Pubco + Head Office

What's in the news 27 November

MA's Review of the Week

‘Industry has a gun held to its head’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington spoke to Sarah Weir of Albion & East to discuss the big issues from the news this week.

Fuller's finance: 'It has not been easy, but prudent financial management, an estate that is 92% freehold, and a strong balance sheet mean that we will be in the best possible position to get back on a growth trajectory, Simon Emeny explained

Covid measures hit Fuller’s for £22m in six months

By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Fuller, Smith & Turner has revealed a swing of around £40m from profit to loss in its financial results for the 26 weeks to 26 September after its pubs spent more than half of the period in lockdown.

Covid recovery: Lumina Intelligence’s UK Pub Market Report 2020 found that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has wiped 61% (£14bn) off the sector’s value

Analysis

14 ways in which Covid-19 is changing the UK pub market

By Stuart Stone

A new report from Lumina Intelligence has found that coronavirus has carved 14bn off the sector’s value – but what specific symptoms has the trade shown, and what could its recovery look like?

Uncertain and challenging year: 'With our great estate, balanced portfolio of brands and proven management team, we remain optimistic that we will be able to regain the momentum previously built', M&B's Phil Urban explained

M&B posts pre-tax loss as 1,300 workers made redundant

By Stuart Stone

Birmingham-based pub group Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has revealed a £300m swing from pre-tax profit to loss in the 52 weeks ended 26 September 2020 – a period in which it was forced to axe 1,300 staff members.

New challenges: 'It’s been the most challenging period for the last eight years, but as the expression goes, when you’re going through hell, just keep going,' said CGA's Phil Tate

CGA: ‘We will pull through this crisis’

By Georgia Cronin, MCA

The sector is living through its toughest period in eight years, but consumer data proves it will pull through, CGA chief executive Phil Tate has said.

How is Greene King reacting to the second lockdown?

Greene King boss: 'We need to change the narrative'

By Ed Bedington

Discussing England's second national lockdown with The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington, Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie said he feels 'a little bit let down' by Government.

Closed venues: the sites are a mix of Mitchells & Butlers brands, The Morning Advertiser understands

M&B to close ‘a number of sites’

By Nikkie Thatcher

The operator of brands such as All Bar One, Sizzling Pubs and Toby Carvery, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), is closing a number of leasehold sites.

Challenging all round: 'despite the difficulties, we have managed to weather the storm better than expected with very strong grocery sales and very strong online sales compensating for the temporary closures of our bars and the closure of our on-premises wholesale channel,' James Watt explained

BrewDog secures £25m CBILS boost

By Stuart Stone

Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has secured a £25m financial spur through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) in a bid to endure the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Redundancies reined in? 'Whitbread’s long-term strategy remains as relevant and compelling as ever,' Whitbread CEO Alison Brittain said of the company’s latest financial results

Whitbread could halve job cuts

By Stuart Stone

The operator behind Brewers Fayre, Beefeater and Premier Inn may significantly reduce redundancy plans following the extension of the furlough scheme and vaccine breakthrough.

Destination unknown: 'the impact and demands of Brexit are going to be much more difficult to determine due to the pandemic,' UKHospitality's Kate Nicholls said

Brexit countdown

Brexit transition period ends in less than a month

By Stuart Stone

Pushed down the political pecking order by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Britain’s exit from the EU has burst back onto the agenda with less than a month and counting until the Brexit training wheels come off.

How much could staff training save pubs during second lockdown?

Sponsored by Heineken

How much could upskilling bar staff during lockdown boost pub profits?

By The Morning Advertiser

While skipping keg day and ignoring pour form can leave profits languishing in drip trays, a renewed focus on staff training while venues are closed can help publicans boost their bottom line at a time when it matters most.

Cultural change: 'pubs and restaurants have made headlines consistently over the past nine months, but the incredibly serious, potentially existential crisis, facing night clubs doesn’t seem to be penetrating the zeitgeist in the same way'

Analysis

Night clubs 'unfortunate, unnoticed casualties' of coronavirus

By Stuart Stone

While the existential crisis facing night clubs hasn’t occupied as many column inches as the plight of pubs, a number of sector stakeholders believe that lights out for late nights out would change not just the complexion of the hospitality sector, but...

Robust and safe procedures: the Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest threat the hospitality industry has faced in a generation

How to manage your risk when closing a venue due to Covid

By Mark Flanagan, CEO of Shield Safety Group

The recent introduction of tiered alert systems, fire breakers, lockdowns and circuit breakers across the UK and Ireland means that for thousands of hospitality businesses adapting, planning and preparing have never been more crucial.

Broader lessons: 'six well-resourced and sophisticated companies cannot expect to sit and wait for the regulator to tell them what they can and cannot do'

Opinion

Compliance is not a choice

By Fiona Dickie – pubs code adjudicator

Those following the Morning Advertiser (MA) and national coverage of my investigation into Star Pubs and Bars will know that I found Star had committed twelve separate breaches of the pubs code, which they must now put right. I fined them £2m in respect...

Bleeding money: 'the Home Office must recognise that the levy no longer applies when much of the sector is still closed and those that are open cannot do so after 10pm in England, or at all in Wales currently,' a spokesperson said

Trade bodies demand late-night levy freeze

By Stuart Stone

UKHospitality (UKH), the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) have written to the Government demanding a reprieve for venues still required to pay the late-night levy.

Well placed: 'Whitbread’s long-term strategy remains as relevant and compelling as ever,' Whitbread CEO Alison Brittain said

Whitbread ‘well placed’ in the UK despite pandemic losses

By Stuart Stone

The operator behind brands such as Brewers Fayre, Beefeater and Premier Inn has revealed a swing from £219.9m in pre-tax profit to a statutory loss of £724.7m in its interim first half results for the 2021 financial year.

Proactive step: 'the CVA proposed by the group’s Revolution Bars Limited subsidiary entity, if agreed by landlords, is another proactive step to lower outgoings to help safeguard the future of the group' according to CEO Rob Pitcher

Revolution Bars Limited CVA launched

By Stuart Stone

Nationwide bar operator Revolution Bars Group has launched a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) of subsidiary Revolution Bars Limited in a bid to improve the wider group’s long-term financial position.

What is Admiral Taverns doing to help pubs?

'Pubs are not the problem, we’re part of the solution'

By Ed Bedington

“I’m baffled” by the restrictions imposed on the sector and government support is “insufficient”, Chris Jowsey tells The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington in an exclusive video interview on how Admiral Taverns is working to support its tenants in...

Insufficient backing: 'The Government support offered to pubs in tier three in England, and to those affected by widespread closures in Scotland, and the Fire Break in Wales from this Friday, simply does not go far enough,' Hawthorn boss Mark Davies explained

Hawthorn Leisure to cover rent for closed pubs

By Stuart Stone

New River REIT’s pub arm, Hawthorn Leisure, has revealed that pubs shuttered under the Government’s tier three measures, Wales’ ‘fire break’ lockdown and Scottish restrictions will receive a 100% rent credit.

Spotlight

(credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 S4 Ep. 14: Stars in bars! (Feat. James May, Candice Brown and more) Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

Most popular News

Follow us

The MA Lock In Podcast

Join us for a Lock In

Pub Trade Guides

View more