed Bedington

If things can’t get much worse for the pub sector, the fun-police are now out trying to ban drinking at work parties.

OPINION

Governor's inflation calls a slap in the face

24-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Bank of England Governor has called on businesses, including pubs, to not raise prices to avoid fuelling inflation.

Review of the Week

‘Politics back to normal’

17-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls to get her take on the week's news, which has seen the Spring Budget announced, Ofgem's letter to Government and potential train strike breakthroughs.

Opinion

January trade - win or loss?

06-Feb-2023 By Ed Bedington

Against a backdrop of rocketing price rises, rampant inflation, and closures and sales, it’s been interesting being on the road for the Publican Awards judging this week.

Gov considers extra hours for coronation celebration

19-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

The King’s Coronation celebrations could see pubs being given the chance to extend opening hours, Government ministers have proposed.

The Lock In Podcast

Looking ahead to 2023

19-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of the year, the Lock In team assemble a crack team of guests to assess what the year ahead is likely to hold for the pub trade.

Digital delights

21-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

How does the digital world fit into the analogue world of pubs? The Lock In team take a deep dive into digital with help from a range of guests including superstar chef Gary Usher.

Three quarters of pubs facing extinction

23-Aug-2022 By Ed Bedington

Nearly three quarters of pubs are unlikely to survive the winter unless action is taken to solve the energy crisis.

Sponsored content

BrewDog launches scheme to help pubs put the planet first

27-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

Craft beer giant BrewDog is launching a brand new initiative to support pubs and bars on its journey to putting the planet first.

The MA's Review of the Week

Never been a greater need for innovation

10-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Creative Hospitality's Bruno Nunes for his take on the big news this week, from pessimism in the face of the oncoming challenge through to reinvention for survival.

Are we all doomed?

09-Jun-2022 By Ed Bedington

According to Luke Johnson, we might as well pack up our bags and go home, but are we as doomed as he suggests?

No consumer slowdown for pubs yet

23-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

The latest ONS figures which show a boost in off-trade sales does not signal a slowing down in the on-trade, industry watchers report.

Levelling up cash saves pubs

20-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

A Herefordshire pub is being rescued and handed back to the community as part of a £2.2m “levelling up” initiative by the Government.

Oakman to the rescue in the Archers

20-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

In a stroke of marketing genius, the Oakman Group has stepped into the fictional world in a bid to rescue a team of hospitality workers.

The Lock In Podcast

Can pubs be better employers?

19-May-2022 By Ed Bedington

With staffing challenges continuing to cause headaches for pub operators, the Lock In team tackle some of the issues that are causing the sector problems and have a bit of discussion about baldness discrimination...

The MA's Review of the Week

Profit margins must take a hit as pubs share the pain with customers

22-Apr-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Hydes Brewery's Adam Mayers to discuss the weeks news, from rising costs to the need for more effective Government.

Calorie labelling an unnecessary disaster for pubs

12-Apr-2022 By Ed Bedington

Once again the fun police have been let loose on the hospitality sector, and while the sector is used to handling and weathering well-intentioned, but ill-thought out legislation, the timing of the introduction of calorie labelling on menus couldn’t be...

The Great British Pub Awards 2022

Are you running the Great British Pub of the Year?

11-Apr-2022 By Ed Bedington

The hunt is on for the UK’s best pub with the launch of the leading pub competition in the sector.

Pubs targeted with cannabis flavoured crisp launch

01-Apr-2022 By Ed Bedington

A US company is hoping to take the UK pub snacking market by storm with the launch of cannabis flavoured crisps.

Publican Awards 2022

Meet the finalists: Best Drinks Offer sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

22-Mar-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

This years award for Best Drinks offer will be given to the business that demonstrates a strong, broad and diverse offer when it comes to it's drinks range.

Dardis to leave Young's

16-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

Young’s boss Patrick Dardis has announced plans to step down from the role after six years, to be replaced by chief operating office Simon Dodd.

