Pubco + Head Office

MA Leaders Club

Pubco and operator partnerships: good operators will get noticed

24-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

If you are a good operator, your business will get noticed and that’s when opportunities for growth can appear, according to Big Smoke Brew Co co-founder Richard Craig.

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.

Heineken relaunches Buying Club in bid to save operators £5k per year

23-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer Heineken UK has relaunched its Buying Club that it says offers pub operators exclusive deals that could help the on-trade save £1m this year.

UKH demands new tax rate for sector

23-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

A new hospitality tax rate must be introduced to aid the recovery of the sector while a sales tax must be introduced for online businesses, according to UKHospitality (UKH).

Property round-up

Beartown breaks ground on brewery, first Bounce site in seven years

22-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The latest property news includes Beartown Brewery’s investment plans, a new Bounce site from State of Play, a pub purchase by Greene King, BrewDog to open in Cheltenham, Star Pubs & Bars to double managed estate in Scotland, Inn Collection Group's...

Get your nose out in front with horse racing

22-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Football, rugby and cricket have proven great draws for pub operators in increasing footfall at their sites but Sky Sports Racing host Alex Hammond says horse racing appeals to a multitude of age groups too.

Tech feature

Tech feature – Is tech still important post-Covid?

21-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The use of technology has been seen as something to fear according to plenty of Hollywood movies.

Village pub reopening inspired by community

16-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Community power has seen a popular Cambridgeshire village pub reopen thanks to new licensees and Admiral Taverns.

Property round-up

Alchemist to reopen after £550k revamp, Inn Collection Group is sold

16-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Among this week’s property news is the reopening of The Alchemist in Spinningfields, Inn Collection expands as it is sold and Salt Beer Factory to open its sixth taproom this week.

The Inn Collection Group sold in a deal estimated at £300m-plus

14-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

North of England-based pub operator The Inn Collection Group has been acquired by a new company backed by The Harris Family Trusts together with Kings Park Capital in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £300m.

JW Lees to open first new-build site in 10 years

11-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Manchester brewer and pub operator JW Lees is set to open three sites including its first new-build pub in more than 10 years at the end of the month – and is targeting more acquisitions.

Young’s to acquire almost all Lucky Onion sites

10-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Young’s is set to take ownership of six of the Lucky Onion group’s seven sites.

Star boss optimistic about consumer confidence returning

09-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Confidence is steadily growing week by week as the pub trade emerges from the pandemic, a leading pubco boss claimed.

Property round-up

New openings for experiential models NQ64 and Alcotraz

08-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Interactive fun venues NQ64 and Alcotraz lead the latest property news with plenty of sites being acquired, sold and renovated.

Hydes looks to ramp up activity after ‘punishing’ restrictions

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub operator Hydes Brewery hopes to open a pub in the near future after putting acquisitions on the back burner during the height of the pandemic that saw some “incredibly punishing” restrictions on the industry.

Last orders at England’s ‘oldest pub’

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks – a pub believed to be the oldest in England – has called time at the bar and closed after licensee Christo Tofalli’s business went into administration.

PubAid praises record support from pub industry

07-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Charity PubAid has announced generous on-trade partners have pledged to donate more cash than ever before to promote pubs as a force for good.

Greene King renames pub again over fears it could cause offence

04-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco and brewer Greene King has renamed its Linlithgow pub for the second time, after community consultation.

Six Nations launch will be biggest sporting weekend for pubs since Euro 2020

03-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

More than 880,000 sports fans will be watching the Guinness Six Nations live in a pub or bar from this weekend and 193,600 of these sports fans will be looking to make a booking, suggests research conducted by MatchPint and KAM Media in December last...

Promotional content

Hospitality venues lose thousands in hefty payment fees. But there’s a solution…

02-Feb-2022 By By OrderPay, the pay-at-table app

After an unprecedented (yes, we used that word again) two years for the hospitality industry, more and more venues are struggling to balance the books. Efficiency and cost-cutting are more important than ever.

Property round-up

Diageo to open £73m Guinness site in London, Bar + Block to reach 20 sites

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Property news this week includes Diageo's plans for a £73m Guinness microbrewery in London, Whitbread's Bar + Block brand to reach 20 sites and multiple operators take third site with Star Pubs & Bars.

Stonegate Group raises £315k for British Heart Foundation

01-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stonegate Group has raised £315,000 for the British Heart Foundation through fundraising activities across its managed estate.

Bar and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer to open

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Par 59, a Cardiff bar, restaurant and mini golf concept backed by Wales footballer Gareth Bale is set to open on 18 March with bookings available from the first week of February.

Urban Pubs & Bars pleased with performance during pandemic

01-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Urban Pubs & Bars has recorded a profit before tax of £5,287 (2020: £890,404) from sales of £8.8m with directors saying they are “pleased with the performance of the company” in its latest report to Companies House.

St Austell invests £2m in 14th century pub

31-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator St Austell Brewery is ploughing £2m into the refurbishment of the 14th century Masons Arms pub in Branscombe, Devon.

Arc Inspirations targets Midlands with £14m refinancing package

31-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator Arc Inspirations has secured a £14m refinancing package, which includes a separate £5m facility to help the group expand its site numbers.

