General News Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

New Bill to protect threatened pubs

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Campaigning MP Greg Mulholland has introduced a Bill in Parliament to give extra protection to stop facilities such as pubs disappearing.

IPC: we are true voice of pub trade

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:59:00 GMT

The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) told MPs it represented the true voice of the pub trade at a meeting last night.

BrewDog complains about own beer

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:56:00 GMT

Scottish brewer BrewDog lodged a complaint about its own beer with Portman Group, managing director James Watt has revealed.

WSTA urges duty cut on wine and spirits

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:42:00 GMT

The WSTA is urging the Treasury to cut duty rates on wine and spirits when it restores VAT to 17.5% at the end of the year.

Star Inn re-opens after norovirus outbreak

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:03:00 GMT

The Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley, in North Yorkshire, has re-opened following an outbreak of the norovirus.

Lords vote for pub cigarette machine ban

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:40:00 GMT

A total ban on cigarette vending machines looks almost inevitable after Lords rejected an attempt to stop it.

MP slams BBPA over pub code debate refusal

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:55:00 GMT

A pro-pub tenant MP has slammed the British Beer and Pub Association for refusing to debate its new industry code of practice in public.

Oyster card style payments in pubs

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:54:00 GMT

Pub customers will soon be able to pay for a pint with Oyster style credit or debit cards without the fuss of entering a pin number.

Pubwatch welcomes cautions review

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:54:00 GMT

National Pubwatch urges Government to ensure its review of the use of cautions for violence will mean proper justice for attacked licensees.

M&B pubs have the X-Factor

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:53:00 GMT

Mitchells and Butlers, the managed pub operator, is showing the X-Factor on big screens at its Scream pubs on Saturday nights.

Enterprise to raise £10m more at auction

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:46:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns is hoping to raise a further £10m by selling the freeholds of seven pubs at an Allsops auction planned for 3 December.

Social gambling advice for pubs at BII event

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:42:00 GMT

The BII is hosting a presentation for pubs and clubs on social gambling and the perils of irresponsible gambling.

M&B denies blanket 90 days' payment

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers has denied that it is moving to a blanket policy of introducing 90 days’ payment for suppliers.

Abbey Inns adds fourth pub

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:36:00 GMT

Abbey Inns has taken a fourth pub in its home city of Bath — it’s added the pub next door to its brewery, Bath’s famous jazz pub, Ye Old Farmhouse.

Pubwatch campaign backed by top prosecutor

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Calls from the country’s top prosecutor to end the use of cautions for serious assaults could help the fight for justice for licensees who are attacked.

'Minimum pricing right way forward'

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:31:00 GMT

Minimum pricing is not a panacea but can be effective as part of a broader strategy on alcohol, according to Alcohol Focus Scotland.

TCG to re-open nine pubs after revamp

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Managed pub company Tattershall Castle Group is re-opening nine sites in as many weeks after refurbishments.

GMB eyes pub rent strikes

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:51:00 GMT

The GMB Union says it will ballot members on the possibility of industrial action to secure a better deal for pub tenants.

Camra campaigns to re-open seven Bristol pubs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:18:00 GMT

The Campaign for Real Ale has begun a campaign to re-open seven well-known Bristol pubs that are currently boarded up.

M&B trials new 'premium' Harvester

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:55:00 GMT

Mitchells & Butlers is trialling a new premium menu at the 160-strong Harvester chain — the trial is taking place at Morden in Surrey.

Eclectic Bars reports profit boost

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:31:00 GMT

Eclectic Bars has reported total sales for the 12 months to the end of June 2009 up 19% on last year.

Victoria is top Fuller's pub

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:09:00 GMT

The Victoria on Stratheam Place, London has been named Fuller's pub of the year for achieving the best standards across the business.

OFT offers to meet Mulholland

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:51:00 GMT

The OFT has offered to meet with Greg Mulholland MP to fully explain its decision to give the pubco model a clean bill of health.

Blow to Scotland alcohol minimum pricing plans

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:57:00 GMT

Plans to introduce a minimum price on alcohol in Scotland suffered a further significant blow yesterday.

RPI – Recurring Pubco Income or Really Painful Increases?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:38:00 GMT

Tenants new and old need to understand what RPI means to their business and their income, says Bar Group chief executive Paul Wigham.

