Pubs

It's not biting the hand that feeds if its scraps from the table

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It wasn’t so much a shining knight, riding to our rescue on the white horse, more like a clown on the back of a knackered old seaside donkey.

Publican Awards

Finalists in The Publican Awards 2022 revealed

21-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The race is under way to find out the best companies in the trade as The Publican Awards gears up for the next stages of judging and announces those in the running.

Lockdown by proxy must come with support

20-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It was a sobering experience watching my social feeds this weekend, as operator after operator voiced their despair as they watched Christmas trade fall off a cliff.

Support needed now, not later, pub boss warns

16-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

Further Government support ahead of any future potential restrictions is “critical” for the pub sector, according to one of the UK’s leading operators.

Laine also acquired by Fortress

15-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Laine Pub & Brew Co has also been snapped up by US-bank Fortress Investment Group as part of its acquisition of assets from Patron Capital & May Capital.

Covid passports and chocolate fireguards - a study in stupidity

15-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

And so, the divisive Covid passports come into effect today for nightclubs and large gatherings across England.

MA Review of the Week

'There'll be a hell of a lot people thinking April doesn't matter anymore because I'm not getting to the end of January'

10-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Plan B dominating the headlines, MA editor Ed Bedington chatted with Brucan Pub's James Lyon-Shaw about the impact he can see from the move and how Christmas trade was likely to shape up for the wider trade.

November sales up but Omicron threatens future of fragile businesses

10-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Managed pub and bar sales grew by 3% in November compared to pre coronavirus levels, the latest CGA tracker has shown.

Industry 'shafted' by Government

09-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

Cancellations are reported to be flooding in from across hospitality in the wake of the Government's shift to Plan B.

Sector once again scapegoated

09-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

So with the whiff of scandal in the air the Government lurches into distraction - sorry I mean action - to announce the launch of Plan B.

Is Christmas slipping away?

06-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

The drip drip drip of paranoia and panic are starting to do damage and desperate operators are beginning to fear Christmas slipping through their fingers.

Initiative to provide operators access to qualified advice launched

06-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

A scheme to provide pub operators with accredited and qualified advisors to help with pubco negotiations has been launched by the British Institute of Innkeeping.

opinion

Death by a thousand cuts?

01-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

And so we find ourselves, once again, standing at a potential cliff edge, waiting for the casual and careless shove of our political leaders to send us into the abyss.

New pub deal from Marston’s proclaimed a “game-changer”

30-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Marston’s is hoping to reinvent the pub trading partnership with the launch of what it describes as a “game-changing” deal for operators.

The Lock In Podcast

The podcast is back! The Lock In returns for series two...

24-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The popular Lock In podcast makes a return for it's second season and to kick things off, the podcast team, Ed Bedington, Heath Ball and James Cuthbertson take a look at what's been happening while they've been off air, from government...

The MA's Review of the Week

"Feels like everything is difficult to do at the moment"

19-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Vicki Williams from Almond Family Pubs to get her thoughts on the weeks events, from ongoing supply challenges, staffing shortages, through to Christmas ordering nightmares.

Hospitality Rising recruitment campaign starts £5m raise

19-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hospitality Rising started fundraising this week for a recruitment campaign to attract talent to the hospitality industry, with a goal of raising £5m to help speed up post-lockdown recovery.

Institute of Hospitality bid to change the future to include a more diverse workforce

11-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Institute of Hospitality (IoH) has announced the establishment of its first forum to address disability, diversity, and inclusion issues across the hospitality industry.

Christmas optimism high

10-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Optimism for the Christmas period is running high with people working in the hospitality sector, despite concerns over Government plans for the winter.

NZ Sauvignon supplies a 'disaster'

10-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Pub operators are being urged to look to alternative Sauvignon Blanc supplies after the New Zealand vintage was described as a “disaster”.

Rising inflation causes consumer cutbacks in hospitality

09-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Spending in pubs, bars, and clubs was lower in October compared to September according to data from Barclaycard.

Christmas is coming, or is it?

08-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The entire trade has its fingers, and even toes, crossed that we’ll be given the opportunity to get a clear shot at a decent Christmas trade this year.

Portobello snaps up former Antic pubs

08-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Portobello Brewery has announced the acquisition of 12 freehold pubs it had been managing across the London area.

Greene King publishes book of inspirational stories

05-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub and brewer Greene King has published a collection of stories from its people working through the Covid pandemic.

The White Lion pub saved after a year of closure

05-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The White Lion pub in Cerrigydrudion, Wales, has been saved by the local community after more than a year of closure.

Licensee’s message to new publicans

05-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Prospective publicans should be warned about the hard work and challenges involved in running a pub before entering the trade, one licensee has stated.

