City news - Deals Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

Cavendish in site launch

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Cavendish Bars, the company led by Christian Arden, is to launch an entertainment venue close to its Wahoo site in Oxford.

BrewDog share issue raises £1m

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:43:00 GMT

BrewDog says it expects to have reached its £2.2m investment target via a share issue four months ahead of schedule.

Renaissance Pubs to open sixth site

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:50:00 GMT

Renaissance Pubs, the London-based gastro pub group founded by Nick Fox, Tom Peake and Mark Reynolds, will open its sixth site this September.

G&J Greenall under new ownership

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

G&J Greenall, the premium vodka and gin supplier and bottler, is under new ownership following a management buy-in, buy-out led by current chief executive Christian Rose.

Amber estate grows to 69

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Amber Taverns, the northern England-based pub operator, has brought its estate to 69 sites with the purchase of three ex-pubco pubs for £505,000.

Greene King to buy Capital for £93m

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:20:00 GMT

Greene King has agreed a deal to buy the 34-strong London-based Pub Company for £93m.

Tally Ho expands to three outlets

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:53:00 GMT

Tally Ho Holdings, the operator of food-led pubs, run by the daughter of broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan and her husband, has secured its third site.

Seven closed Brains freeholds for sale

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:58:00 GMT

Welsh brewer and pub operator SA Brain has put the freeholds of seven closed pubs up for sale for an average asking price of £181,429.

Greene King buys Realpubs for £53.1m

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 07:51:00 GMT

Suffolk-based brewer and operator Greene King has bought London-based Realpubs, which runs 14 pubs, for £53.1m.

Travelodge in £100m pub group link up

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:46:00 GMT

Travelodge is to link up with several pub groups, including Greene King and Mitchells & Butlers, as part of a £100m expansion programme.

Scoff & Quaff buys up pub

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:23:00 GMT

Worcester-based pub operator Scoff & Quaff has bought its seventh site — a flood-hit Enterprise Inns leased pub.

Principle Leisure in administration

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:34:00 GMT

Principle Leisure, the Tyne & Wear-based operator, has been placed on the market after falling into administration.

Butcombe Brewery buys pub operator Triple Rock

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:18:00 GMT

Somerset brewer and operator Butcombe has added three pubs to its estate with the acquisition of local operator Triple Rock for an undisclosed sum.

Sceptre secures £1.5m deal with Thwaites

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:17:00 GMT

AWP machine supplier Sceptre has won a two-year deal to supply Lancashire operator Daniel Thwaites.

Novus completes Balls Brothers acquisition

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:06:00 GMT

Novus Leisure has acquired the Balls Brothers and Lewis & Clarke, for a fee that could eventually exceed £7.8m.

Redcomb poised to open third pub

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:55:00 GMT

Redcomb Pubs, the company led by former Mitchells & Butlers’ marketing executive Dan Shotton, is set to open its third pub.

Thwaites opens second pub focusing on ale

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:22:00 GMT

Lancashire brewer Daniel Thwaites has rolled out its pub concept, Beer Hero, focusing on raising the profile of ale, in a second pub.

Dark Star acquires fourth pub

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:55:00 GMT

Dark Star Brewery in West Sussex has acquired its fourth pub, minutes from its Partridge Green brewery.

Molson Coors plans expansion of Sharp's Brewery

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:03:00 GMT

Molson Coors is looking to invest “significantly” in the Sharp's Brewery following its purchase for £20m yesterday.

Greene King buys Cloverleaf for £55.8m

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:02:00 GMT

Greene King has bought Cloverleaf, the north-west operator of freehold pub restaurants, for £55.8m.

Young's completes Geronimo Inns deal

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:27:00 GMT

London based pub operator and brewer Young's has acquired the 26-strong Geronimo Inns for £60m in cash.

Former Bristol Walkabout Hotel re-let

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 07:20:00 GMT

A former 27-bedroom Walkabout hotel in Bristol has been re-let to Brooks Hotels for an undisclosed sum.

Rel Pub Company opens sixth site

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:13:00 GMT

Rel Pub Company is opening a sixth Break Bar site in Berkshire next year after a £700,000 refurbishment.

Third pub for Flatcappers

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 09:48:00 GMT

Flatcappers, the pub company run by ex-Bibendum general manager Pierre Woodford, has opened its third pub, the Battleaxes in Wraxall near Bristol.

UCL opens first boutique hotel

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:43:00 GMT

UCL, the expanding pub restaurant management operator run by Ross Sanders, opens its first exclusive boutique style hotel today.