Pub rent RPI: the softly-softly approach

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:30:00 GMT

An unthinking approach to RPI rent increases will cause pressure in pub estates, particularly as inflation is likely to return next year.

CAMRA to challenge OFT pub ruling

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:00:00 GMT

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is to launch a challenge to the Office of Fair Trading investigation that gave the pubco model a clean bill of health.

Pro-pub MPs demand OFT investigation

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:38:00 GMT

A pro-pub tenants group of MPs is demanding a formal investigation into the Office of Fair Trading's study that gave the beer tie a clean bill of health.

Doom Bar buoys Sharp's

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:33:00 GMT

Cornish brewery Sharp’s saw turnover growth of 36% in 2008 driven principally by a “tremendous demand” for its Doom Bar brand.

Pub stings for sales to drunks

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:29:00 GMT

Sting operations targeting sales to drunks in pubs are to run in selected parts of the country as the festive season approaches.

Lowlander in pre-pack restructure

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Lowlander, the fledgling Belgian beer concept, has been restructured via a pre-pack administration.

BBPA pub code: offering greater clarity

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:51:00 GMT

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, answers 14 questions on how its new code of practice will change the pubco-tenant relationship.

Supermarkets demand Oldham meeting

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:51:00 GMT

Supermarket chiefs are calling for an "urgent meeting" with Oldham council about its new crackdown on the off-trade.

S&NUK to roll out alcohol-unit glasses

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:00 GMT

Scottish & Newcastle UK is to be the first major brewer to carry alcohol unit information on all its glassware.

Wellington sees 2.6% EBITDA fall

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Wellington Pub Company, the 829-strong free-of-tie pub company, has seen a 2.6% decline in Ebitda.

Drug-bust pub had illegal tenant

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:47:00 GMT

A pub at the centre of a £500,000 drugs bust was being operated by an illegally-assigned tenant without landlord Wellington Pub Company’s knowledge.

Sky plans new pub fee system

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:37:00 GMT

Sky’s new system for calculating pub fees is to be in place by the time new business rates take effect next April, the broadcaster says.

New music promoter qualification gets industry approval

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:01:00 GMT

A new qualification for promoters, being developed by BIIAB and the Met Police, gets approval from the music industry.

Kemp takes up top role at De Vere Hotels

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:03:00 GMT

Deborah Kemp, the former head of Punch Taverns leased division, has been appointed chief operating officer at De Vere Hotels and Resorts.

Clubs fined for TV satellite screenings

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:26:00 GMT

A crackdown is underway on private members clubs that show foreign satellite football — two clubs have already been fined.

Bumper month of sport for pubs on Sky

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:43:00 GMT

Sky Sports has urged bars and pubs to not miss out on the bumper months of sport available in November.

Oldham gets tough on supermarket booze

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:34:00 GMT

Supermarkets which sell alcohol for less than 50p per unit face licence reviews and a range of trading restrictions in plans being drawn up by Oldham council.

Pubs get New Year's Eve VAT concession

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:28:00 GMT

Pubs that open past midnight on New Year's Eve can continue to charge 15% VAT on sales until the early hours of 1 January.

MPs toast National Pub Week

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:39:00 GMT

MPs and industry groups gathered for a pint in Westminster to mark National Pub Week today.

Mass pub foreign satellite case ruling out

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:20:00 GMT

A group of 26 licensees from 19 pubs across the country will now each face magistrates over charges of using foreign satellite systems.

BII helps pub tenant secure £30k rebate

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:37:00 GMT

The BII managed to secure a £30,000 rebate cheque for a tenant after investigating a code of practice breach by a pubco.

Mulholland slams Chancellor over pub VAT rises

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:06:00 GMT

Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland has slammed the Chancellor over his token gesture to delay the VAT rise until the morning of 1 January.

Marston’s pub offers 50p meals

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:31:00 GMT

Licensee Tony Rabbitts, of Marston’s leasehold the Four Crosses, in Hatherton, Staffordshire, is offering his £1 meals for 50p.

Three-quarters use pub discount vouchers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:26:00 GMT

A new survey has claimed three-quarters used a promotional discount voucher at a pub or restaurant in the past 12 months.

Marston's rewards thriving pub

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:05:00 GMT

Marston's licensee David Ward has scooped a prize worth more than £1,500 for thriving in the tough economic climate.

