Wales

UKH Cymru calls for more business rates support

18-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) Cymru is urging the Welsh government to raise its business rates relief from 40% to 75% using allocated funds from the UK Government.

‘Targeted support’ on Welsh business rates welcomed by WBPA

16-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

The Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) has welcomed proposed reform to business rates in Wales that will allow “targeted support”.

Business rates support slashed for Welsh pubs

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs in Wales will see their business rates relief decrease from 75% to 40%, finance minister Rebecca Evans has announced.

Star injects more than £1.5m into Welsh pubs

26-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has revealed a new look for its flagship site in Cardiff, Wales, following a £1.4m renovation project, its biggest single investment this year, and plans to plough a further £730k into Welsh venues.

Freak hailstorm forces pub to close

12-May-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Bird in Hand in Pontllanfraith, Wales was forced to shut due to flooding from a freak hailstorm, but staff have thanked the local community for its support.

Pub extends community garden to ‘combat loneliness’

14-Apr-2023 By Orla Noonan

A north Wales pub has diversified its community garden and allotment to encourage residents to “get together” and help ease “loneliness and isolation”.

Welsh visitor levy plans ‘disappointing’

31-Mar-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned plans for Welsh tourists to pay an extra fee overnight would “hit hospitality hard”.

Only pub in village forced to close

06-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The only pub in the village of Broughton, Oxfordshire, has been forced to shut its doors until spring due to the cost-of-living crisis, according to its owner.

Welsh Visitor Levy ‘wrong tax at wrong time’

13-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) Cymru has responded to the Welsh government’s consultation on the implementation of a discretionary visitor levy, calling for the proposal to be dropped due to the damage it would cause to hospitality.

GBPA 2022

Meet the winner: Community Hero sponsored by CCEP – the Lion

10-Oct-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

The Lion is situated at the heart of the busy village of Treorchy, Wales.

gboa 2022

Meet the finalists for Admiral Pub of the Year

30-Sep-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

With the Great British Pub Awards just days away from announcing and celebrating some of the best bars in the business, we take a look at some of the finalist that are in the running to take home some silver. Today it’s the turn of the bars that are competing...

Bluestone Academy new training programme

04-Aug-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Training facility, Bluestone Academy, has announced the launch of a new apprenticeship programme set to benefit West Wales’ tourism and hospitality sector and due to start this Autumn at Bluestone National Park Resort, in Pembrokeshire.

Wales Tourism Week 2022: Public urged to back businesses

17-May-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality Cymru (UKH) has urged the public to back local businesses and visit Wales’ hospitality sites throughout the holiday season, in light of the start of Wales Tourism Week 2022 yesterday (Monday 16 May).

Welsh hospitality industry doesn't need 'extra worry' of Visitor Levy

26-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Cash-strapped hospitality businesses in Wales need "more TLC", not the extra worry of a Visitor Levy on top of rising costs, UKHospitality (UKH) Cymru has warned.

Pub is The Hub receives £25k grant to support Welsh pubs

07-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub is The Hub has pledged to support diversification projects for Welsh pubs after receiving a grant of £25,000 from The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF).

UKH Cymru ‘welcomes’ Safer Future plan

04-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality Cymru (UKH) has ‘welcomed’ the Welsh government’s long-term strategy for living safely with Covid.

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.

72-year-old pub owner wins award after 40 years of service

23-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A 72-year-old pub owner has been granted a prestigious award since retiring following 30 years of service at the Dynevor Arms, in Groes-faen, Wales.

‘Firms can plan with some certainty’ after Welsh rules relaxed

11-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The announcement from Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford to scrap Covid Passes and masks from next week has been welcomed by the trade.

Welsh Six Nations games to be played in Wales

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed Wales’s Six Nations rugby matches are to be hosted in Wales as planned after restrictions were lifted, offering a chance for hospitality businesses in the country to recoup some revenue from lost trade...

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.

Welsh Government lifts coronavirus restrictions in ‘common-sense approach’

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced a four-step plan to ease coronavirus restrictions in Wales from Saturday (15 January).

Pubs could lose £20m if the Welsh Six Nations games move to England

13-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Moving the Welsh matches outside of Wales during the Six Nations rugby tournament would be an “insult” to hospitality businesses because losing out on the trade provided through these key events would be a “catastrophe”.

