Pubco + Head Office

Revenue up: total revenue at Punch Pubs & Co has risen to £313.5m

Transferred Punch pubs key to revenue boost

By Gary Lloyd

Punch Pubs & Co’s move to convert leased and tenanted pubs to its managed division has been cited as the “predominant driving force” for a 10.2% lift in revenue in its trading update for the 52 weeks ended 13 August 2023.

Seasonal meetings: a change of menu to suit the colder months could attract more customers (credit: Getty/SolStock)

FEATURE - FOOD TRENDS

FEATURE: Food trends for winter

By Emma Eversham

Shorts and T-shirts have finally been replaced by sweaters and sou’westers as the UK’s weather resumes its usual service following an unseasonably warm and dry September and October.

Company deal: A.G. Barr acquires Rio from Hall & Woodhouse

Hall & Woodhouse offloads Rio

By MCA

Independent brewer and pub company Hall and Woodhouse has sold soft drinks brand Rio to A.G. Barr for £12.3m.

Money money money: Pubs reopen after impressive makeovers

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Morgan Pub Collective site opens after £270k refurb

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Morgan Pub Collective has taken on its sixth pub with Greene King Pub Partners, a Surrey operator has taken on his second pub and Brakspear pumps £2m into two L&T sites.

Sign up for a free webinar to help improve your cask ale offer

CASK WEBINAR

Don't miss our cask webinar live today at 3pm

By Gary Lloyd

If you want to start or improve your cask beer offer, sign up now for free to watch our webinar on cask ale that goes live today at 3pm (Tuesday 31 October).

Staffing fears: industry workers may be thinking about a different career but job satisfaction levels have risen (credit: Getty/Charday Penn)

Career change considered by 42% of industry staff

By Gary Lloyd

More than two in five workers in the hospitality sector are considering a career outside the industry despite job satisfaction levels increasing ‘significantly’ during the past 12 months.

Free webinar - improving your cask offer

CASK WEBINAR

How to improve your cask offer – free webinar

By Gary Lloyd

Whether you’re a licensee wanting to start serving cask beers or a pub company looking for a few tips to improve the offer you already have – this free webinar is one you won’t want to miss.

When does the Publican Awards deadline end?

Publican Awards

Publican Awards 2024 open for entry

By Ed Bedington

The hunt is on for the best operators in the hospitality sector as the industry’s leading awards gets underway for 2024.

Company investment: Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (far right) with Manu Bhatt (third from right) and Richard Brown (far left) of Little & Large Pub Company and team members from the Running Horses

Brakspear pumps £2m into two L&T sites

By Nikkie Thatcher

South east-based multiple operator Brakspear is investing £2m into two of its leased and tenanted sites after signing agreements with growing pub groups Little & Large and Friendship and Beer.

(image: Getty/zamrznutitonovi)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips: A timely reminder on prevention of underage sales of alcohol

By Graeme Cushion, partner, Poppleston Allen

With Christmas now approaching I thought it would be a good time to remind operators of their obligations in terms of the prevention of sales of alcohol to persons under the age of 18.

Improved outlook: Marston's reports 10.1% sales increase

Marston's sales up 10% as pubco reduces head office costs

By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Marston’s has reported like-for-like sales in the 52 weeks to Saturday 30 September were 10.1% up compared with the same period last year as well as a £5m reduction in head office costs.

Openings: Big news from Arc Inspirations, King Pins, AK Whelan

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

King Pins, AK Whelan open sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

In this week's property news, King Pins and AK Whelan announce new sites, as Arc Inspirations looks forward to its first foray into the east midlands.

Awards finalists: the White Horse's Tosh Lakhnai (centre) and Sunny Hodge (right) of Diogenes The Dog

Trade great for finalists in BIH Spotlight Awards

By Gary Lloyd

Two of the finalists for Pub/Bar of the Year in the Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards have revealed how trade at their sites has improved so much since the pandemic.

Great scope: Andrew Bush says Greene King apprenticeships cover a huge variety of job roles

How the apprentice can become a master

By Gary Lloyd

A recent survey by Greene King found 19% of parents feel university is not the right choice for their children so The Morning Advertiser caught up with chief people & transformation officer Andrew Bush to find out about the opportunities offered with...

