Pubco + Head Office

Shepherd Neame reports strong trading since reopening

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Kent brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has reported strong trading since reopening its 310 pubs for the 52 weeks ended 26 June 2021.

The history and business story of Young’s

09-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Historic brewer and pub company Young’s has been a household name in London and the surrounding area since before Queen Victoria took to the throne. Here The Morning Advertiser looks at its history, acquisitions and disposals.

Tell me your views on the free-of-tie process

05-Nov-2021 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

In a previous column in The Morning Advertiser, I wrote about how the market-rent-only (MRO) option process had become better for tenants, but was still far from perfect.

Brakspear looking to expand managed arm by ‘at least 2 a year’

03-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

South east-based operator Brakspear has revealed is growth plans for its newly renamed managed division.

The story of Marston's mergers and acquisitions

03-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser has delved into the history of Marston’s, looking at the company’s biggest deals across the years.

Property round-up

The latest pub openings and sites on the market

03-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Brakspear brands its managed estate, Redhouse and Star team up and Valiant takes on 17 SA Brain sites are among the latest property moves.

PGB: Rent reviews and BDM key areas for focus

02-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The need to train business development managers properly and prompt resolutions to outstanding rent reviews are two factors that must be improved if the codes of practice for pubcos with fewer than 500 pubs is to maintain its high standards of compliance.

Opinion

Pub companies must do something about unviable rent offers

01-Nov-2021 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

As Monty Python famously recorded: “Though there was trouble at the mill they didn’t expect ‘The Spanish Inquisition’.” There is trouble in the pub sector mill and there needs to be an inquisition into the behaviour and transparency of pub-owning companies.

PCA sets December deadline for views on making MRO option easier

29-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Fiona Dickie, the pubs code adjudicator (PCA), has asked for views on a series of measures aimed at removing potential barriers to tied tenants seeking a market-rent-only (MRO) – or free of tie – option for their pubs.

Liberation Group refurbishment programme ‘forging ahead at speed’

29-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A pub refurbishment programme by Liberation Group that takes on board its tenants’ ideas is “forging ahead at speed”.

Autumn Budget 2021

50% business rates discount for hospitality sector

27-Oct-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A 50% business rates discount will be put in place for the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors for one year, announced the Chancellor of the Exchequer at today's Autumn Budget (Wednesday 27 October).

Trade ‘decimated’ by vaccine passport scheme in Scotland

27-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Trade in the night-time economy has been decimated during the first week of the Scottish government’s controversial vaccine passport scheme, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

JDW’s pub deals and history

26-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

From unique carpeting at each of its sites to the grandeur and historic locations of some of its pubs, managed operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is one of the best-known brands across the UK on-trade.

BrewDog announces biggest site ever as ‘new type of venue’

25-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish bar operator BrewDog will open a mammoth flagship site at the revamped Waterloo Station, London, in summer next year.

GBPA 2021

Were you spotted at the GBPA winners' lunch?

21-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The best of the best in the pub world gathered for the Great British Pub Awards winners' lunch at The Pem restaurant In central London where the overall winner was named and category winners received their trophies.

Property round-up

New site openings, big renovations and what’s on sale fill the property market

20-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Loungers opening 150th site, Star Pubs & Bars makes double move and GK collaboration reopens site after £400k investment are among the latest news in the pub property world.

Hall & Woodhouse sees turnover drop of more than a third

20-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Dorset-based brewer and operator Hall & Woodhouse reported a fall in turnover of 38.7% to £71.5m for the year ending 30 January 2021.

GBPA 2021

Ring my Bell - GBPA winner announced

19-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The pub sector has fought its way back from the brink of disaster and now a stunning transformation against the odds has seen one pub crowned champion of champions.

BrewDog launches second gold can promotion after complaint upheld

19-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog has launched another ‘gold can’ campaign despite being on the wrong end of a complaint upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority.

M&B's acquisition story

19-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) currently has more than 1,700 sites across the restaurant and pub sector. Here, The Morning Advertiser takes a look back at how the business got to where it is today, through its merger and acquisition activity.

Publican Awards 2022

Entries open for Publican Awards 2022

19-Oct-2021 By Ed Bedington

The hunt is now on to celebrate the best companies in the pub and bar sector with the launch of the Publican Awards 2022.

Marston’s sales now better than in 2019 for most recent quarter

13-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Marston’s has seen a continuous improvement in trade since reopening in April, resulting in higher sales versus 2019.

Property round-up

The latest pub openings and sites on the market

13-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

This week’s property round-up includes openings for The Inn Collection Group and Roxy Lanes while BrewDog agrees a franchise deal for six bars in Italy.

Admiral Taverns through the years

12-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser examines the history of Admiral Taverns and its mergers and acquisitions activity throughout the years.

Asahi teams up with YouTube vlogger to get cask ale recognised by UNESCO

11-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Asahi UK has teamed up with YouTube vlogger The Craft Beer Channel in a bid to earn UNESCO recognition for cask ale as an example of ‘intangible cultural heritage’.