Opinion

How to improve your wine offer

11-Mar-2022 By Heath Ball, MD of Frisco Group

Pubs and wine are not always a match made in heaven, as The MA recently explored in the last episode of the Lock In podcast.

Has the gin bubble burst?

04-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

After what has seemed like a never-ending boom, it looks like the rapacious consumer demand for gin appears to be tailing off.

The MA's Review of the Week

Experience will be key in face of rising prices

04-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Lancashire-based multiple Tim Tomlinson of the Hand Pulled Pub Company to discuss passing on price rises, growing consumer confidence and the importance of service.

Prospect Pubs expand with fifth site

03-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

Prospect Pubs has announced the launch of its fifth site with the opening of the Joiners Arms near Banbury with a sixth on the way.

The Lock In Podcast

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

03-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

When it comes to beer and spirits, pubs are ahead of the curve, but why do they let the side down on wine so often?

The MA's Review of the Week

The economic impact of Ukraine invasion will be felt across the world

25-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Valiant Pub Co boss Gerry Carroll to get his take on the latest headlines hitting the industry, from managing the exit of restrictions through to the impact of war in Europe on the trade.

The MA's Review of the Week

"The only way we'll affect change on business rates is if we don't pay it"

04-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington speaks to Frisco pubs Heath Ball to get his take on the week's news, from the rising costs of running a pub to the challenges facing the sector on taxation.

We are behind the curve and missing out when it comes to low and no

02-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

Our trade has often prided itself as being ahead of the curve when it comes to drinks trends and innovation - it’s often said brands and new drinks are created and built in the on-trade.

The Lock In Podcast

The low and no revolution

02-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a trip to an innovative alcohol-free off licence and realise the trade needs to stop saying no to low and no. We hear from special guests including Laura Willoughby of Club Soda, James Kindred of award winning brewers Big Drop Brewing...

Hickory’s like-for-like sales up 25% since December

31-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The group behind Hickory’s Smokehouse has continued to outperform pre-Covid levels of trade in 2022 with like-for-like sales up 40% from May 2021, and 25% since December 2021.

Parting present from the partying PM?

19-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And just like that Boris Johnston announced the end of Plan B, and much rejoicing was heard throughout the country.

SA Brain in deal to sell estate

17-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

Leading Welsh brewer SA Brain is reported to be set to sell the freeholds of the majority of it’s pubs to a global consortium for a reported £100m.

Welsh government accused of ‘reckless posturing’ as anger in hospitality grows

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While Welsh operators will be looking forward to the lifting of restrictions in a couple of weeks, anger is growing as to whether the restrictions were needed at all.

Opinion

Infection rates and restrictions - has the anti-hospitality bubble burst?

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While it’s good news that Wales has now pledged to lift restrictions on pubs, the question does remain - what purpose did they serve in the first place?

Review of the Week

Restrictions have had no impact on infection rates

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Castle Rock Brewery boss Colin Wilde to hear his thoughts on the weeks news, from the impacts of restrictions, frustrations over government behaviour and isolation rules changing.

Sharp's looks to tackle quality challenges on cask

07-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

It has been 10 years since the deal that saw Molson Coors snap up cask disruptor Sharp’s, and the combined business continues to go from strength to strength with the launch of new initiatives to drive the brand and the category forward.

'People who elect not to be vaccinated may be denied the opportunity to do certain things'

07-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

With the post-Christmas dust settling, MA editor Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's ceo Simon Emeny to see what had caught his attention in the past few weeks, from political machinations to the vaccination debate.

Grim situation as lockdown by proxy bites

06-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And so the trade wakes up to January, the most miserable month for the sector and the much anticipated lockdown appears to be currently receding, Tory scandal dependent of course, into the distance.

Shutdown preferable to outside only restrictions, survey reveals

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

More than 90% of operators would rather be shut down than face post Christmas trade with indoor restrictions, a snap survey has revealed.