General news - Pubcos Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anti-beer tie campaign nominated for award

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:02:00 GMT

The PR and lobbying firm that works for Fair Pint has been nominated for a major award for its work with the anti-pubco campaign group.

MPs welcome Independent Pub Confederation formation

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:51:00 GMT

Vociferous pub campaigner and MP Greg Mulholland has welcomed the formation of the Independent Pub Confederation.

Fair Pint focuses beer tie debate on Europe

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:47:00 GMT

Fair Pint says it’s “full steam ahead” for lobbying Europe over the beer tie despite the UK’s OFT giving the tie a clean bill of health last week.

BII: life will be much better for tenants

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:11:00 GMT

BII boss Neil Robertson believes that life will be much better for new and existing pub tenants as a result of the new code of practice for pubcos.

Attendance hike at Punch roadshows

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:56:00 GMT

Punch Taverns has reported a 12% uplift in attendance at its business boosting roadshows on last year.

IPC to create unified voice for pub trade

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:09:00 GMT

The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation is to position itself as the trade representative body for Government to talk to about all issues affecting the pub industry.

Punch to buy back remainder of bonds debt

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:39:00 GMT

Punch Taverns is to buy back the remainder of its convertible bonds a year ahead of schedule.

MP calls for Government to reject OFT pub report

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:50:00 GMT

A Labour MP has called on the Government to reject the Office of Fair Trading conclusion that the beer tie is not restricting choice and price.

Video exclusive: OFT defends beer tie decision

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:18:00 GMT

OFT senior director Simon Williams tells MATV just why it decided to take no further action on the beer tie.

New format for S&NPE in Scotland

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:51:00 GMT

S&NPE has entered into an agreement with the founder of Beanscene, the Scottish coffee chain, to launch two new branded pub concepts.

Pubco shares rise after OFT report

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:34:00 GMT

The country's two biggest tenanted and leased operators saw share prices rise yesterday after the OFT delivered its report on the beer tie.

Tenants are key to pub rent levels

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:05:00 GMT

Tim Martin argued that fraudulent property deals may have distorted high-street rents. Tim Munden of Davis Coffer Lyons, responds.

OFT: no systematic failure in pubco model

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:06:00 GMT

The OFT has recognised there may be some individual examples of poor behaviour by pubcos and tenants but there is no "systematic failure".

Darby: let's get back to business

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:19:00 GMT

Now is the time to draw a line under the pubco-tenant divide and work together to improve the trade, says Marston’s Alastair Darby.

Luff to re-convene pub inquiry committee

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:52:00 GMT

The Business and Enterprise Committee will re-convene to consider proposals put forward to provide a better deal for tenants.

BBPA to focus on reform roll-out

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:30:00 GMT

The BBPA will now press ahead with its plans to improve transparency following the OFT's decision.

Camra: Government must overrule OFT

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:58:00 GMT

The Campaign for Real Ale says the Government must overrule the Office of Fair Trading's decision to take no further action on the beer tie.

Enterprise: we'll avoid complacency despite OFT clearance

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:21:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns has vowed to avoid complacency, despite the pubco model being given a clean bill of health by the Office of Fair Trading.

Mulholland: OFT does not care about pub tenants

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:21:00 GMT

Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland has slammed the Office of Fair Trading for its "phenomenally poor" decision to take no further action on the beer tie.

Fair Pint: OFT does not understand pubco model

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:20:00 GMT

The Office of Fair Trading has proved it does not understand the pubco business model, says Fair Pint.

OFT will take no further action on pubcos

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will take no further action following the Campaign for Real Ale's super-complaint over pubcos and the beer tie. It found that the beer tie is not having an adverse impact on consumers.

Mediation: a cathartic process for all involved

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:34:00 GMT

Pubs need the freedom to succeed — ALMR chairman Nick Bish looks at the pub world post-mediation.

Pub mediation achieved a lot

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Mediation achieved more than you might think. Here’s the view of Alistair Darby, managing director of Marston’s Pub Company.

Punch pub deal done in just eight days

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:45:00 GMT

The latest Punch tenant to become a freeholder says his bank turned the deal around in just eight days.