Sales flat at JD Wetherspoon

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:34:00 GMT

JD Wetherspoon has reported a small increase in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 25 October.

Pubs urged to act as youth clubs

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:32:00 GMT

Pubs in south Cambridgeshire are being urged to act as youth clubs for local youngsters under a new scheme.

Luff 'suspicious' of pubco promises

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:20:00 GMT

Peter Luff gives his view as his committee announce a new probe into recent industry promises to improve the lot of tenants.

8,000 pubs join £2m Coke driving campaign

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:29:00 GMT

The number of pubs participating in Coca-Cola’s Designated Driver initiative has swelled to 8,000, and this year a £2m campaign will also back the scheme.

Tattershall Castle adopts local beer scheme

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Managed pub operator Tattershall Castle Group (TCG) is to start sourcing local beers through SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS).

RICS rent reform 'won't be rushed'

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:04:00 GMT

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) says it won't rush to give a timetable for implementing changes to make the pub rent-setting process more transparent.

Marston's to open second site with Travelodge

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:02:00 GMT

Marston’s is to open its second site in partnership with the budget hotel operator Travelodge in Wadebridge in Cornwall.

Luff sceptical over pubco ability to change

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:01:00 GMT

The MP behind the highly critical Business and Enterprise Committee report into pubcos says he is “sceptical” about the ability of pubcos to implement change in the industry. Peter Luff said he must be convinced the BBPA code can stick.

Lincolnshire pub triumphs at LTC golf day

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:16:00 GMT

A team from the George pub at Langwith, Lincolnshire, triumphed in the final of the annual Licensed Trade Charity golf tournament.

GMB demo against eviction of Admiral Taverns tenant

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:38:00 GMT

The GMB trade union is to hold a demonstration against the eviction of an Admiral Taverns tenant, who has been at his pub for 17 years.

Bank plan boost for pubs

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:54:00 GMT

The Government’s plan to set up three or more new banks may make it easier for pubs to access funding, experts predict.

Irish pub trade in 'freefall'

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:06:00 GMT

Over 1,500 pubs, clubs and restaurants have closed in Ireland over the past five years costing thousands of jobs, according to a new survey.

Pubs diversify as recession bites

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:47:00 GMT

The vast majority of licensees have tried new ideas to boost business — particularly around food — as the recession bites, a new survey shows. A huge 94% have done so over the past 12 months, according to a survey of BII members.

Cobra Beer looks to raise £4.5m in India

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Cobra Beer founder Lord Karan Bilimoria is planning to raise £4.5m to expand in India, according to reports.

Heavy drinkers pay 34p a unit

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:31:00 GMT

Heavy drinkers are paying just 34p for a unit of alcohol — primarily from supermarkets — a new study has revealed.

St Austell ups capacity for Celtic Beer Festival

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:04:00 GMT

Cornish brewer St Austell is to hold its biggest ever Celtic Beer Festival at the end of the month.

BrewDog gets personal on beers

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:32:00 GMT

Scottish micro-brewer BrewDog has launched a new website, which will allow users to personalise beer labels.

BII launches new gambling qualification

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:11:00 GMT

The BII has launched a new training qualification aimed at ,making staff aware of their responsibilities around gambling legislation.

Enter Great British Pub Food Awards

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:04:00 GMT

Pub chefs have just days left to enter the Great British Pub Food Awards 2010. The closing date for entries is 6 November.

S&NPE’s Star & Garter fetches £3.4m at auction

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises sold the freehold of landmark Thames-side pub the Star & Garter at Putney for £3.4m.

Jongleurs name reverts to founder

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:45:00 GMT

Intertain, the company which acquired the majority of Regent Inns’ outlets following its pre-pack administration, is to lose the licence for Jongleurs.

Payne: beer tie not terminal

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:27:00 GMT

Bay Restaurant Group and of Town & City Pub Company chairman Ian Payne said he believes the beer tie is not the problem.

Barracuda: ‘new pub openings unlikely’

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Managed operator Barracuda, led by Mark McQuater, has indicated that new openings are unlikely in the short term, given market conditions.

Gusto’s two tie-free sites

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Southampton-based pub group Gusto Inns has added another two sites to its portfolio, bringing its total to eight.

