Pubs

First week of indoor service sees spending up on 2019 levels

01-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Spending in UK pubs spiked 28% on 2019 trading levels for the first week of indoor trading, fresh data has revealed.

25,000 licensed venues still to reopen

01-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Just under a quarter (23.7%) of licensed premises in Britain have remained closed despite being permitted to reopen for indoor trading.

Pubs to lose out on £80m bank holiday pint sales

28-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs are set to serve 21m fewer pints than normal over the spring bank holiday weekend.

'Too early' to say lockdown rules will end next month, Hancock says

27-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Health secretary Matt Hancock has said it is still 'too early' to tell what bearing the Indian variant of coronavirus will have on the final step of easing lockdown measures next month.

Continued restrictions in Glasgow 'terribly distressing'

19-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

One pub operator has described being £18,000 down after the reopening of Glasgow pubs was delayed.

Pub goers can play pool and darts

18-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Customers returning to the pub this week will be allowed to play indoor games such as pool and darts, as per Government Covid-19 guidance for businesses.

Pubs reopen as caution urged over virus variant

17-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs are to reopen their doors for punters after months of closure today (Monday 17 May) as Brits are urged to remain cautious about the virus.

Pubs allowed to serve alcohol indoors in Scotland

11-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pubs will be permitted to serve customers pints inside from next week, after the next easing of lockdown rules was confirmed.

Pubs given green light to reopen indoors

10-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs will be able to reopen in England from next week for indoor trade, it has been confirmed by the Prime Minister.

107 Covid 'outbreaks' linked to pubs since last summer

05-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Trade bosses have said a paper produced by Government scientists proves hospitality is a safe environment.

Pubs forced to close after bad weather hits

05-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs and bars were forced to close this week as cold and wet weather hit the UK and dampened outdoor trade.

St Austell reopens managed pubs

30-Apr-2021 By MCA Insight

St Austell Brewery reopened 18 of its managed houses for outdoor service on 29 April, having made significant investments in its al fresco spaces.

Almost a quarter of operators’ outdoor trade ‘barely worth reopening’ for

26-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Operators have detailed a mixed bag of trade experiences since reopening on 12 April, an industry survey has revealed.

lockdown live

• LIVE: Gov keen to scrap 1m social distancing rule

26-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Coronavirus latest: the Prime Minister is keen to lift social distancing rules for hospitality venues next month, it has been reported

Restart Grants 'difference between survival or failure' for many pubs

22-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Operators who are yet to receive a Restart Grant have said they feel local authorities’ slow approach is hampering their chance of recovery.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Baby it's cold outside...

22-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team tackle the first week or so of trade, how to handle freezing customers, and speak to special guests Brendan Padfield of the Unruly Pig, and Elaine Wrigley of Atlas Bar to hear their experiences of reopening to date. We also tackle some...

‘Trade on its knees – we are just trying our best in difficult circumstances’

19-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The first week of pubs being allowed to reopen for outdoor trading only has seen operators pivot once again in order to serve customers.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Shape of things to come

07-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The podcast team look towards the future of the pub and bar trade, and discuss, with special guests Stosi Madi from the Parkers Arms and Clement Ogbonnaya of the Prince of Peckham, how the pandemic crisis is likely to shape operations as we move out of...

Pubs to miss out on £325m in Easter beer sales

01-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

UK pubs will miss out on the sale of 85m pints this Easter, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Vaccine passport proposals imply pubs 'not to be trusted'

29-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

When headlines declaring the Government was considering a policy that would see pubgoers asked to declare their ‘Covid status’ in the months to come, licensees recoiled.

Legal challenge must force Government to follow evidence

19-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

Industry leaders hope the launch of further High Court action against the government might help to reset thinking when it comes to handling the hospitality sector.

MA’s review of the Week

‘We can see the light and want to make a plan – but need detail’

19-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Clubhouse Bars director Iain Pert to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Undercover cops – welcome support or slippery slope?

17-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The proposal that undercover police are to be sent into pubs as part of a pilot women’s safety initiative is a thorny issue and far from black and white.

In association with Access Hospitality

Rigid booking systems ‘just don’t cut it for a lot of venues nowadays’

17-Mar-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

As operators navigate the Government’s lockdown roadmap, The Morning Advertiser looks at how booking systems can adapt to cater for larger – and increasingly demanding – consumer groups through Covid-secure measures and beyond.

THE LOCK IN PODCAST

A year to forget?

16-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

It has been a year to the day when the Prime Minister told customers to avoid going to the pub. The podcast team take a wry look at what has turned out to be an unprecedented year of challenge and struggle, which has brought out the best and the worst...

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Budget - bonus or bust?

