Pubs

Admiral sees full-year earnings and revenue rise

25-Nov-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Admiral Taverns, the tenanted pub operator, has reported a 3.8% increase in underlying EBITDA to £21.5m for the year to 31 May 2014, which it described as a “significant and successful period of development for the company and its licensees”.

MPs prescription will cause more harm than good

25-Nov-2014 By David Forde

Breaking the beer tie means less investment, more pub closures and a vicious cycle of decline, not a virtuous circle of growth, argues David Forde, UK managing director of Heineken.

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Pubs fight shy of Xmas Day food, PMA survey reveals

20-Nov-2014 By Mike Berry

Just one third of pubs open on Christmas Day are serving food, according to a survey of Publican’s Morning Advertiser readers about their festive plans.

Pubs share of eating out visits up

19-Nov-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Pubs are gaining ground on restaurants in terms of their share of the eating-out market and satisfaction scores.

Visiting the pub remains top leisure choice for consumers

10-Nov-2014 By Mark Wingett, M&C Report

Visiting the pub remains the number one out-of-home leisure activity for UK adults, a new study by Carlsberg UK has revealed.

Rural pubs worth up to £120k to community

13-Oct-2014 By James Wallin

The first scientific study of the impact of pubs on rural communities has proved they are “a vital service the countryside cannot afford to lose”.

Michelin Guide 2015: Editor praises ‘best generation’ of chefs

26-Sep-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Michelin Guide editor Rebecca Burr has praised the pubs awarded stars in this year’s edition for embracing “a generation of the best chefs the UK has ever had”.

JD Wetherspoon reports rise in like-for-like sales

12-Sep-2014 By John Harrington, M&C Report

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.5% rise in like-for-like sales in the year to 27 July, with profit before tax and exceptionals up 3.1% to £79.4m.

Freehouses to overtake tenanted and leased pubs 'by end of 2015'

11-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The number of privately-owned freehouses will overtake the number of tenanted and leased pubs “by the end of 2015”, a leading property agent has predicted.

A new sense of hope and purpose around pubs

10-Sep-2014 By Pete Brown

Pete Brown looks at why pubs being valued as community assets gives reasons to be both concerned and optimistic.

Pubs matter - but enough to change planning laws?

22-Aug-2014 By Mike Berry

Amid the silly hats, Royal and rock star appearances and general beery buzz of the Great British Beer Festival, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) launched an important new campaign that could have a significant impact on the future of many pubs across...

Industry responds to 'catastrophic' planning reform proposals

07-Aug-2014 By James Wallin

The Government’s proposals to reform the planning system have been described as “potentially catastrophic for Britain’s pub sector”.

Viable pubs need greater protection

04-Aug-2014 By Robert Sayles

Amidst stories of pubs being converted into supermarkets, housing, betting shops and God knows what else; it’s nice on occasion to hear of a pub that seemingly manages to escape such an ignominious fate, says Robert Sayles.

Brewing and pubs need to be firmly on the Government agenda

10-Jul-2014 By Brigid Simmonds

In just ten months time, the British public will have spoken. The votes will have been counted and (barring a lengthy series of negotiations in another hung Parliament) a Government will have been chosen.

Hawthorn Leisure could grow to 2,000 pubs

09-Jun-2014 By John Harrington

Up to 2,000 existing pubs could fit the criteria for Hawthorn Leisure, which has no cap on its expansion ambitions, according Noah Bulkin of the company’s joint backer May Capital.

CAMRA calls for Boris Johnson to protect London’s pubs

08-May-2014 By Ruth Williams

The Greater London Region of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling for increased planning protection for pubs to slow the rate of London pub closures.

The rise and rise of Norwich City of Ale

06-May-2014 By Roger Protz

Roger Protz reports on how the organisers of a ground-breaking celebration of beer and pubs could inspire other cities to stage similar events.

Publicans not meeting customer expectations, new research shows

18-Mar-2014 By Rob Willock

Publicans are not talking their customers’ language when it comes to food and drink, according to new research.

Planning loopholes put viable local pubs at risk

11-Mar-2014 By Mike Benner

Despite my years of campaigning for real ale and well-run community pubs it still surprises me when I hear equally experienced people in the industry accepting that many pubs (some say thousands) still need to close to ensure a future for those remaining.

10 key issues for pubs in 2014

03-Mar-2014 By Phil Mellows

Phil Mellows picks out 10 key issues that could help determine the fortunes of Britain’s pubs this year, including the proposed statutory code, turmoil at Punch Taverns and the impact of the recent storms on trade.

CAMRA hits target of 300 ACV-listed pubs

06-Feb-2014 By Michelle Perrett

CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) has hit its target of getting 300 pubs listed as assets of community value (ACVs).

Wetherspoon's eyes more roadside pubs

30-Jan-2014 By John Harrington

JD Wetherspoon will look to open more out-of-town, roadside pubs, although not necessarily at motorways, chairman Tim Martin has said.

Supermarkets and VAT? Pull the other one Mr Martin...

27-Jan-2014 By Steve Finn

Cards on the table; I’m a JD Wetherspoon fan. I like their pubs generally and admire them as a company, they have very much bucked the downward trend of the licensed trade. Every now and again though, Tim Martin pens an article or appears on the radio...

CAMRA launches new Pubs and the Economy campaign

06-Jan-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has today launched its ‘Pubs and the Economy’ campaign, aiming to promote the benefits of pubs to British economy and encourage more people to use their local during January, which is often a quiet period for the industry.

Marston's sells 202 pubs to NewRiver Retail

28-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Marston’s, the brewer and pub operator, has announced that it has disposed of 202 pubs for £90m to NewRiver Retail Limited, a specialist real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the UK food and value retail sector.

