Freehouse

Acquisitions and revamps: Big news for Punch, Electric Star, Admiral Taverns and Hydes

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Electric Star & Punch announce new pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Electric Star and Punch have added pubs to their portfolios, while Hydes and Inn Collection Group sites have reopened after revamps.

Non-Domestic Rates bill: the workload passed to ratepayers will increase and counter the pledge made by Tory leaders says Colliers (credit: getty/andresr)

Business rates reform will cost sector even more

By Gary Lloyd

The promised reform of business rates will not cut costs for the sector but will, conversely, include a 7.1% increase in rateable values, according to property expert Colliers.

Double win: sport will help increase footfall and licensees can win prizes too (credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

Sporting days out for licensees up for grabs

By Gary Lloyd

Licensees who have a Sky Sports subscription are in with a chance of driving a Formula 1 car or watching a day of Ashes cricket and will be able to drive footfall with increased summer sporting content.

Calls ignored: business rates were not mentioned in the Spring Budget (Credit:Getty/mammuth)

SPRING BUDGET 2023

Failure to address business rates reform will ‘anger’ sector

By Gary Lloyd

Despite industry-wide calls for reformation to business rates, the Conservative Party’s Spring Budget failed to offer anything new to the under-pressure on-trade, which would “frustrate and anger” the sector.

New openings: Spring will see sites launched by several operators

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

NQ64 & Dodo Pub Co to launch sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There will be new sites from Dodo Pub Co and NQ64 this spring, and Inn Collection Group has acquired a new venue while other pubs undergo makeovers.

Big job: Hand & Flowers head chef Tom De Keyser (right) began working with Tom Kerridge (left) 11 years ago (credit for TDK image: Ten Group, credit for the Hand & Flowers image: Cristian Barnett)

How Hand & Flowers chef got to the top

By Gary Lloyd

Being a chef in any hospitality setting is hard work but Tom De Keyser, who is head chef at the Hand & Flowers, is getting more rewards these days.

Exciting role: Tom De Keyser head chef at Tom Kerridge's Hand & Flowers gastropub (credit: Ten Group)

De Keyser: Gov must do more to help sector

By Gary Lloyd

Head chef at the Hand & Flowers gastropub Tom De Keyser acknowledges he is in a lucky position but believes the Government could help the sector more as a whole.

Pub setting: John Mills receives his MBE from Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Elizabeth Fothergill, while the BBC films the ceremony

Community pub hosts MBE awarding ceremony

By Gary Lloyd

A former dentist who became a leading light in funding research into vasculitis has been honoured in what is believed to be a first for the pub industry.

Gov funding: the investment in pubs comes from a £150m Community Ownership Fund pot (Credit:Getty/ Andrew Brookes)

Gov injects more than £1m into pubs

By Rebecca Weller

The Government has invested more than £1m from the Community Ownership Fund into pubs across the country, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has revealed.

Running a pub: Research is key from the get go (Getty/ monkeybusinessimages)

How to get into the pub trade

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Do you want to run a pub but don’t know where to start? Fleurets director and head of agency gives advice on how to go about getting into the sector.

Flourishing estates: KFC opens pub, Fuller's acquires sites, JDW set sights on 2023 O2 venue

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

KFC launches pub, Fuller's acquires 2 sites

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

This week's property round-up reveals Punch has ploughed more than £800k into its estate, as Fuller's acquires sites and KFC launches as a pub. The Alchemist and JD Wetherspoon look to open new sites in 2023.

Cash investment: Peach Pubs founder Lee Cash (centre) with Cat & Wickets team Harry Gurney (left) and Stuart Broad

Peach Pubs founder invests in cricketers’ pubco

By Gary Lloyd

Founder of Peach Pubs, Lee Cash, has invested in The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, which was established by cricketers Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad – who plan to have two sites open in April 2023 and five by 2025.

Unprecedented step: UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has announced the trade body’s energy advice is free to all businesses

UKH makes guidance on energy pricing public

By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has taken the unprecedented step of making its energy guidance available to all hospitality businesses as soaring energy prices threaten sites this winter.

Food trends: Sustainability, cost-efficiency and social media are key to your winter menu

FEATURE

FEATURE: What’s on the menu for food trends?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Christmas is round the corner. But with a cost-of-living crisis squeezing budgets, there’s little room for festive cheer with 40% of consumers dining out less frequently than usual. Operators can make sure their pub is the place to celebrate this winter...

Great times: the Great British Pub Awards at Escape to Freight island, Manchester, was a success

gbpa 2022

Smashing social media

By The Morning Advertiser

What an amazing party at the Great British Pub Awards 2022 and publicans, staff, pubcos and many more certainly let their hair down.

Thinking out loud: Ed Sheeran recognises the importance of music venues such as pubs (credit: Dan Martensen)

Ed Sheeran backs MVT plan to save music pubs

By Gary Lloyd

Music star Ed Sheeran is backing a campaign from Music Venue Trust (MVT) to take control of the freeholds of music venues, such as pubs, that put on live music to save them from closure.

Greene King incentives for Cask Ale Week

the cask project

Greene King launches two promotions for Cask Ale Week

By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Greene King is launching two incentives to engage new and loyal drinkers in the cask ale category to coincide with the launch of Cask Ale Week, which runs between Thursday 22 September and Sunday 2 October.

Can't cope: Soaring energy costs force Brighton pub to close (Getty/ Rogan Macdonald)

Energy costs force seaside pub to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rising electricity bills and issues caused by Brexit have forced Brighton Beer Dispensary in East Sussex, to close its doors for good.

Four of the finalists: Horse & Jockey, Larkin's Alehouse, Mold Alehouse and Olaf's Tun

CAMRA names 16 best pubs in UK

By Gary Lloyd

The best 16 pubs in the UK have been named by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) with all having the chance to become the organisation’s Pub of the Year 2022.

Warning: Sacha Lord has also called for a temporary reduction in VAT on business energy bills from 20% to 5%

Lord: crisis is more damaging than covid

By Gary Lloyd

Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord has demanded the Government return to parliament to intervene in the economic issues that are “more damaging than Covid”.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 76 Winning ways! 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 Scrum down to the pub: the Albany in Twickenham is an England and Harlequins favourite pre and post matches My Pub: the Albany Pub & Dining Room, Twickenham, Surrey The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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...

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