04-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The budget has been revealed, some would say before the budget was revealed, and the podcast team give their reaction to the Chancellor's hand outs and what it means for their businesses and wider hospitality. We also get some more considered analysis...

Spring Budget 2021

• BUDGET LIVE: Chancellor extends furlough and business rates relief in 'make or break' Budget

03-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Chancellor set out his Budget plans this afternoon, including his plans to extend furlough and rates relief.

MA to celebrate next generation of pub trade leaders for IWD 2021

01-Mar-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

To celebrate International Women’s Day and raise awareness of the remarkable people we have in the sector, The MA is creating a list of 30 inspiring women under-30 to highlight the next generation of leaders in the pub trade.

The MA's Review of the Week

Frustrations and optimism for reopening

27-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington speaks with Punch Pubs ceo Clive Chesser about the week's biggest headlines.

Sadiq Khan pledges £5m to the eventual reopening of central London

19-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has earmarked £5m to promote the return to central London’s hospitality, retail and cultural venues as soon as it is safe to do so.

Changes at the top for Stonegate

02-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

Realignment moves at Stonegate has seen the departure of one of the companies senior directors.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Legal issues, support challenges and more...

20-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

Legal challenges and opportunities come under the microscope in the latest episode of the Lock In podcast as the team are joined by licensing specialist Andy Grimsey from Poppleston Allen. We also tackle some of latest challenges facing the sector, debate...

Analysis

What does the pub sector want from the 3 March Budget?

20-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

With more than a month to wait until further support is announced, The Morning Advertiser (MA) asked hospitality sector stakeholders to run through their fiscal wish lists ahead of the Chancellor's next Budget.

Festive freefall sees pub and bar takings plummet by more than 80%

15-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker has revealed the dire consequences of December’s Covid restrictions and enforced closures for hospitality sales.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: New Year, new lockdown

13-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

With the pub industry back under full lockdown, the podcast team review the Christmas that wasn't, discuss the current dilemmas facing the trade, and kick around some practical ideas of what pubs can be doing while we await the next government decision...

Pubs' stories needed to help with report to Government

06-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

Pubs that have stepped up to help their local community are being urged to get involved with a report to celebrate the sector and showcase their role to Government.

One more kick in the teeth from Government

04-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

“What else can they do to us?” said one operator to me ahead of last night’s Government announcement.

Pub sector needs ‘immediate assurances’

04-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has been asked to clarify how long pub closures will continue as coronavirus cases reach alarming levels.

Scottish rescue package ‘marred by payback measures’

22-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Scotland’s pub sector has welcomed details of further Government support but said provision must be urgently reviewed in light of a new lockdown.

More than 20,000 pubs now in tier 3

16-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 20,465 of England’s pubs are now in tier three, alongside more than 16,000 in tier two, leaving fewer than 1,000 in the lowest tier, according to analysis from real estate adviser Altus Group.

SA Brain ‘up for sale’

15-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Welsh brewer and pub group SA Brain is reportedly up for sale, recruiting advisers to “navigate this period of uncertainty”.

Pub sales plummet 84% on first post-lockdown weekend

10-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) survey suggests that more than half of operators expect to close pubs that re-opened after England’s second national lockdown if trade doesn’t improve in the coming weeks.

Shaky evidence fails to support government action

03-Dec-2020 By Ian Cass

I've read the evidence for closing the hospitality sector, and I must admit that I'm bewildered, writes Ian Cass, managing director of the Forum for British Pubs.

'Fatal mistake' to include pubs in Christmas relaxation, PM says

03-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Prime Minister suggested it would be a “fatal mistake” to permit different households to socialise at pubs when rules are relaxed at Christmas.

MPs oppose 'further hardship for our hospitality industry'

27-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A number of MPs have said they will vote down the Government's new tiered coronavirus approach.

Publican Awards aims to celebrate sector

11-Nov-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

The coronavirus crisis has battered our sector, yet companies have remained resilient and strong, supporting their teams and customers. The Morning Advertiser (MA) aims to celebrate this with the launch of the Publican Awards.

'Christmas Eve atmosphere' as pubs shut for lockdown

05-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Punters came out in force last night for one last hurrah and to support their locals ahead of a four-week lockdown in England.

breaking

MPs approve pub closures in second lockdown

04-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

MPs have voted in favour of the new set of lockdown rules, which will come into force later tonight.

lockdown live

Prime Minister pledges cash for wet pubs

02-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Most areas in England will be placed into tier two measures this week while pubs in a number of areas must remain closed under the strictest rules.

Pubs in second tier 'better off closed'

14-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in the second tier of coronavirus measures have said they would be “better off” closed as they brace for slumped trading with a household mixing ban.