Pubco + head office

MA’S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Long-term Government view on industry needs will make ‘enormous difference’

21-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Fine & Country Inns’ chief executive Gary Hunt to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Young’s ‘confident’ despite pandemic denting revenue by more than £200m

21-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

London-based pub operator Young’s saw group revenue fall by in the region of £220m during the 52 weeks to 29 March 2021.

Reason for refusal ‘critical’ in bar’s mixed gender groups-only booking policy

20-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Lawyers have claimed a London-based operator could be breaching the Equality Act if its 'mixed gender groups' booking policy means LGBT+ groups are turned away, according to reports.

JOBS ROUND-UP

Shepherd Neame seeks 300 new staff, £40k lost per-pub during pandemic

20-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

On top of jobs news from Marston’s, Bacardi-Martini and the Mayor’s office in Goole, this week’s update includes news of 300 new roles at Shepherd Neame and the latest on the pandemic’s financial symptoms.

Adnams forecasts return to full rent ‘later in the year’

20-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Suffolk-based brewer and operator Adnams anticipates that its pubs will return to full rents later in the year provided there are no further regional or national lockdowns.

Young’s explores tenanted estate sale

20-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

London-based operator Young & Co's Brewery has appointed Savills to handle the potential sale of its tenanted pub business.

Marston’s records £105.5m loss

19-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

While pub operator Marston’s has revealed a £105.5m pre-tax loss in the 26 weeks to 3 April, the firm cites post-lockdown sales hitting 80% of pre-pandemic levels as cause for optimism.

M&B suffers £200m loss as pandemic restrictions bite

19-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite takings tumbling by 79% during the six months to 10 April, the CEO of the firm behind Toby Carvery and All Bar One believes it can emerge from pandemic restrictions in a ‘strong competitive position’.

Big interview

Secrets behind the success of North Bar/North Brewing Co

14-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of North Bar/North Brewing Co’s recent win at the 2021 Publican Awards, The Morning Advertiser caught up (virtually of course) with head of retail Fiona Potts just before the company opened its latest venue for outdoor trading.

MA’s review of the week

‘Second wave’ of pub goers expected for indoor opening

14-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Beer and Coffee Co. director Matt Crowther to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Pub operator elected mayor of Goole

13-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

A Hawthorn pub operator has been elected mayor of the port, market town and civil parish of Goole in East Riding of Yorkshire.

'Change in emphasis' to boost City Pub Group expansion

13-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

City Pub Group’s executive chairman, Clive Watson, explains that the operator’s definition of ‘high quality’ pub opportunities has changed slightly as the Group emerges from lockdown.

Marston’s appoints Andrew Andrea as next CEO

12-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Marston’s board has announced Andrew Andrea will take the reins as its next chief executive officer from 3 October 2021.

Property round-up

Gareth Bale signs 15-year bar deal, new NWTC concept, Inn Collection Group grows again

12-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The last week has seen Wales and Tottenham star Gareth Bale sign a new lease for Elevens Bar & Grill, as well as updates from the New World Trading Company, Inn Collection Group and Hawthron, among others.

City Pub Group ‘significantly improved over the past year’ despite 57% revenue drop

11-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Despite pandemic restrictions hitting its revenue for £34.2m in the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020, City Pub Group is in an ‘excellent position’ as the country reopens according to its executive chairman.

MA’s review of the week

‘Pubs part of the problem’ mindset needs serious reassessment

07-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with the award-winning operator of the Lion in Treorchy to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

MA’S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘We’re still feeling a bit like the fun police’

30-Apr-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington spoke with Phil Thorley of Thorley Taverns to discuss the most recent on-trade news - including the latest on vaccine passports.

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.

Property round-up

BrewDog signs Las Vegas lease, Laurence Fox and Conor McGregor enter pub market

28-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

In addition to the announcement BrewDog has signed a lease on a ‘carbon negative’ Las Vegas venue, mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor and London mayoral candidate Laurence Fox have made on-trade moves.

Everards sells 14 pubs to Hawthorn

27-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company, has purchased 14 sites from Everards for an undisclosed sum.

‘Number one priority is to restore the business’

26-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Sharing a heartland with Covid-19’s ‘Kent variant’ has seen the vast majority of Shepherd Neame’s 300-odd sites shuttered for more than five months. As such, CEO Jonathan Neame is looking forward to what he believes will be a ‘very good summer’.

