General News Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

Pub trade survey: win £500

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMT

One lucky reader stands the chance to win £500 just by answering a few simple questions as part of an industry survey.

Enterprise defends tenants’ treatment

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:10:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns has defended its treatment of tenants after new figures show 17 of the 30 “serious” licensee complaints against pubcos were from Enterprise tenants.

Lighter offering from Aspall Cyder

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:10:00 GMT

Aspall is targeting women and first-time premium cider drinkers with a new lighter and “more accessible” alternative to mainstream brands.

VAT-cut drive reaches NI

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The campaign to cut VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry has now reached Northern Ireland and received the backing of Brighton and Hove City Council.

Cask Marque boosts ale celebration

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:50:00 GMT

Cask Marque is investing £50,000 in creating the ‘World’s Biggest Ale Trail’ during National Cask Ale Week, using the ‘Caskfinder’ smartphone app.

Ex-Tchenguiz pubs in admin

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:49:00 GMT

Administrators have been appointed to a further 37 pubs that were formerly part of Robert Tchenguiz’s pub property empire.

Imbiba eyes capital deals

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:48:00 GMT

Investment company Imbiba Partnership has made an approach for the seven-strong Black & Blue business.

Punch Taverns: trading in line

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:30:00 GMT

Leased and tenanted pub company Punch Taverns has reported fourth quarter trading is in line with expectations.

Spirit like-for-likes up 3.8%

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:28:00 GMT

Managed pub company Spirit has reported like-for-like sales in its managed division grew by 3.8% for the 12 weeks to 20 August.

Anchor & Hope is top London bar restaurant

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:31:00 GMT

The Anchor & Hope has retained its position as London’s Best Bar/Pub Food in the new Harden’s Restaurant Guide.

Still time to apply for Pub Mentors

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:10:00 GMT

Pub Mentors has been launched by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser and Coca-Cola Enterprise’s Open More Business to help four pubs build their businesses.

Villagers' petition to save local pub

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:01:00 GMT

A village group has protested against Greene King’s application for planning permission to turn a village pub into housing.

Geronimo transformation for Half Moon

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Young’s music pub the Half Moon in Putney, London, is set to be transformed into a Geronimo Inns site.

Number of pub visits falls

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:45:00 GMT

Consumers are cutting back the number of visits they make to pubs and bars, because of rising taxes, falling disposable incomes and job security.

Six Sunderland bars on the market

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:29:00 GMT

Six Sunderland pubs and bars run by four local operators, two of which have fallen into administration, have been placed on the market.

BBPA defends pubcos after new study

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:59:00 GMT

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has defended pubcos treatment of tenants after they were slammed in a report from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Northern Irish pubs face tough choices

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:06:00 GMT

Pubs in Northern Ireland face some tough choices over the coming year as a new survey revealed two-thirds had seen a drop in trade over the past year. Pubs of Ulster trade group reported that 16% had seen a drop of 20-30% in trade over the past year.

ASA rules Kronenbourg ad 'misleading'

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:04:00 GMT

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that a national press advert for Kronenbourg implying it is brewed in France is “misleading”.

Scotland minimum pricing talks expected in weeks

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:33:00 GMT

Interparty talks on the implementation of a minimum pricing scheme in Scotland are due to get under way at Holyrood within weeks.

Aberdeen pubs face CCTV costs

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Late night pubs and clubs in Aberdeen are being forced to follow stricter CCTV guidelines, including installing cameras with lip-synching technology.

100-plus Punch pubs sign up to SIBA

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

More than 100 Punch Taverns pubs are stocking locally sourced beers just six weeks after the roll out to their estate of the SIBA Direct Delivery Scheme.

Living Ventures’ first pub

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Living Ventures Management will open its first pub, the Oast House in Manchester, at the end of September.

Rent concessions down at Adnams

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Adnams, the Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator, has revealed that rent concessions for tenants have fallen in the past year.

Madonna’s dance off with Smirnoff

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Smirnoff has teamed up with Madonna to get 10 million people to share and swap their most original nightlife experiences across 50 countries.

Dining out costs rise 11%

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

A London gastropub operator has said that the increased cost of dining out in London, just over 11%, had been “inevitable”.