Nightclubs reopen in Wales

28-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Nightclubs in Wales have been allowed to reopen as the country moves into alert level 0 as coronavirus cases begin to stabilise, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Beer prices could rise by 50p per pint across UK

28-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Ballooning inflation costs may force pubs to rise pint prices by 50p across the UK while Londoners may have to pay £7 for a pint.

Trade bodies urge Treasury to reduce ‘over-taxation of beer and pubs’

28-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have called on the Government to reduce the taxation levels on beer and pubs.

Fuller’s confident as City workers return to its sites

27-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Fuller’s is confident about the future as City workers return to its sites, according to its latest trading update.

Property round-up

Tonight Josephine to launch, Pub is The Hub helps open shop at Cumbrian site

26-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The latest property news includes a Tonight Josephine cocktail bar opening, Pub is The Hub helps a Cumbria village pub open a shop for essentials, a £120,000 overhaul for a Berwick high street pub, a renovated Red Lion Holdings site and Inception Group's...

Robinsons will invest £12m to relocate brewery, staff and all operations to one site

20-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Robinsons Brewery is set to invest more than £12m to relocate its Stockport town centre brewing and head office operations to its packaging centre site in Bredbury.

Property round-up

Revolution restarts the party at Electric Press, sites hit market in Scotland and North Yorkshire

19-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The party has started again for Revolution with a £300k revamp at a site in Leeds, properties have been put on the market in Scotland and North Yorkshire while GK has invested jointly on a Wirral pub and Baker Hospitality takes on a third site.

How investing in pubs can be a major factor in sector recovery

18-Jan-2022 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

Investment in tied pubs could be a significant element to recovery in the sector. The pubs code supports this while balancing protection of tenants, ensuring they are informed and advised on their rights and the effect of proposed investments. I’d like...

Demand outstripped supply in pub property market last year

14-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Strong demand for pubs rather than a flood of empty sites or failed businesses has been the most significant feature of the pub market in the past year, according to leisure property specialist Fleurets’ Survey of Pub Prices 2021 report.

M&B increases non-alcoholic beer range with Big Drop

12-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) pubs will be serving a greater range of alcohol-free beer in January after a trial with craft brewer Big Drop has been agreed.

Property round-up

Innis & Gunn to open fifth taproom, freeholds on sale and third site for Vaulkhard and Star

12-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Among the latest property moves are Innis & Gunn opening a fifth taproom site, the freeholds of sites in Hallaton and Lavenham put on the market and Vaulkhard Leisure joins Star Pubs & Bars for third site.

Stonegate buys remaining 25% share of Hippo Inns

11-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Stonegate has acquired 25% of the issued share capital in Hippo Inns from Rupert Clevely and Ian Edward for an undisclosed sum.

Hydes optimistic despite losing £20m in turnover

05-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Turnover at Manchester-based brewer and pub operator Hydes fell from £29.4m to £8.5m, according to the company’s annual results, ended 28 March 2021.

Marston’s reveals 50% rent support for Welsh tied tenants

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Marston’s is reducing the rent payable to 50% of the headline rent, starting from 26 December for its tied tenants in Wales.

Greene King reveals 30% rent concession for Scottish and Welsh tied pubs

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company Greene King is introducing 30% rent concessions for tied tenants in Scotland and Wales from Boxing Day.

Trust Inns reports £8.5m losses

23-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Chorley-based pub company Trust Inns has announced losses of £8.5m for the year to 31 March 2021.

Hall & Woodhouse set to complete on 10 acquisitions in 2021, more in pipeline

23-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Dorset-based brewer and pub operator Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) is on track to complete 10 pubs this year, across both its managed and tenanted divisions – and plans to add more next year.

Robinsons to cut rents by 10% in January and pushes back annual price hike

22-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Robinsons Brewery will reduce rents by 10% for its tenants in January and is to postpone its annual price increase by a month to March.

SBPA welcomes financial aid but insists on timeline to end restrictions

22-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has described the financial aid being given to hospitality businesses in Scotland as a “vital lifeline” but added a timeline marking the removal of recently announced restrictions must be implemented.

Hertfields signs third deal with Star, Inn Collection Group opens first Welsh site

22-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Among the latest property news is Hertfields and Star Pubs & Bars team up for the third time, The Inn Collection Group unveils its inaugural Welsh pub-hotel, Greene King invests in the Lion & Lamb and in a Newcastle speakeasy, brothers sell pub...

UKH welcomes cash support for hospitality from Government

21-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Rishi Sunak has this afternoon (21 December) announced a new round of grants for the hospitality sector of up to £6,000 per premises.

Trade warnings as UK is in shutdown ‘in all but name’

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality has warned of the costs of potential closure for the hospitality sector while Greene King said the trade is already in shutdown “in all but name”.

JDW promotes pub managers to its board

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Managed pub operator JD Wetherspoon has put its faith in its employees by recruiting four current pub managers to its board.

Cash pledge for cafes and fast-food chains ‘utterly indefensible’

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) managing director Colin Wilkinson has branded the move to include cafes, takeaways and fast-food multinationals in funding pledged to help the hospitality sector as “utterly indefensible”.