Opinion

'Outstanding rent assessments and MRO processes should be moving forward now'

23-Apr-2021 By Fiona Dickie – pubs code adjudicator

As pubs are getting back to trading, now is the time when tied tenants of regulated pub companies may want to take professional advice.

Adnams records £3.7m operating loss during pandemic year

23-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Suffolk-based Adnams became the latest pub operator to post a pandemic loss during 2020, revealing that a swing of more than £4m landed it in the red.

Scotland’s Tied Pubs Bill transition period ‘could take up to two years’

23-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

An update from the Pub Governing Body Scotland has stressed that its services to operators will not be affected by the implementation of the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill.

Star responds to claims it urged licensees to push prices

22-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco Star Pubs & Bars has responded to reports it suggested lessees and tenants increase their prices amid reopening for outdoor areas this month.

Jobs round-up

Inn Collection creates 200 new roles, BrewDog teams up with Forest Green Rovers

22-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

In addition to new figures from the Office for National Statistics and the Living Wage Foundation, the past week has yielded updates from BrewDog, Inn Collection Group and Access Group.

Property round-up

Hickory’s expands to 13 sites, Sussex Inns adds sixth pub

21-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest property round-up includes updates from Hickory’s Smokehouse, Sussex Inns and nationwide community pub operator Hawthorn.

JDW to reopen further 44 pubs in England

21-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is preparing to reopen more pubs in England next week (Monday 26 April).

More than £10m swing sees Shepherd Neame record half-year loss

21-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Kent-based family brewer and pub operator, Shepherd Neame, has revealed an underlying operating loss of £3.6m during the six months to 26 December 2020.

Hawthorn eyes expansion to ‘at least double its estate’

15-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Off the back of its announcement to float on the stock market, Hawthorn has also revealed it is looking to significantly expand its portfolio.

Jobs round-up

Hospitality wage inflation bubble ‘bursts’, more than 600 new food businesses, the end of tipping?

15-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The latest update on people moves, jobs and training from across the pub sector includes news on hospitality wage inflation and attempts to safeguard workers against a downturn in tipping.

Hawthorn set to float on stock market as standalone business

14-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

NewRiver-owned pub group Hawthorn has announced plans to list on the stock market as a standalone quoted business.

Property round-up

BrewDog unveils Edinburgh DogHouse, Adventure grows beyond London, Flight Club Ireland 2022

14-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

The past week has seen bar groups including BrewDog, Adventure Bar Group, Flight Club, Loungers and Incipio announce new site plans.

Revolution: ‘Bring our ‘national day of freedom forward'

13-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group chief executive, Rob Pitcher, has implored the Prime Minister to ‘follow the data, not dates’ and lift legal limits on social contact before Monday 21 June.

MA500

MA500 May 2021 agenda unveiled

12-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The next MA500 conference is set to take place on Thursday 13 May and we can now reveal the topics we will cover at the online event.

Larger pub groups better placed for Covid recovery, managed conversion trend to ‘gather pace’

12-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

Large pub companies are better placed to bounce back from Covid-19 than smaller operators and independents – and could even gain market share – according to a report by global credit ratings agency S&P Global.

Jobs round-up

Papa John’s aims for pub market slice, Innis & Gunn marketing shake-up

08-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

In addition to news that takeaway pizza giant Papa John’s is planning a pub sector rollout, this week’s update includes news from Innis & Gunn and the Night-Time Industry Association.

Opinion

Will Uber ruling prevent publicans being taken for a ride?

08-Apr-2021 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

When the Supreme Court finally ruled that Uber drivers were definitely not self-employed, it called into question whether so-called self-employed pub managers working under ‘a percentage of take’ model were also really self-employed.

Marston’s reveals 700 pubs to reopen from 12 April

07-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company Marston’s will reopen about 70% of its managed and franchised estate with outdoor areas in England next week (on or around Monday 12 April).

Star defends decision to take back lease from long-standing licensees

01-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Star Pubs & Bars has responded to a petition, which calls upon the pubco to reverse its decision to take back the lease from current licensees at the Red Lion, Enfield Highway, north London, who have been at the site for almost two decades.