Tenanted + Leased

What were the biggest pub property stories of 2020?

Property round-up

2020’s biggest pub property stories

By Stuart Stone

In the final pub property round-up of 2020 The Morning Advertiser (MA) looks back on 20 of the biggest deals, revamps and reopenings covered in the past 12 months.

Self-sanctioned baptism of fire: 'Ironically, the one area I do now feel in control of is the other side of my career as a performer'

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘When you’re a publican and you’ve retrained as an actress. Just call me Lucky’

By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex

To kick off a series looking back at a turbulent 12 months in the on-trade, Debbie Baisden, a multi-tasking, performing publican, explains how she is confronting Covid-19 challenges with hopes to continue both her careers in the arts and hospitality.

'Perilous' outlook: 'The tier restrictions that have been unfairly placed on our pubs are killing them,' BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said

Pub sales plummet 84% on first post-lockdown weekend

By Stuart Stone

A British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) survey suggests that more than half of operators expect to close pubs that re-opened after England’s second national lockdown if trade doesn’t improve in the coming weeks.

New chapter: 'whilst short-term uncertainty remains, we have taken swift action to future-proof the business to withstand the challenges presented by the pandemic and Marston’s has emerged a significantly stronger business,' Ralph Findlay explained

Marston’s records £397m pre-tax loss

By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Marston’s has revealed that it made a total loss of £397.1m during the year to 3 October 2020 following the closure of its near 1,400 strong pub estate for 15 weeks.

Different amounts: the rent credits for tied tenants on substantive agreements will be tapered according to which tier they are in

Stonegate reveals rent credits for tiers

By Nikkie Thatcher

Stonegate Pub Company has unveiled three rent credit systems for its leased and tenanted arm – Ei Publican Partnerships – differing for each tier.

Pubco rebrand: 'our ambition is to be the number one community pub company, and next month we will rebrand to ‘Hawthorn: The Community Pub Company’, putting our purpose right at the heart of our business for everybody to see,' Mark Davies explained

Hawthorn Leisure unveils community-focused rebrand

By Stuart Stone

Real estate investment trust NewRiver’s 700-strong pub arm will rebrand as ‘Hawthorn: The Community Pub Company’ as it seeks to become the UK’s number one community operator.

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.

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.

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...

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 78 Making the most of your ghost 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

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...

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