Jägermeister acts on 'passing off' at bars

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:24:00 GMT

The maker of Jägermeister, the herbal liqueur brand, has warned five bars to stop passing off other products as Jägermeister or face legal action.

'Per drink surcharge' could help fund councils

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:43:00 GMT

The Liberal Democrats have cited a 'per drink surcharge' as a possible means of covering the costs that drinkers impose on local councils.

Host slams Punch internet charge

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:52:00 GMT

A licensee has hit out at Punch Taverns for charging £25 for every internet money transfer she makes to pay her rent and other fees.

M&B wins licence conditions case

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:48:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has won a ground-breaking appeal against a premises licence condition.

46% of tied tenants earn under £15k pa

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:11:00 GMT

Forty six per cent of tied pub tenants earn less than £15,000 per year, more than twice the proportion among free-of-tie licensees.

Beds and Bars in BII link-up to take people off dole

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Beds and Bars has teamed up with the BII to take 20 people off the dole, train them and place them in pub jobs.

Father’s Study pub concept

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:46:00 GMT

Bloomsbury Leisure Group, the company led by Jonathan Dalton, is to launch a new pub concept called Father’s Study, later this year in London.

Liberation seeks new sites

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:30:00 GMT

Liberation Group, the Jersey-based pub and drinks business, is setting its sights on new pub acquisitions on the Channel Islands.

'Augustus Macsimus' is winning name for McMullen beer

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:30:00 GMT

McMullen has named Augustus Macsimus as the winning name for its August seasonal beer, after 3,000 drinkers took part in a competition.

JD Wetherspoon opens fifth Gatwick site

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:29:00 GMT

JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has opened its fifth site at Gatwick Airport – The Beehive bar and restaurant.

Apply now for Rugby World Cup licences

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:06:00 GMT

Licensees are being advised to submit temporary event notices in advance of the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on 9 September.

Stonegate pub refuses alcohol to parents with kids

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:41:00 GMT

Two women were left shocked last week when staff at a Stonegate pub in London deemed it “inappropriate” for them to drink in front of their children.

PMA launches Pub Mentors

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:01:00 GMT

A groundbreaking scheme — Pub Mentors — has been launched by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA) and Coca-Cola Enterprise’s Open More Business to help four pubs build their businesses.

BII: time to do deal with Government

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:01:00 GMT

BII boss Neil Robertson believes the industry “can do a deal” with the Government to lay off it in return for providing employment opportunities.

Scarborough LVA backs earlier pub closing times

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Scarborough’s Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA) is supporting a campaign to revise licensing hours.

Average pint breaks £3 barrier

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The average cost of a pint has now broken the £3 barrier — that's according to the BBPA's Statistical Handbook.

Young couple step in at Arkells pub

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:51:00 GMT

Arkells Brewery has saved another of its rural pubs from possible closure with the help of its brewery community liaison officer.

£96k pre-tax profit for Wear Inns

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:50:00 GMT

North-east England-based pub operator Wear Inns turned around a loss to report a pre-tax profit of £96,931 in the year to 31 March 2011.

Brighton pub freed from Greene King beer tie

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:12:00 GMT

Greene King has released the beer tie at a famous Brighton pub in order to keep two well known and successful licensees at the venue.

Support grows for pub VAT cut

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:03:00 GMT

More than 1,700 people have signed a petition to the Government, submitted by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser (PMA), calling for VAT to be reduced to 5% for the hospitality sector.

Licensees forced to lower flag

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Two licensees have been forced to take down a Hungarian flag outside their pub after suffering repeated threats of violence.

Banks grant Luminar further extension

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:09:00 GMT

The banking group behind Luminar has agreed to a three-month extension to the covenant waiver it arranged with the nightclub operator in May.

Diageo: Great Britain volumes flat

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:01:00 GMT

Drinks giant Diageo has reported a small market share loss in beer and wine in Great Britain but was flat overall.

Major firms back latest riot help fund

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:15:00 GMT

Major UK businesses and London mayor Boris Johnson have pledged fresh funding for “emergency financial assistance”.

TV chef launches e-petition to amend smoking ban

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

TV chef and publican Antony Worrall Thompson has launched an e-petition calling on the government to review the smoking ban.

McDonald's trials English Pub Burger in US

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:59:00 GMT

McDonald’s is trialling an “English Pub Burger” in America, according to media reports from the US.