Taybarns unveils its Christmas offer

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Whitbread’s “ultimate eatery” Taybarns is offering customers an all-they-can-eat Christmas Day dinner at £27.50 and £12.50 for children.

Shotton branches out with own pubs

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:59:00 GMT

One of the founders of Urban & Country Leisure, Dan Shotton, has left the company to launch his own pub group.

First lager available to pubs via Direct Delivery

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:35:00 GMT

Freedom Brewery has become the first lager brewer to get involved in the Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS), which gives local brewers access to pubco estates.

Pub closed due to faulty CCTV

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:26:00 GMT

A pub closed for three days under police pressure because its CCTV cameras weren’t working.

Orchid 'to buy PBR on 30 November'

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:34:00 GMT

Industry sources report that a date of 30 November has been set for managed company Orchid to complete its acquisition of stricken Premium Bars and Restaurants.

Pub rateable values rise 23%

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:31:00 GMT

The average pub faces a 23% rise in its rateable value from 2010 — although the most they will pay is 11% more than this year’s bill. That’s according to a survey of almost 3,500 — or 10% of — leased and tenanted pubs in England and Wales.

New beer-flow kit could boost profits

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Greene King is rolling out a high-tech beer-flow monitoring system, which it says could increase tenants’ profits by “several thousands of pounds a year”.

Heineken to take over Globe

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Heineken will takeover the Globe Pub Company in late 2010 – following its £180m acquisition today by a holding company.

BBPA: cut beer tax to save pubs

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:45:00 GMT

The Government needs to cut beer tax when VAT returns to its normal level next year or face the prospect of more pubs closing. The Government missed out on £174m worth of revenue from beer duty in first nine months of year.

Loan help for pubs via new scheme

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:03:00 GMT

Licensees can access free help to secure bank loans via a new Government-backed scheme.

Watchdog vetoes test tube alcoholic drinks

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Drinks served in test tubes risk being blacklisted by Portman Group, the drinks watchdog has warned.

Tax scam targets hosts

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Licensees have been targeted in a massive internet tax scam that has hit tens of thousands of people.

Bombshell electric bills strike again

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

British Gas says it has resolved more disputes over bombshell electricity bills after the Morning Advertiser intervened.

Little Gem restructures

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Steve Wilkins, the serial bar and restaurant entrepreneur, has led a restructuring of the Little Gems Country Dining business.

BrewDog buys first pub

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:44:00 GMT

Controversial Scottish micro-brewer BrewDog has acquired its first pub — the Marischal in Aberdeen.

Heineken: beer volumes up in UK

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:43:00 GMT

Heineken has reported its beer volumes are improving in the UK market and it has increased its market share in beer and cider to around 29%.

Pubs adding service charge put off customers

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:26:00 GMT

Nearly half of all Brits (47%) are put off returning to eat at a restaurant or pub if the service charge is automatically added to the bill.

MPs back National Pub Week

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:14:00 GMT

A group of MPs have thrown their full support behind National Pub Week — the Save the Pub Group has tabled an EDM.

FPB: don't ignore small business

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:01:00 GMT

The Government must not sacrifice support for small businesses to plug the gap in public finances, the FPB has warned.

Millionaire saves pub

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:33:00 GMT

A Kent multi-millionaire who didn’t want to see his local pub turned into flats decided to buy it to safeguard its future.

Luff to meet Government over pubcos

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:15:00 GMT

The damning report by MPs into pubcos is expected to be discussed tomorrow between Consumer Affairs Minister Kevin Brennan and Peter Luff.

Wine and cider trade bodies to strengthen links

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:57:00 GMT

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is to provide management services to the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM).

Pub campaigner seeks Erin Brockovich guidance

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:31:00 GMT

Inez Ward is hoping to enlist the support of American heroine Erin Brockovich, Joanna Lumley, Baroness Thatcher and Esther Rantzen.

BrewDog searches for financial director

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:16:00 GMT

Controversial Scottish micro-brewer BrewDog is looking to appoint a financial director, following the news it is to expand.

MPs local pub makeover complete

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:21:00 GMT

MPs local the Westminster Arms has completed a £150,000 refurbishment following its acquisition by Shepherd Neame in June.

Ramsay pub snapped up by multiple

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:02:00 GMT

A pub made famous by Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares TV programme has been snapped up by a multiple operator.