Exclusive

Hickory’s makes the move to Yorkshire with new opening

04-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

An award-winning bar and restaurant group has announced it is set to expand further across the UK with the opening of its first site in West Yorkshire.

Opinion

Premium vs standard beer - more balance needed on the bar

02-Nov-2021 By Mark Bentley, on-trade category controller, Molson Coors

Anyone reading the trade press or listening to various data & insight experts would be forgiven for thinking that everyone is now drinking premium drinks and that familiar favourites such as core standard lager brands have had their day.

August budget 2021

Budget 2021: Industry reaction

28-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

As the dust settles around Rishi Sunak's Budget, the industry is starting to pick apart the details of the pledges made, with mixed reactions. The Morning Advertiser spoke to a range of leading figures from the trade to get their thoughts on whether...

Will the real Nigel please stand up?

25-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Licensee of the Fleece Inn, Worcester, Nigel Smith is on a mission to stop the name Nigel becoming extinct by hosting as many Nigel’s as possible for ‘Nigel Night’ at his pub on 24 September 2022.

Greene King mentors its executives as part of anti-racism pledge

22-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King is championing diversity in its pubs through mentoring, following the company’s 2020 pledge to become truly anti-racist and inclusive with equal opportunities for all.

Soaring energy prices pose new problems for pubs

18-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

A potential surge in energy costs poses a new struggle for pubs already facing a multitude of problems such as staff shortages supply issues and rising tax.

Greene King shows barrel-load of support for Macmillan nurses

12-Oct-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Greene King customers have been invited to show their support for Macmillan Cancer workers by simply visiting their local.

The MA's Review of the Week

Honesty needed in minimum wage debate

08-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with the Vaulkhard Group's Ollie Vaulkhard to get his thoughts on the latest headlines affecting the pub sector.

Coronavirus recovery: small brewers seeing strong support from customers despite ongoing challenges

04-Oct-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Small brewers are facing challenges after the Covid-19 pandemic as they attempt to get back to normal trading.

MA Leaders Club

Campaign to boost diversity launched

27-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A new campaign to level the playing field for professional women across the sector has been unveiled.

Consumer spending in pubs up for August

07-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Consumer spending on pubs, bars and clubs rose by 43.4% in August compared to 2019, the highest growth recorded for over 17 months.

Pubs urged to celebrate Cask Ale Week

07-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Pubs are being urged to celebrate Cask Beer Week, which runs from 23 September to 3 October, to help boost trade in the wake of the pandemic.

Urban Pubs & Bars enters into partnership to accelerate growth

01-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Urban Pubs & Bars (UPB), the 21-strong pub company run by Nick Pring and Malcolm Heap, has entered a partnership with Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual to expand the business.

Greater Manchester leaders urge hospitality business to improve pay and conditions

20-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Greater Manchester business leaders are urging hospitality employers to sign up to Greater Manchester’s Good Employment Charter and raise the standards of working conditions in the sector in order to attract and retain staff.

Adnams has ‘waiting list’ of prospective tenants

20-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Adnams, the regional brewer and pub operator, has revealed that despite the pandemic it has all of its pubs let and a ‘waiting list’ of prospective tenants.

More than 17,000 outdoor seats approved for England to fight pandemic impact

06-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Hospitality businesses have served up more than 17,000 extra outdoor seats on England’s streets in less than a year, analysis by PwC has revealed.

Toolkit launched to help pubs aim for net zero emissions

28-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

Pubs are being urged to step up and help cut their carbon emissions with the launch of a new initiative aimed at hospitality.

Pubs and restaurants continue to gain market share, driving average spend up

13-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

According to the latest data from Lumina Intelligence Eating & Drinking Out Panel, the proportion of Brits engaging with restaurants and food-led pubs grew to 58%.

'Major milestone' as PM confirms pub restrictions will end

05-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined how England will learn to live with coronavirus, announcing the end of the rule of six and social distancing for pubs.

promoted content

Nordic Spirit transforms venue with £50,000 prize

29-Jun-2021 By Nordic Spirit

The £50,000 transformation winner is….

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Season Finale!

24-Jun-2021 By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of this series of the Lock In podcast, the team take a look back on the past year of ups and mostly downs, speak to a group of top operators and take a look forward at what the next few months might have in store. Tune in now!

'No great surprise' on 21 June decision

18-Jun-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Paul Wigham, CEO of All Our Bars to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week.

Almost two thirds of Brits not scaling back pub plans due to Delta variant

15-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Some 60% of respondents have not scaled back plans to socialise in pubs and bars due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, according to new research.

Low and no ‘remains a significant untapped opportunity’

15-Jun-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The biggest barriers to buying low and no alcohol drinks are they are considered too expensive, poor value for money and some consumers have been unable to find them, according to new data.