Welsh pubs lost £16k over Christmas as WBPA calls for relaxed restrictions

07-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Welsh pubs lost £16,000 in revenue over the fortnight festive period from 19 December to 1 January, the Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) recently revealed as the First Minister announced no change to Covid restrictions in Wales.

Welsh pubs see a quarter of the revenue of English pubs

05-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh pubs have seen at least 25% less revenue than their English counterparts due to the more stringent restrictions imposed in Wales.

Rule of 6 and table service return ‘devastating’ for Welsh pubs

22-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Fresh measures including the rule of six and face masks will be in place for Welsh hospitality businesses from 6am on Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December).

The MA's Review of the Week

'The least Mad Friday we've had for years...'

17-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Christmas looming, The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington caught up with Revolution Bars CEO Rob Pitcher to get his take on the headlines of the week, from the lack of support from Rishi, through to the "over-reaction" in Wales which...

Welsh nightclubs to close day after Boxing Day

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Nightclubs in Wales will be forced to close from Monday 27 December under new restrictions from the Welsh Government.

UKHospitality Cymru calls for business rates relief for hospitality

14-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality Cymru has called for business rates relief for the hospitality sector ahead of the Welsh Government’s Budget New Year financial support package.

Late-night trade slashed by a quarter after Covid Pass rollout

16-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The implementation of Covid Passes has considerably impacted the Welsh hospitality sector, with late-night businesses experiencing a 26% drop in trade since the rollout, which costs businesses approximately £398 per week in added cost, a poll...

Covid Passes would put ‘completely unjustified burden’ on Welsh hospitality

08-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Welsh Government have proposed a potential introduction of an “impractical and wholly unworkable” Covid Pass system at hospitality venues, prompting legal backlash from operators.

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.

Mandatory Covid passes to be introduced in Welsh nightclubs

06-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Welsh parliament voted for compulsory vaccine passports for nightclubs and large sporting events by 28 votes to 27.

Covid passports for Wales will be the ‘last straw’ for operators

20-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Covid-19 vaccination passports for late night venues in Wales is an “extra burden” that could be the “last straw” for struggling operators.

Welsh pub operator to expand to 12 pubs

24-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Red Dragon Pubs, the Welsh pub operator, is set to open four pubs by the end of October – bringing its estate to 12.

Investment and support needed for Welsh pubs

09-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Welsh pubs reopened on Saturday (7 August) with most restrictions removed including social distancing and table service.

Opinion

Stop blaming the industry for the hospitality staff crisis

04-Aug-2021 By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

Those of us within the hospitality industry are well aware that we face a staff crisis; there is no disputing that we are experiencing rising worker shortages, with job vacancies at higher-than-ever levels.

Pubs exempt from mask rules in Wales from 7 August

14-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Welsh Government has outlined plans for easing lockdown rules next month.

Welsh venues to receive up to £25k in Covid support

01-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Welsh Government has announced a fresh sum of funding for businesses that continue to be hit hard by pandemic restrictions.

City Pub Group nears 2019 trading levels

28-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The City Pub Group has reported trading levels at 90% of 2019 levels since pubs opened after the third lockdown.

Opinion

‘The match day buzz is just not the same’

22-Jun-2021 By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

As I write this, Wales are taking on Italy in the Euros, their final game of the group.

A third of independent licensed venues still shut

21-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

About two thirds (66.9%) of independent venues in the on-trade have now reopened compared to 93.1% of managed sites, research has found.

Wales will ‘not lift every restriction’ on 21 June

08-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Wales’ Mark Drakeford has ruled out a full easing of Covid measures on 21 June, with nightclubs still in the dark about when they can expect to reopen.

Government 'open minded' about furlough extension

04-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Government is “open minded” over extending furlough beyond September, a minister has said.

BBPA outlines pub tactics ahead of UEFA Euro 2020

02-Jun-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

As operators count down to UEFA Euro 2020’s curtain raiser on 11 June, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has produced practical guidance for pubs in an effort to assist safe and successful screenings this summer.

Big Interview – UEFA Euro 2020 Countdown

Sporting comeback: UEFA Euro 2020 pub trading can match 2016 tournament levels

02-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

As UEFA Euro 2020 kicks off, John Gemmell of the competition’s official beer partner, Heineken, talks pub trade tactics and Scotland’s major tournament return.

lockdown live

• LIVE: Vaccine progress signals removal of restrictions 'without delay'

24-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Coronavirus latest: sector bosses have expressed confidence in 19 July 'freedom day' after figures show Britain leading on first doses.

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.