Gov’t creates new enterprise zones

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:37:00 GMT

New pubs and bars in parts of Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Essex and Kent are set to have lower business rates.

UKIP and JFL petition for investigation into pub trade

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:26:00 GMT

The UK Independence Party and Justice for Licensees are petitioning the government for a Royal Commission investigation into the pub trade.

Gary Haigh takes over at Miller Brands UK

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:51:00 GMT

Miller Brands UK, the UK arm of international brewer SABMiller, has appointed Gary Haigh as its new managing director.

BII launches support events for newcomers

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:02:00 GMT

The BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) has launched a new set of support events for newcomers into the licensed trade.

Shorthouse to join Colliers from Christie

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Colliers International has appointed James Shorthouse from rival agent Christie + Co, to the role of head of licensed and leisure.

Christmas party venue decided by price per head

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:58:00 GMT

Venue choices for Christmas meals out will be decided by spend per head, according to research by The Mystery Dining Company (TMDC).

Restaurant Show: unmissable tips and advice

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:43:00 GMT

The Restaurant Show 2011 has launched and will provide unmissable tips, business advice and inspiration for pub chefs and operators.

Leisure sector 'will drive economic growth'

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:04:00 GMT

Businesses view the hospitality and leisure sector as a key driver of economic growth in the UK over the next decade.

Wi-Fi boost for Heineken stockists

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:57:00 GMT

Heineken UK is to rollout free Wi-Fi to 500 “beacon” Heineken stockist bars over the next 18 months.

Commercial leases 'the most flexible ever'

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:38:00 GMT

Commercial landlords are offering “the most flexible lease regimes ever”, leading to a greater take-up of longer leases. That’s according to the British Property Federation’s (BPF) Annual Lease Review for the Mary Portas high street review.

Barracuda unveils Smith & Jones rebrand

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:02:00 GMT

Managed pub operator Barracuda is to rebrand all its 161 Smith & Jones outlets in a bid to make the brand as well recognised as any others.

Leisure sector 'latent vehicle for growth'

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:01:00 GMT

The leisure sector is a “latent vehicle for economic growth” providing 27% of jobs undertaken by young people, says BISL.

Parliamentary groups back Brewing Centre bid

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:58:00 GMT

The chairmen of two influential pub and beer groups for MPs have lent their support to the National Brewing Centre's bid to set up as a trust company.

Cut VAT to 5%: sign the official petition

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:57:00 GMT

The PMA's official petition calling for a reduction in VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry has gained huge momentum.

Sir John Fitzgerald reports £1.4m loss

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:25:00 GMT

North-east managed pub operator Sir John Fitzgerald (SJF) has reported a loss of £1,437,321 in the year to 31 January 2011.

Greene King’s Capital bid unconditional

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:41:00 GMT

Greene King’s bid to acquire Capital Pub Company, in a £70m deal, has been declared wholly unconditional.

Sixty firms back Drinkaware campaign

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:34:00 GMT

Sixty companies have agreed to get involved in the third year of Drinkaware’s alcohol awareness campaign — Why Let Good Times Go Bad?

Energy ombudsman gives pub time to pay

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:10:00 GMT

A licensee in Devon is paying electricity bills totalling £87,000 to energy company Scottish Power after a ruling by the Energy Ombudsman.

Worthington's new head brewer announced

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Molson Coors has announced that Jim Appelbee will succeed Steve Wellington as William Worthington’s head brewer.

Further growth for Faucet

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Faucet Inn is planning further acquisitions and is to open its first new-build sites before the end of the year.

Scottish council backs anti-violence campaign

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Licensing officers in North Ayrshire have become the first in Scotland to support a national campaign to crack down on alcohol-fuelled violence.

Drinks firms asked for labelling updates

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:57:00 GMT

Drinks companies will be asked to give annual updates on how they have complied with alcohol labelling commitments made with the Government.

Christie appoints Owens to valuation role

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:35:00 GMT

Christie + Co, the licensed property agent, has appointed Stephen Owens as head of the company’s corporate pubs, bars and restaurants valuation and advisory team.

Three Tuns aims for five

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:55:00 GMT

Fast-growing Shropshire brewery the Three Tuns has revealed plans to operate an estate of five pubs after opening its first outlet.