Where are black leaders in the pub and brewing sector?

11-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The hospitality industry provided work for some 1.8 million people when the pandemic struck last year, of which 17% of the total workforce from the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) category was represented.

Property round-up

Television Centre is new home for the Broadcaster pub, Tiere Group tie-up with Star

05-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

This week's news includes the Broadcaster pub and dining room at Television Centre, the Lion revamp in Shirley, Reading venue for London Cocktail Club, Mojo's latest site in Reading, the Lamb & Flag in Oxford and Simmons Bar hits the CIty.

Greene King's merger and acquisition history

05-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser takes a look back along memory lane at Greene King’s merger and acquisition trail throughout its rich 200-year history.

Opinion

Pub repairs – how the pubs code means no surprises for tenants

04-Oct-2021 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

Parliament introduced the pubs code owing to serious concerns expressed over many years about the relationship between the large pub companies and their tied tenants.

Hospitality businesses step up efforts to retain staff during mounting labour crisis

04-Oct-2021 By Michelle Perrett

One in six (16%) hospitality jobs currently lie vacant, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has revealed.

GBPA 2021

Having a blast on social media

29-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser looks at the social media activity of those involved in the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) after the event and category winners were announced.

The rise and rise of Star Pubs & Bars

28-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Star Pubs & Bars is Heineken UK’s pub arm. Here, The Morning Advertiser looks at how the pub company was formed and its activity over the years.

Clampdown on unfair tipping practices welcomed by NTIA

27-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed a Government reform on unfair tipping practices.

Property round-up

Property round-up: the latest news on pub acquisitions

22-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Among the latest market moves, The New World Trading Company announces The Club House is coming to Wales and The Alchemist heads to Scotland.

Robinsons Brewery in pint giveaway for Cask Ale Week

21-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Stockport based Robinsons Brewery, is launching a 500-pint giveaway campaign for Cask Ale Week, which will run from Thursday 23 September to Sunday 3 October.

How the UK's biggest pub company was formed

21-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

With Stonegate now being the largest pub company in the UK, The Morning Advertiser has taken a deep dive in the company’s history of mergers and acquisitions in its 14-year history.

BBPA estimates 18m pints will be served on National Hospitality Day

17-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called for pubgoers to support their local this Saturday (18 September) to help hospitality businesses and claims pubs will serve about 18 million pints on the day.

News round-up

News round-up: Largest estate for 2021 belongs to Stonegate and Gov plan B

16-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The past seven days have seen the Government announcing what will happen should the NHS become overwhelmed, the chronic supply issues hitting kegs as well as the latest report from Lumina Intelligence predicting Stonegate will continue to be the largest...

MA Leaders Club

How do I become a member of The MA Leaders Club?

13-Sep-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Want to join the biggest group of multi-site pub owners and operators you’re ever likely to see in one place? Well look no further – our comprehensive guide to the MA Leaders Club awaits below…

Star says ‘£38m investment shows belief in great British pub’

08-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Star’s recent multi-million-pound investment into its estate highlights the company’s belief in the trade, operations director Mick Howard told The Morning Advertiser.

The pubs code and statutory renewal

31-Aug-2021 By Fiona Dickie - pubs code adjudicator

There are several ways in which the pubs code overlaps and intertwines with the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act (LTA) 1954.

Star Pubs & Bars to pump £38m into its estate

31-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Heineken’s pub arm Star Pubs & Bars has announced a £38m programme, targeted at benefiting almost a third of its portfolio by the end of this year.

Hawthorn unveils new operator managed division – Proper Pubs

25-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Hawthorn, the company recently purchased by Admiral Taverns, has unveiled the creation of its new operator managed division – Proper Pubs.

Mark Davies steps down as Hawthorn CEO as Admiral deal completes

20-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company chief executive Mark Davies has stepped down as the firm’s CEO following the completion of the purchase by Admiral Taverns.

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.

Nightcap secures new site while reporting ‘strong period of trading’

09-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator Nightcap has announced the securing of a new venue in Bristol, alongside strong trading in an update.

Interview: Licensee reflects on 35 years running his pub

03-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Licensee Paul Monk of the Bowling Green Inn on Brook Street in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, has received a prestigious award to mark his 35th anniversary at the pub.

Building a drinks offer: from draught dilemmas to cocktail choices

02-Aug-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

As pubs continue to bounce back from Covid-19 and operators shake-up their drinks offers, The Morning Advertiser takes a closer look at which category bubbles have burst and which should be in the on-trade mix.

Shepherd Neame ‘back on path to recovery’

30-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Kent-based brewer and pub group Shepherd Neame has reported near pre-pandemic levels of trading since reopening.

Mark Davies resigns as NewRiver CFO but remains CEO of Hawthorn

28-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Current boss of Hawthorn Mark Davies will relinquish his position of parent company NewRiver’s chief financial officer (CFO) with immediate effect but will remain head of the pub business.