Pubco + Head Office

Mitchells & Butlers to raise £350m from shareholders

15-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Birmingham-based pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has announced plans to raise £350m through an open share offer to help it cope with the effects of the latest Covid-19 lockdown.

The MA’s Review of the Week

‘Forget’ overseas tourists this summer

12-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Platinum walks away from Marston’s bid

11-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Platinum Equity Advisors has announced it does not intend to submit a revised proposal for Marston’s and will not make a firm offer for the business.

Jobs round-up

Hospitality trade union membership plummets, Inn Collection Group founder retires, Brains CEO steps down

11-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Our latest jobs round-up includes news of peole moves at RedCat Pub Company, Inn Collection Group, Brains and Boxpark.

THE GREAT BRITISH PUB AWARDS - PUB HEROES

Coca-Cola GBPA Pub Hero grants help winners fulfil passion projects

10-Feb-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

After being crowned Pub Heroes in September, The Morning Advertiser revisited a trio of operators who received grants from Coca-Cola’s Community Pub Fund to find out how they had used their five-figure spur.

Property round-up

£2.5m Fourpure revamp, 13 grassroots venues safe from ‘immediate threat’, community group buys local

10-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

This week’s property round-up includes the completion of a seven-figure refurb at Fourpure’s brewery and 13 grassroots venues being removed from the Music Venue Trust’s ‘red list’.

MA’S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Government language around vaccines and relaxations now more ‘confident’

05-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Jobs round-up

Furlough costs hospitality £542m per month, Christmas payment deadline extended, Stonegate director leaves

04-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest update on jobs and people moves from the pub sector includes the full cost of furlough, an extension to the Christmas Support Payment deadline and the departure of a Stonegate director.

Big Interview

'We really need to see some announcements coming from Government soon'

03-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Roxane Marjoram, who operates five pubs under Suffolk-based Gusto Pronto, explains how the business has adapted to Covid conditions and that she now hopes the Government can break away from a ‘stop-start’ pandemic timeline.

Property round-up

New sites from BrewDog, Oakman, Elite Pubs and Red Mist

03-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

This week’s pub property news round-up includes updates from Elite Pubs, BrewDog, Oakman and Red Mist in addition to news of private equity interest in Marston’s.

Marston’s 'unanimously' rejects Platinum share offer

01-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco Marston’s has refused a proposed takeover offer from America-based firm Platinum Equity Advisors.

MA’s Review of the Week

I don’t accept potential ‘lag’ between non-essential retail and pubs reopening

29-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with the Bath Pub Company’s managing director Joe Cussens to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Marston’s confirms private equity interest

29-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Pub company Marston’s has confirmed reports that US-based Platinum Equity has made an initial approach to take the Wolverhampton-based operator private.

Big Interview

‘The UK has been the example at times of how not to support the hospitality sector’

28-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Searching ‘can dogs get Covid-19’ on Google yields about 3.2bn results. But rather than sift through them all, The Morning Advertiser spoke to David McDowall for a case study of BrewDog’s pandemic symptoms.

Jobs round-up

New estate operations director at Timothy Taylor’s, Tim Martin sells further £50m in JDW shares

28-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest round-up of jobs and people news from the pub sector includes JDW boss Tim Martin further reducing his company stake and an industry stalwart retiring after 45 years in the trade.

Winter hospitality shifts down 81% versus 2019

27-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The number of hospitality shifts worked in 2020 was 47% lower than 2019’s overall figure – peaking at a 97% drop during the toughest months of the sector’s shutdown.

Property round-up

Red Mist majority stake sold, JDW pandemic pub spree claims ‘completely untrue’

27-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has dismissed reports that the operator is poised to launch a pub spending spree while Red Lion Holdings has purchased a majority stake in Red Mist Leisure

Publican Awards 2021

Who are the finalists at the 2021 Publican Awards?

26-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Publican Awards finalists have been revealed as the spotlight is turned on some of the best operations in the business.

Pub market recovery from 'seismic shock' will not be uniform

26-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Christie & Co’s annual business outlook report forecasts that the pub market’s recovery from Covid-19 in 2021 will be ‘pretty quick’ but varied as one-in-three operators plan pub sales.

City Pub Group chiefs defer 25% of salary until pubs reopen

26-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The operator of 48 pubs across southern England and Wales reported that revenue for the 52 weeks to 27 December plummeted from £60m to £25.7m – a 57% dive.

Big interview

'False dawn' pub reopenings would be absolutely catastrophic

26-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Like everyone else in the on-trade, Stuart Bateman of Lincolnshire-based Batemans wants to see pubs open ‘as soon as possible’ – however the Salem Bridge brewer isn’t buying into the idea of a Government witch hunt.

MA'S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Hospitality ‘safe spaces’ would eliminate need for new fines

22-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Camerons Brewery managing director Chris Soley to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Millions of pounds lost in unpaid rent

22-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

At least £90m worth of rent has gone unpaid to pub companies due to the coronavirus pandemic over the past year.

Alex Reilley: ‘The end of the moratoria will leave thousands of businesses horrifically exposed’

21-Jan-2021 By James McAllister, Restaurant

Loungers chairman and co-founder Alex Reilley expects the end of the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria in March will lead to a 'phenomenal glut' of company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) across hospitality.

Hawthorn calls for ‘clear roadmap’ to reopening following near £10m Q3 pub investment

21-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

NewRiver-owned pub company Hawthorn has revealed that it ended 2020 with £250m of available liquidity and having more than doubled its planned Q3 capital expenditure spend.