Whitbread to sell Premier Inn sites

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:46:00 GMT

Whitbread is to sell seven Premier Inn sites to real-estate investment firm LaSalle Investment Management for £53.8m in a sale and leaseback deal.

Jim Walsh funeral details released

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:17:00 GMT

The funeral of respected pub operator and industry figure Jim Walsh will take place next Wednesday, 24 August at 1.30pm at Ampleforth Abbey in York.

Hosts hail freehold deals

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:16:00 GMT

Licensees who bought their freeholds from Punch Taverns two years ago say the move has paid off with bigger profits being achieved.

Blue Star Pub Co pays down £14m

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Blue Star Pub Company, the 400-strong freehold tenanted pub firm owned by Heineken, has paid down £14m of its original £180m purchase price.

Licensee to pay £14,509 electricity bill

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

A licensee in Cornwall has reached an out-of-court settlement with energy company Opus to pay electricity bills worth over £14,000.

Milk vending machine a great hit at pub

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

A licensee in Staffordshire has installed a vending machine outside his pub after the local council refused him permission to open a shop on the premises.

Adnams: variable first half

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:14:00 GMT

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Adnams has reported a “variable” first half of 2011 due to a "rollercoaster" of consumer confidence.

Fresh help for riot-hit London firms

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:25:00 GMT

Riot-hit pubs in Croydon and Tottenham could be entitled to extra business rates relief under the new £20m London Enterprise Fund.

Pub sales suffer in wake of riots

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The rioting that took place across the UK last week led to an unwelcome dent in trade for pubs in affected areas, with some sites reporting sales falls of up to 40%. That’s according to the Publican’s Morning Advertiser survey of pubco bosses.

Charles Wells vows to boost support

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Charles Wells Pub Company has promised to improve its support network for licensees, including increasing the ratio of RDMs.

Host gets apology from British Gas

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

British Gas has apologised for charging a licensee £20,000 after telling him that his pub “looked like it used a lot of electricity”.

Heineken unveils new two-thirds glass

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Heineken UK is to launch a range of two-thirds pint glasses to trade customers from November 2011.

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.

Non-execs unveiled by Redcomb

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Redcomb Pubs, the company founded by former M&B marketing executive Dan Shotton, has appointed two senior non-executive directors.

BII pub apprenticeship call

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:57:00 GMT

A new government-funded apprenticeship scheme launched by BII and People 1st yesterday has been lauded as “the answer" to establishing the pub industry as a viable career path for young people.

Livebookings takes on Groupon

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:34:00 GMT

Online table reservation company Livebookings has launched a new daily deals website in a bid to take on Groupon in the restaurant and pub sector.

Liberation buys drinks firm JJ Le Sueur

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:17:00 GMT

Liberation Group, the Channel Islands pub and drinks business, is set to buy Jersey-based wines and spirits distributor JJ Le Sueur.

Carlsberg sees 7% drop in UK volumes

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:09:00 GMT

Carlsberg has reported a 7% drop in UK volumes on last year for the six months to 30 June due to a tough comparable period.

Riot hit pubs: get your rates appeal in now

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:02:00 GMT

Pubs that have been affected during the riots are being urged to lodge appeals with their local Valuation Office for a reduction in business rates.

SABMiller makes £6bn Foster's bid

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:52:00 GMT

SABMiller has made a public statement about its hostile takeover bid for Foster’s Group for A$4.90 per share.

Riots: website and telephone line launched

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:11:00 GMT

The Government has set up a website and telephone line for businesses seeking compensation for riot damage.

Riots: pubs vow to 'buy a bobby a beer'

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:01:00 GMT

Pubs across London have joined a campaign called 'Buy a Bobby a Beer' — pledging to thank the emergency services for their help during the riots.

Licence reviews up 19%; fall in revocations

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:37:00 GMT

The number of alcohol licence reviews in the on-trade increased 19% last year, fuelled by a rising number of requests from police.

Pubs and restaurants see 1% rise in July

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:24:00 GMT

Despite unhelpful weather and the continuing squeeze on consumer spending, pubs reported a slight rise in like-for-like sales in July.

Jim Walsh passes away

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:10:00 GMT

Renowned and highly respected pub operator and industry figure Jim Walsh has passed away following a long illness.