S&NPC ditches ex-Tchenguiz pubs

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:18:00 GMT

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company has given up the management contract on 207 pubs, mostly located in Scotland.

Two Enterprise pubs sold at Acuitus auction

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:23:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns has raised a further £1.85m from the sale of two London pubs at an Acuitus auction last week.

M&B secures new site for Brown's

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:01:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the managed pub and casual dining group, has secured landmark site for its Brown’s brasserie chain.

SA Brain buys restaurant on 300ft tower

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:06:00 GMT

SA Brain, the brewer and pub operator, is set to reopen the restaurant atop Swansea's £70m Meridian Tower.

Booker ready to take on pub rivals after Classic deal

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:45:00 GMT

Booker believes the acquisition of pub wholesaler Classic Drinks will give it a real on-trade presence to take on rivals Matthew Clark and Waverley TBS.

Booker acquires Ritter and Classic Drinks

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 10:17:00 GMT

Food and drink wholesaler Booker has acquired speciality foods supplier Ritter and pub wholesaler Classic Drinks.

UCL reopens pub after £250,000 refurb

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:14:00 GMT

Urban & Country Leisure, the pub, bar and hotel operator led by Ross Sanders, has reopened the Plough in Downside, Surrey, after investing £250,000 in a refurbishment.

Market Town Taverns buys 15th pub

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:09:00 GMT

Market Town Taverns (MTT), the Yorkshire based pub retailer, has bought a pub in Otley, West Yorkshire, from Enterprise Inns.

Longshot acquires Bel & Dragon from Orchid Group

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:15:00 GMT

Longshot has acquired the four-strong Bel & Dragon group of pub restaurants from the Orchid Group.

Ha Ha buyer given extra four weeks

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:28:00 GMT

Industry sources report that the putative buyer for Bay Restaurants’ Ha Ha Bar & Grill brand have been given another four weeks.

Wetherspoon set to open 11th Glasgow pub

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:57:00 GMT

JD Wetherspoon is set to open its 11th pub in Glasgow after securing a site at Queen Street station.

Analysis: Payne set to lead consolidation move

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:54:00 GMT

Stonegate Pub Company will be chaired by industry veteran Ian Payne — and industry consolidation is on the cards, says Mark Stretton.

Mitchells & Butlers — what lies ahead?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:49:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers has sold 333 wet-led pubs. Morning Advertiser editor Paul Charity looks at what now lies ahead for the managed operator.

Camerons wins Carlsberg brewing contract

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:07:00 GMT

Hartlepool-based Camerons Brewery has won a five-year deal to contract brew for Carlsberg.

Principle re-opens the Blackbird Inn

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:03:00 GMT

One of Northumberland’s oldest pubs has been re-opened by expanding north-east multiple operator, Principle Leisure Group (PLG).

M&B sells 333 pubs to TDR Capital

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:30:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has sold 333 wet-led pubs to TDR Capital for £373m — in line with M&B's strategy to withdraw from drinks-led market.

Bay set to sell Ha Ha — withdraws La Tasca

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:24:00 GMT

Bay Restaurants is to embark on a two-year investment programme for its 70-strong La Tasca brand but will now sell Ha Ha Bar & Grill.

Geronimo denies sale rumours

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:07:00 GMT

London-centric gastro pub operator Geronimo Inns may be sold for around £30m, according to reports.

M&B sells Hollywood Bowl

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:20:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers has sold its 24 Hollywood Bowl sites to AMF Bowling for £39m as part of its move to dispose of non-core assets.

G1 splashes £5.7m on site

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:15:00 GMT

Glasgow pub and bar operator G1 Group is spending an unprecedented £5.7m on a dramatic transformation of the Corinthian.

M&B sells 15 franchise pubs

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:04:00 GMT

Managed operator Mitchells & Butlers has accepted individual offers for 15 pubs from 13 franchisees.

Kurnia Group to downsize pub estate

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:45:00 GMT

Lincolnshire operator Kurnia Group is looking to downsize its seven-strong pub estate to concentrate on its property and training portfolio.

The Glee Club buys fourth site

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:19:00 GMT

The Glee Club has acquired its fourth site after obtaining the leasehold interest of the ex-Bar Risa/Jongleurs in Nottingham.

TM Steaks reopens Chequers

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:12:00 GMT

Multi-site operator TM Steaks has opened its third Brakspear pub — the iconic Chequers in Marlow, Bucks.