Analysis

£200m Redcat investment a vote of confidence in the pub sector ‘resurgence’

21-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

A number of pub sector property experts shared their thoughts on recent news that former Greene King CEO Rooney Anand is to pump £200m into the UK’s ailing sector.

Former Greene King CEO raises £200m to invest in pub sector

20-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Former Greene King boss Rooney Anand has raised £200m to invest in Britain’s pub sector, according to Sky News.

Public lacks faith in Gov's support for pubs

20-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

New research shows the majority of Brits have lost confidence in the Government to support the ailing pub sector, and more than half back the appointment of a hospitality minister.

Analysis

What does the pub sector want from the 3 March Budget?

20-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

With more than a month to wait until further support is announced, The Morning Advertiser (MA) asked hospitality sector stakeholders to run through their fiscal wish lists ahead of the Chancellor's next Budget.

New pubco set to launch by trio of industry veterans

19-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

Three top operators are set to re-enter the UK pub market with the launch of the Valiant Pub Company.

£2.7m rent dispute between Wellington and tenants

18-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Millions of pounds of rent owed to billionaire-owned pub group Wellington Pub Company from some of its tenants is currently in dispute, according to a survey.

MA’s review of the week

‘We’re sitting here today with sites that have received zero money’

15-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Yummy Pubs founder Anthony Pender to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Whitbread cuts 1,500 jobs

15-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The parent company of Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn confirmed 1,500 job losses in its latest trading update – just over 4% of its 36,000 staff.

Covid-19 shrinks hospitality workforce by a quarter

15-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

In the region of 660,000 hospitality jobs were lost in 2020 according to the latest figures from sector software provider Fourth.

Greene King renames pubs with ‘racist connotations’

15-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco and brewer Greene King has announced it plans to relabel a number of pubs in its portfolio due to the existing names having racist connotations.

Jobs round-up

Minister motion wins support, hospitality’s ethnicity pay gap revealed

14-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The first jobs round-up of 2021 includes an update on the campaign for a dedicated hospitality minister, a new hire at Halewood, and the release of a data review examining the experiences of hospitality staff from different ethnic backgrounds.

Supreme Court business interruption insurance ruling due on 15 January

13-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The Supreme Court has revealed its ruling on whether insurers should pay out on business interruption claims relating to March’s coronavirus lockdown will be handed down this Friday (15 January).

PCA pens letter to tied tenants and ‘stops the clock’ on pubs code deadlines

13-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Pubs code adjudicator (PCA) Fiona Dickie has approved a new declaration to ‘pause and preserve’ key rights during fresh lockdown restrictions and written to tied tenants in recognition of yet another ‘bitter blow’.

Property round-up

Pub lost every 20 hours, continued rent concessions pledged, £100,000 for ‘pop-up LGBT+ bar’

13-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The first property round-up feature of 2021 includes an update on pub closures during the past 12 months, the latest on pubco rent concessions, and a recap of Fleurets’ Survey of Pub Prices 2020.

Chancellor ‘out of ideas’ after pledging no new support

12-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has stated that despite forecasts of further economic decline there will be no additional financial support for business hit by coronavirus restrictions before the Budget on 3 March.

One-in-four operators yet to receive grants from second lockdown

12-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

A Morning Advertiser (MA) survey has revealed that a quarter of pub operators (24%) who applied for grants during November’s lockdown are still awaiting funds – with many citing outstanding payments of more than £10,000.

Greene King extends rent concessions for tied tenants

11-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Greene King Pub Partners has extended its 90% rent concessions for tied tenants until the end of the third lockdown, the pubco has announced.

MA's review of the week

Takeaway alcohol restrictions ‘very very unfair’ given off-licence leniency

08-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

In the first review of 2021's on-trade news, The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls OBE to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Star continues 90% rent reduction for L&T pubs

08-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Heineken pub arm Star Pubs & Bars has announced it is continuing its 90% rent reduction for lessees and tenants for January.

Opinion

How could pubs switch from dispensing beer to dispensing vaccines?

08-Jan-2021 By Mike Williams, operations director, Food Alert

As we embark on yet another national lockdown the one glimmer of hope lies in the knowledge that we now have vaccines to fight against Covid-19.

Marston’s anticipates pubs will be closed until March at the earliest

08-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay has described an extended business rates holiday and a VAT cut throughout 2021 as a ‘minimum requirement’ after the imposition of England’s third national lockdown.

Pub rent review negotiations suspended until further notice

07-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The Pub Governing Body (PGB) England and Wales and the Scottish Pub Governing Body have agreed to suspend rent reviews until further notice amid fresh lockdown restrictions.

Tell us: Has your pub been able to access Government grants?

07-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Amid new lockdown measures and a freshly pledged £4.6bn fund to support shuttered businesses, The Morning Advertiser (MA) wants to hear from pub operators about their experiences of applying for Government grants.

Mitchells & Butlers considers equity raise to weather third lockdown

07-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Birmingham-based pub operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has revealed that it is considering an equity capital raise in a bid to increase “financial and operational flexibility” during England’s third national lockdown.

UK headed for double-dip recession after ‘strikingly downbeat’ end to 2020

06-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

New lockdown restrictions in tandem with stifled economic performance in final quarter of 2020 have left the UK on the brink of its first double-dip recession since 1975, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).