Alternative-use pub trend to continue

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:35:00 GMT

The trend for selling pubs for alternative use will continue for another year, according to two of the country’s largest licensed property agents.

Greene King: we will work with others after BBPA exit

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:16:00 GMT

Greene King has vowed it will continue to work with others in the industry but will also focus on its own lobbying, following its exit from BBPA.

Brulines: beer flow equipment more important than ever

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:14:00 GMT

Beer flow monitoring company Brulines believes its products will become more important than ever before in a challenging trading environment.

Regent completes pre-pack administration

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:02:00 GMT

Regent Inns has gone through a pre-pack administration with 60 sites emerging in a new company, Intertain, led by previous management.

FLVA defends position on pub mediation

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:37:00 GMT

The FLVA has defended its decision to back the BBPA's moves to compel pubcos to offer a better deal for tenants rather than give full support to more wide-ranging reform.

Pub Revolution support swells

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:20:00 GMT

The Pub Revolution group, calling for a mass "beercott", claims it has had interest from 10% of the tenants in the country.

Punch boss granted share options

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:10:00 GMT

Punch boss Giles Thorley has been granted the option to buy over 1.1m shares at a price of 90p in the pubco.

Punch launches new eBusiness website

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:32:00 GMT

Punch has launched a new website, eBusiness, to help its tenants place orders online at time of their convenience.

'BBPA code no more than best practice'

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:07:00 GMT

The BBPA's new Framework Code of Practice on the Granting of Tenancies and Leases is nothing more than best practice, according to the GMV.

IPC: we represent 25,000 pub licensees

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:01:00 GMT

The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) claims to represent 25,000 licensees and is not for the total abolition of the beer tie.

Pubco protesters to march on Parliament

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:45:00 GMT

Angry tied pub tenants will march on Parliament on 7 December demanding urgent action on rents and the beer tie. The march is being organised by Justice for Licensees leader Inez Ward.

RICS to make pub rent changes

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:44:00 GMT

The tied tenant should be financially no worse off than the free of tie tenant — that is the key finding of the Royal Institute of Chartered Sureyors.

IPC welcomes RICS pub rent findings

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:46:00 GMT

The newly formed Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) has welcomed the findings of the report into the fairness of rent setting.

BII boss: we're not sitting on the fence

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:33:00 GMT

The BII is not sitting on the fence despite being the only group in support of both industry agreements.

Greene King to withdraw from BBPA

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Greene King, one of the UK’s biggest integrated brewing and pub groups, plans to withdraw its membership of the British Beer & Pub Association.

Auction success for Enterprise pubs

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:32:00 GMT

Private buyers have bid way above guide prices to acquire Enterprise Inns pubs at an Allsops auction this afternoon. The five pubs sold on the day went for around £13.15m.

Marston's: 30 hosts sign up for new "Advance" agreement

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:44:00 GMT

Marston’s has reported that 30 tenants out of a group of 60 licensees offered one of its “Advance” leases has taken up the offer.

Clover Taverns praises Punch for partial tie release

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:07:00 GMT

Boss of managed multiple Clover Taverns, Andy Willkinson, has praised Punch Taverns for partially releasing one of his pubs from its cask ale tie.

Analyst: BBPA reforms could prevent inquiry

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:52:00 GMT

A City analyst has questioned whether any licensees, outside of the “tiny vocal minority”, have signed up in support of the Independent Pub Confederation.

MP: real need for mandatory pubco reform

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:56:00 GMT

The breakdown of the landmark pub trade mediation talks prove there is a real need for mandatory reform to the tied pub model, says Greg Mulholland.

Marston's: we're trading in line with expectations

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:44:00 GMT

Earnings at brewer and pub operator Marston's for the year will be in line with expectations, the company said in a pre-close statement.

Charles Wells soars in list of top private companies

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:06:00 GMT

Bedford-based brewery and pub operator Charles Wells climbed 27 places in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table.

Fair Pint: nothing to fear from free of tie future

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:28:00 GMT

There is nothing to fear from a free-of-tie future, argues Fair Pint campaigner and Enterprise tenant Karl Harrison.