Wetherspoon snaps up Cornish pub

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:02:00 GMT

JD Wetherspoon has just bought a pub in Cornwall, and confirmed that two more sites will be opening in August.

Wadworth expands into Devon

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:51:00 GMT

Wiltshire-based brewer and operator Wadworth has acquired the Black Horse at Sowton, near Exeter — its first pub in Devon.

Roper acquires iTradeNetwork

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:44:00 GMT

US firm Roper has acquired online ordering company iTradeNetwork for around £338.5m ($525m).

Zonal acquires Freshnet Systems

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:21:00 GMT

EPoS till provider Zonal has acquired online ordering company Freshnet Systems — it allows ordering of fresh goods.

Luminar in debt talks

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:11:00 GMT

Luminar nightclub group is believed to be in preliminary discussions with some of the big accountancy firms about how to address banking issues.

Orchid acquires Peeping Tom in Coventry

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:40:00 GMT

Orchid has bought the freehold of the Peeping Tom in Coventry and plans to convert the site to its Value Carvery format.

Jongleurs to open nine more comedy clubs this year

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 10:15:00 GMT

Comedy club operator Jongleurs has unveiled plans to open nine new clubs nationwide later this year.

Cougar Leisure to sell 11 pubs and bars

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:07:00 GMT

Brannigans owner Cougar Leisure is selling off 11 of its 14 pubs and bars for a combined total of £5.7m.

Be At One plans eight new cocktail bars

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:29:00 GMT

London cocktail bar operator Be At One plans to almost double the size of its estate inside two years.

M&B sets franchise pubs sale deadline

Thu, 27 May 2010 02:15:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has given its franchisees until Wednesday 30 June to submit “full and final offers” to buy the freeholds of their pubs.

Capital aims for three pub openings

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:58:00 GMT

Capital Pub Company will open up to three pubs this year after shaving around £5m from its debts.

JW Lees buys two ex-Mercury pubs

Mon, 24 May 2010 11:22:00 GMT

North West brewer and pub operator JW Lees has acquired two ex-Mercury Inns pubs out of administration.

Hall & Woodhouse’s £3m deli-pub

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:43:00 GMT

Brewer and retailer Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) is set to open a £3m flagship development in Bath on Wednesday 2 June.

Enterprise bosses net £580k from share sale

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns directors sold shares worth around £580,000 last week, following a rise in the share price.

Britvic: profit up, plans to buy rival

Tue, 18 May 2010 08:15:00 GMT

Britvic, the UK-based soft drinks producer, today reported a 39% increase in profit before tax and plans to buy Fruité Entreprises.

Ex-Greene King boss heads new pubco

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:13:00 GMT

Former Greene King tenanted pub boss David Elliott is heading a new pubco with plans to take on 200 sites within 12 to 18 months.

Marston’s to open first ‘Magnum’ pub

Fri, 07 May 2010 07:03:00 GMT

Marston’s managed division, Inns & Taverns, is to open its first managed pub in a larger format it calls “Magnum”, at a location in Dover.

Barworks snaps up Living Room site

Fri, 07 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Barworks, the London-based late-night operator behind the Electricity Showrooms in Hoxton Square, has acquired its 12th site.

Thurlby opens eighth pub

Fri, 07 May 2010 06:48:00 GMT

Lincolnshire multi-site operator Michael Thurlby has opened his eighth pub — the latest site is in Newark, Notts.

Webb set to open sixth Brighton site

Thu, 06 May 2010 11:34:00 GMT

Serial entrepreneur Martin Webb is set to open his sixth Brighton pub in September — the Portland is on track to open in September.

Punch to sell 36-strong pub package

Tue, 04 May 2010 02:57:00 GMT

Punch Taverns hopes to raise in excess of £36m from the sale of a 36-strong package of its managed pubs.

Bay Restaurant Group up for sale

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:52:00 GMT

The Bay Restaurant Group, which operates La Tasca and Ha Ha Bar and Grill, has been put up for sale.

Global Brands acquires Inspirit Brands

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:36:00 GMT

Global Brands has acquired Inspirit Brands as it looks to move into the premium end of the market.

M&B hires Sapient to sell 300 pubs

Tue, 04 May 2010 07:49:00 GMT

Managed operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has hired boutique finance firm Sapient Corporate Finance to sell 300 or so wet-led pubs, according to reports.

Fluid Movement buys first bar

Tue, 04 May 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Fledgling bar operator Fluid Movement has bought its first site — the firm also operates a bar consultancy service.

C&C sells spirits division to William Grant

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:37:00 GMT

C&C Group, the Irish drinks producer behind Magners cider, has sold its spirits and liqueurs division to William Grant.