Fuller's reports healthy earnings rise

22-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Fuller’s, the London-based brewer and pub operator, has reported a 4% rise in EBITDA to £28.1m in the six months to 28 September as like-for-likes in its managed estate grew 7.9%.

How pubs can seize the day

07-Nov-2013 By Pete Brown

Something is troubling me about my regular days in town when, between meetings, I need to find somewhere to sit and tap out emails for an hour or so. Increasingly, I’m finding that pubs are shut before 4pm or 5pm, says Pete Brown.

The Big Interview: William Lees-Jones, JW Lees

25-Oct-2013 By Phil Mellows

JW Lees is poised for growth thanks to developing the best bits of tradition and not being afraid to close failing pubs, managing director William Lees-Jones tells Phil Mellows. Free pies have helped, too.

Punch Taverns founder Hugh Osmond: 10,000 pub closures 'long overdue'

11-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

Hugh Osmond, the high-profile investor who founded Punch Taverns, has said that the closure of 10,000 pubs in the past decade had been “long overdue” and would ultimately benefit the industry.

Good Pub Guide: Pubs 'stuck in the 1980s' will close

29-Aug-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Thousands of pubs will rightly go out of business over the next year because they are “stuck in the 1980s” - that’s according to the Good Pub Guide 2014, which is out today.

Pubs 'missing out' on Generation Y business

19-Aug-2013 By John Harrington

Pubs are missing out on potential business from “Generation Y” by not being attune to their needs, according to a new survey.

British pubs raise over £100m for charity

01-Jul-2013 By Gurjit Degun

British pubs raised £106m for different charities in the past year, according to a new study by CGA Strategy.

Research suggests light at the end of the tunnel for pubs

06-Jun-2013 By Rob Willock

I’ve studied two new and interesting pieces of research this week that purport to add to the debate about the future of Britain’s pubs and publicans, says PMA editor Rob Willock.

BBPA teams up with VisitBritain to launch new pub tourism push

09-May-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has teamed up with VisitBritain to launch a new initiative to encourage people to visit pubs.

Pubs need to embrace the new values of customers

08-Apr-2013 By Neil Morgan

It is only right that the pub sector should celebrate the chancellor’s largesse in removing the beer duty escalator (and the penny off a pint), even if the spectre of the minimum-pricing debate hasn’t quite been exorcised.

Save the Pub Group writes to councils urging greater protection for community pubs under planning rules

28-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group has written to the leader of councils across the country urging them to make use of powers given to them under the National Planning Policy Framework to give greater protection to community pubs.

London pub net closures at two per week, says CAMRA

13-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pubs in London closed at a net rate of two per week in 2012, according to new research by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Admiral Taverns reports "robust" performance

28-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Admiral Taverns, the tenanted pub group, has reported improving trends at its pubs in the year to 26 May 2012, a year in which it disposed of 259 sites for £48.8m and spent £8m on capex.

Lewisham councillor calls for London Mayor to introduce pub protection policy

14-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The chairman of a Lewisham Council committee that introduced a planning policy to protect pubs is urging the Mayor of London to introduce something similar to preserve all outlets across the capital.

Pub is the Hub urges Welsh pubs to introduce new services for local community

07-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pub is the Hub is urging more pubs in Wales to take advantage of the funding available to them for introducing new services to their local community.

Roger Whiteside: foundations for the future

29-Jan-2013

As I prepare to leave the stormy seas of the pub sector to return to the more familiar but no less perilous waters of high-street retailing, I have been asked to pen a few words reflecting on our achievements at Punch Taverns during my time, and the challenges...

Pubs see slow trading and delayed deliveries during snow

23-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun & Adam Pescod

Snowfall throughout the country resulted in a dramatic drop in trade for some operators, and left pubs waiting days for deliveries.

Parliament pubco debate: Beer Group chair concerned that Govt is legislating only some companies

09-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group has accused the Government of not thinking through its approach to regulate the pubco-tenant relationship.

BBPA remains "absolutely committed" to pubs following restructure

18-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is still “absolutely committed” to pubs after announcing plans for a restructure, chief executive Brigid Simmonds has told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Benner: Harnessing the power of local politicians is crucial

23-Nov-2012 By Mike Benner

The PMA team thought it would be a good idea to ask me to take on the My Shout column. Like most chief executives, I’m quite good at shouting, so I jumped at the chance to shout even more about pubs, real ale, and what the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)...

CAMRA urges planning law changes to stop pub supermarket conversions

19-Nov-2012 By Adam Pescod

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to change planning laws after it published new research showing that over 200 pubs across Britain have been converted into supermarket convenience stores since January 2010.

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Pubs failing to convince customers to part with their budgeted cash

27-Sep-2012 By Rob Willock

Pubs are failing to persuade customers to spend all of the time and money they have budgeted for their visit, according to a new study from on-trade researchers him!

Third of UK pubs and bars ‘at risk of failure’ in next 12 months

26-Sep-2012 By M&C Report

More than one third (34%) of pubs and bars in the UK are defined as ‘at risk of failure’ in the next 12 months, according to research by R3, the insolvency trade body.

The Big Interview: Ian Edward, leisure sector finance specialist

17-Sep-2012 By Phil Mellows

He may be a money man, but you can’t reduce the pub trade to numbers, as Ian Edward tells Phil Mellows

Pubs need to improve service standards for international visitors warns VisitEngland chief

19-Jul-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees need to do more to improve service in pubs to accommodate international visitors — that’s according to VisitEngland chief executive James Beresford.