Barracuda ops director to oversee new Punch division

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:07:00 GMT

Graham Jones, operations director at Barracuda, has joined Punch to oversee the roll out of Punch Pub Company's new concepts.

Camra: Government must act on pubcos

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:01:00 GMT

Government and Competition authority intervention are now the only routes to resolving the great pubco-tenant battle, says Camra.

Pub trade back at loggerheads

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:01:00 GMT

The pub trade is back at loggerheads this afternoon after last-ditch mediation talks failed late last night.

Pubcos set out 'fundamental reform' plans

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:01:00 GMT

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has reached a binding agreement with key licensee groups for reform.

Fair Pint: BBPA must look at bigger picture

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Anti-pubco campaign group Fair Pint has claimed the pubco plan for reform only addresses a "tiny piece of the jigsaw".

Punch: time to pull together in partnership

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:59:00 GMT

Roger Whiteside took over as boss of Punch’s leased division a year ago. He talks about what he has discovered — and the way forward.

Analyst: Punch could return to paying dividends next year

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:00 GMT

Punch Taverns could return to paying dividends next year, analyst Douglas Jack, of Numis Securities, has forecast.

Punch: we want to be most trusted pubco in UK

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:13:00 GMT

Punch Taverns has set itself the goal of becoming the “most trusted and best value” pubco in the UK.

Punch takes £663m hit on pub estate value

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:48:00 GMT

Punch Taverns has taken a £663m write-down on the value of its leased and managed pub estate. The pubco recognised impairment losses of £483.4m in its leased estate and £179.7m in its managed estate.

Sam Smith's appeals against tribunal decision

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:11:00 GMT

Brewer Sam Smith’s is to appeal against the decision of an employment tribunal which ruled it unfairly sacked one of its pub management couples.

Head of Steam nets iconic Central Hotel

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:38:00 GMT

North East multiple operator Head of Steam has acquired the Central Hotel — one of the most iconic buildings in Gateshead.

Punch to drop estate value by £600m

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Punch Taverns is to write down the value of its pub estate by £600m, according to speculation in several newspapers.

Enterprise slams 'beercott' group

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:11:00 GMT

Enterprise Inns has hit back at a group of tenants threatening a mass "beercott", claiming they are just an anonymous minority.

Charles Wells: beer tie essential to industry

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:47:00 GMT

Abolishing the beer tie would be another nail in the coffin of the British beer industry — that's the stark warning from Charles Wells.

Punch pays off £102m chunk of debt

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:35:00 GMT

Punch Taverns has paid off a further £102m worth of debt after buying back convertible bonds.

Pub Revolution calls for mass 'beercott'

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:01:00 GMT

A group of tied tenants is threatening to stop paying rent and buying beer from their pubcos in a bid to kill their cashflow.

Analysis: Enterprise’s call to auction

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:15:00 GMT

Next week Enterprise Inns hopes to sell the freehold of seven of its best pubs in an Allsops auction. Paul Charity looks at the move.

Pub buyer praises ‘helpful’ RBS bank

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:35:00 GMT

A former Punch lessee, who has just bought his pub’s freehold, believes banks are becoming more helpful to the sector.

Tenants missing out on new AWPs

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:36:00 GMT

Pub tenants are missing out on up to £1,000 of revenue from the new higher stakes and prizes AWP machines.

Orchid poised to take Premium Bars

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:17:00 GMT

Orchid Pub Company, the managed operator of 250 pubs led by Rufus Hall, is set to acquire Living Room operator Premium Bars and Restaurants, the Morning Advertiser has learnt.

Profits slide at Shepherd Neame

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:49:00 GMT

Shepherd Neame has reported a 24.6% drop in operating profit as it faced “one of the most challenging and difficult years”.

Greene King club rewards cask hosts

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:45:00 GMT

Around 300 Greene King licensees are to be rewarded for their work with cask beer, with the launch of a new initiative called the Head Brewer’s Club.

Pub rent review tips at BII show

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:38:00 GMT

Pub tenants and lessees can get rent review advice at the BII Rent Review Roadshow in Newcastle.

Punch hits the road with top tips

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:31:00 GMT

Punch's series of business boosting roadshows gets underway today and will include business seminars this year.