JDW snaps up three hotels

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:32:00 GMT

Managed operator JD Wetherspoon is buying three hotels as part of its plan to open 50 pubs a year for the next five years.

Old Gales site to be redeveloped

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:30:00 GMT

The old Gales brewery site in Horndean — now owned by Fuller’s — is set to be the subject of a £20m redevelopment scheme.

Community group plans to buy pub

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:05:00 GMT

A community group is hoping to buy an Enterprise Inns pub in Otley to transform it into a state-of-the-art music and arts centre.

Roberts buys Rose Valley pub

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 07:03:00 GMT

A Norfolk pub entrepreneur has bought her fourth pub — Sarah-Jane Roberts has acquired the Rose Valley Tavern in Norwich.

Fiveeightzero opens three pubs with M&B

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:04:00 GMT

London-based multiple operator Fiveeightzero is opening three more sites in partnership with Mitchells & Butlers.

Castle Rock to triple brewing capacity

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:48:00 GMT

Castle Rock Brewery, the Nottingham real ale brewer and pub operator, is to triple its capacity following a £600,000 investment in a new brewery.

Tradeteam secures C&C Group distribution deal

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:11:00 GMT

Drinks logistics firm Tradeteam has secured a five-year deal with Magners producer C&C Group in Northern Ireland.

Ex-Adnams man unveils first pub

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:46:00 GMT

A former Adnams employee who set up his own brewery three years ago has now opened his first pub.

Sceptre Leisure to focus on pub market

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:10:00 GMT

Preston-based amusement machine provider Sceptre Leisure ha sold its Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) rental business.

Batemans buys pub at auction

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:07:00 GMT

Batemans, the independent family-run Brewery based in Lincolnshire, has bought the Cross Roads Inn pub, East Barkwith, at auction.

Plans for US-type community bars

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:42:00 GMT

Tim Bacon, the founder of Living Room bar and restaurant chain, is to launch a new concept in the West Kirby district of Wirral next month.

Country Food adds fourth freehold pub

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:11:00 GMT

Country Food & Dining (CFD), the farm shop and restaurant concept headed by Firkin pubs founder David Bruce, has secured its fourth freehold.

Ex-barrister set to open fifth pub

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 07:05:00 GMT

A retired barrister is to open her fifth pub — Maggie Van Hagen is set to reopen former Punch pub the Manor Arms, in Burton, Hampshire.

Enterprise sells six London pubs

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:45:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns raised just over £8.5m from the sale of six prime London sites, following an Allsops Commercial sale in London.

Mitchells & Butlers to sell up to 300 pubs

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:07:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers is likely to sell between 10 and 15% of its estate — 200 to 300 wet-led pubs — to fund investment in growing key food-led brands.

M&B to 'rapidly reshape' to food-led

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:22:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers is to “rapidly reshape” into a food-led business and plans a withdrawal from the more price sensitive drinks-led business.

Cavendish opens fourth Wahoo Bar

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:17:00 GMT

Cavendish Bars is opening its fourth Wahoo Bar & Grill site at the former Bar Risa, Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford.

Marston’s trims managed tail

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:41:00 GMT

Marston’s Inns and Taverns, the managed arm of the brewer and pub operator, has engaged on a tail trimming exercise.

Sanzaru launches new karaoke bar concept

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Sanzaru is launching its first venue — an Asian-inspired lounge and karaoke bar — in Clapham this week.

Enterprise Inns to auction off 11 NE pubs

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:21:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns hopes to raise £1.175m by auctioning off 11 freehold pubs with vacant possession in the North East.

Admiral Taverns confirms sale of 150 pubs

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:06:00 GMT

Admiral Taverns has broken its long silence and confirmed that it is selling 150 pubs, spread across England and Wales.

Salisbury Pubs buys fifth site

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:24:00 GMT

Multiple operator Salisbury Pubs has bought its fifth pub — the Black Horse in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire.

S&NPC puts 43 pubs on the market

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:12:00 GMT

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company (S&NPC) is putting 43 pubs across England and Wales up for sale this week through Fleurets.

Enterprise Inns sells five pubs at auction

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:42:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns sold the freeholds of five out of eight London pubs included in a Cushman & Wakefield auction yesterday, raising around £8.12m.

Ever So Sensible plans restaurant expansion

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:38:00 GMT

Ever So Sensible, the Nottingham-based pub and restaurant group, has launched a new Tiki-bar concept in the city.