Active role: the Plough ticks all the boxes when it comes to operating a great pub

GBPA 2023

Meet the winner of the Punch Pub of the Year 2023

By The Morning Advertiser

With its thatched roof and quirky interior, the Grade 2 listed Plough looks the quintessential country pub, and thanks to the care and attention of tenants Emma and Paul Gibbon it’s grown into much more, a family-friendly venue that plays an active role...

Where can pubs find resources about sustainability?

GREEN INITIATIVE

What have we learned about sustainability?

By Nikkie Thatcher

Three months on from launching a dedicated initiative around sustainability, we’ve rounded up what we’ve learned so far.

Record results: Jonathan Neame is confident for the future

‘Record revenues’ achieved by Shepherd Neame

By Gary Lloyd

Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame is confident “the turmoil of the past few years is now settling” as the company achieved “record revenues” in the 52 weeks ended 24 June 2023.

Previous experience: judges were impressed with operator Steve Banks’ transformation of the pub

GBPA 2023

Meet the winner of the Stonegate Pub of the Year 2023

By The Morning Advertiser

A strong grip on training and developing careers, alongside some great sustainability credentials which has helped create an urban oasis, has seen the Woodman named Stonegate Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards 2023.

Operation adaptation: judges describe the Boot & Shoe as a fantastic community pub

GBPA 2023

Meet the winner of the Admiral Pub of the Year 2023

By The Morning Advertiser

Extensive investment into its garden, along with an impeccably run operation has seen the Boot & Shoe named as the Admiral Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards 2023.

Be smart: technology can be used in front and back of house at your premises

FEATURE - Technology

FEATURE: How tech can free up time for your staff

By Fiona Griffiths

Times are tough right now. Pub and bar operators are being hit from all sides with consumers tightening their belts, struggles over recruitment and costs soaring across the board.

Arkell's shows support for Cask Ale Week

The Cask Project

Arkell’s is on board for Cask Ale Week

By Gary Lloyd

Wiltshire-based Arkell’s Brewery is making the most of Cask Ale Week and its head brewer is keen to tell people why we should all be quaffing the beer in its finest form.

Help is at hand: some four out of five hospitality workers suffers at least one mental issue issue says Kris Hall of The Burnt Chef Project

FEATURE - The Burnt Chef Project

FEATURE: Suicide prevention training launched by Burnt Chef

By Gary Lloyd

As The Burnt Chef Project launches two new suicide prevention training programmes, founder and CEO Kris Hall has reiterated the need for people to talk about mental health issues to help thwart the rise of tragic deaths.

On the market: JD Wetherspoon has appointed two estate agents to sell 11 of its pubs (credit: Getty/JanpenBoonbao)

JDW to sell 11 pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has appointed estate agents Savills and CBRE to sell 11 of its pubs.

What are you doing for Cask Ale Week?

The Cask Project

Bring in the customers with Cask Ale Week

By Gary Lloyd

It’s the time of year when licensees across the land need to be pushing their hand-pulled beers as Cask Ale Week begins on Thursday 21 September and runs until Sunday 1 October.

Lively crowd: Pete Marshall (second from right) and his team at the Kings Arms, which won Best Pub for Entertainment get the party started

GBPA 2023

Pics of all the GBPA 2023 winners

By Gary Lloyd

For those who attended, the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) 2023 will live long in the memory. If you were there and have forgotten who won, here is a picture special to remind who the winners were.

Trading conditions: Lumina's new report gives insight into the sector (Credit: Getty/Dimensions)

70% of hospitality leaders face staffing challenges

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Around 70% of leaders in the hospitality sector are facing challenges with tough trading conditions expected to continue, according to the new Lumina Intelligence Top of Mind Report 2023.

Prestigious event: the awards have been running for more than two decades

GBPA

2023 Great British Pub Awards taking place today

By Nikkie Thatcher

The countdown to this year’s Great British Pub Awards, known as the Oscars of the pub trade, is over with the event taking place today (Tuesday 19 September).

Advice given: delegates at The Morning Advertiser's MA Leaders event in Bristol heard about recruiting staff from overseas

MA LEADERS CLUB

Tips on recruiting chefs from overseas

By Nikkie Thatcher

Operators attending the latest MA Leaders Club in Bristol heard how one business recruited from overseas to help ease staff shortages.

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...

Most popular News

Follow us

The MA Lock In Podcast

Join us for a Lock In

Pub Trade Guides

View more