MA Leaders Club

All change: North has moved the production of its beers to brewery and taproom Springwell

North sells original brewery

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based brewer and bar group North has sold its original brewery to fellow West Yorkshire firm Tartarus Beers.

What's in the news 18 July?

‘We’re the good guys’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with North Brewing’s John Gyngell to get his take on the week that saw the Autumn Statement announced.

Results boost: Revolution Bar Group has published its 2022 financial year figures

Revolution reports revenue rise to £140.8m

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bar Group has reported revenue of £140.8m in its annual report for the 52 weeks ended 2 July – up from £39.4m in financial year (FY) 2021.

Great results: Nightcap chief executive Sarah Willingham (Credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap reports strong first full year of trading

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and Barrio Familia bars, has reported an increase from £6m revenue to £36m for its first full year of trading and gross profit of £28.6m up from £4.5m.

Sector overhaul: Loungers plans to open Brightside sites across A-road locations throughout the UK

New Loungers concept to reinvigorate roadside dining

By Gary Lloyd

Loungers, multiple operator of café-bar and restaurants brands Lounge and Cosy Club, is set to reinvigorate the spirit of the ’70s and ’80s in Britain with the launch of roadside dining concept Brightside.

Company growth: North is now at 10 sites including its taproom (pictured) on Sovereign Street in Leeds (image: John Slemensek Bokehgo)

North to open 10th site

By Nikkie Thatcher

Leeds-based business North Bar/North Brewing Co is set to open its 10th venue, which is located in Manchester.

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.

What's in the news 21 October

‘The more you give back, the more they support you’

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with award winning operator Adrian Emmett of The Lion Treorchy to hear his take on the week's news which has seen yet another Prime Minister brought step down.

New position: Paul Pavli has joined Our Yummy Collection

Yummy adds ex-Punch MD to management team

By Nikkie Thatcher

Our Yummy Collection has announced the appointment of Paul Pavli – former managing director of Punch Pubs and sector adviser – as a non-executive director as the business eyes growth.

Annual results: James Nye says inflationary pressures have been passed on to customers

Anglian Country Inns posts revenue boost

By Gary Lloyd

Revenue at Anglian Country Inns increased to £14.3m (£5.4m: 2021) which represented a 20% increase in like-for-likes on 2019, according to its annual report for the 52 weeks ended 3 April 2022.

Positive return: CEO Rob Pitcher has called for ‘an immediate 50% business rates cut for all businesses, no matter of size’

Revolution turns £26m profit loss into £2m gain

By Gary Lloyd

Revolution Bars Group has return to profitability having turned a £26.3m loss before tax in 2021 into a positive £2.1m gain, according to its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 2 July 2022.

Revolution Bars Group acquires Peach Pub Company

Peach Pubs sold to Revolution

By Nikkie Thatcher

Revolution Bars Group has acquired The Peach Pub Company for a consideration of £16.5m in a bid to accelerate and diversify Revolution’s growth strategy.

Feeling Bullish: the acquisition of the Bull in Beaumaris and Townhouse brings The Inn Collection Group's total number of sites to 32

Inn Collection Group completes on Welsh sequel

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple pubs with rooms operator The Inn Collection Group has taken a second site in Wales after completing on the purchase of the Bull in Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey.

Strong statistics: Loungers CEO Nick Collins (left) and founder chairman Alex Reilley

Loungers reports 17% lfl growth, will open 30 sites

By Gary Lloyd

Bar group Loungers has credited its brands’ “relevance and resilience” for a 17% growth in like-for-like (lfl) sales versus 2019 in a trading update for the 24 weeks ended 2 October 2022.

Purchase agreed: the Wiremill, near Lingfield in Surrey has been sold the Hall & Woodhouse

Yummy rebrands and sells 'iconic' site

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Yummy Pubs has sold lakeside site the Wiremill, near Lingfield in Surrey to brewer and pub company Hall & Woodhouse for an undisclosed sum.

A success born in the pandemic: Nightcap co-founder and chief executive Sarah Willingham (credit: Nicky Johnston)

big interview

BIG INTERVIEW: There’s always time for a Nightcap

By Gary Lloyd

While most businesses hit the wall during the pandemic, Sarah Willingham saw there was a pent-up demand for socialising in hospitality together with a power shift towards tenants from landlords and decided to form Nightcap to get the party started.

Five alive: the Bristol opening for Tonight Josephine brings its site total to five

Not Tonight Josephine, it’s Tonight Sophie

By Gary Lloyd

A new Tonight Josephine bar that opened on Friday 30 September has been renamed Tonight Sophie after a social media competition to rebrand the bar in the name of a woman was won by resident Sophie Turner.

The right partner: co-founder and chief executive Mark Grunnell now operates 208 sites

Opinion

Why finding the right funding partner is essential

By Mark Grunnell, co-founder and CEO of Red Oak Taverns

I launched Red Oak Taverns 11 years ago with my co-founder, Aaron Brown and, since then, we’ve grown our portfolio to 208 pubs.

Improving situation: City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson and new site Oyster House

City Pub Group trade better than pre-pandemic

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator City Pub Group has announced it is trading better than it did pre-pandemic in 2019, according to its results for the six months ended 26 June 2022.

Event details: the MA Leaders Club conference took place at Komedia in Brighton on Thursday 15 September

MA Leaders club

Consumers want honesty from operators about rising costs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 20% of consumers felt strongly that venue owners should be open and honest about rising costs to soften the blow and extend consumers’ understanding of the challenges the sector is facing, a survey has found.

Jackpot: Free tacos if vouchers found

Revolution to give away 1,800 tacos

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Revolución de Cuba, a subset of Revolution Bars Group, has pledged to give away 1,800 free tacos as part of a national treasure hunt celebrating the launch of its new food menu.

New national service: sector deserves more respect and should be seen as career option (Pictured: Tanya Wicks (left), Clive Price (centre) and MA news editor Nikkie Thatcher (right) at MA Leaders Brighton)

Hospitality should be 'new national service'

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality should be a “new national service” as the sector offers varied experiences across all skill levels, according to Barons Pub Company managing director Clive Price.

Putting money in the bin: sustainability and food waste management could be solution to ease energy crisis (Credit:Getty/libin jose)

Sustainability 'solution to crippling overheads'

By Rebecca Weller

Now is not the time for operators to let sustainability fall away and could help ease the impact of the energy crisis, according to Net Zero Now executive director Simon Heppner.

Operator caution: BrewDog boss James Watt warned the energy crisis could cause more business casualties than the pandemic

BrewDog ‘no choice but to close 6 bars’

By Nikkie Thatcher

James Watt, co-founder and CEO of BrewDog, has revealed the company closed six of its bars due to rocketing energy costs and has blasted the Government as "clueless".

Business growth: Rekom UK chief executive Peter Marks previously said the company was moving forward with its strategy of cluster openings

Rekom to open UK’s first Proud Mary pub

By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Rekom will open as the UK’s first Proud Mary pub at the end of October after having acquired the former Yard Bar on Cardiff’s St Mary’s Street.

North-east bound: The Botanist menu includes hanging kebabs, recycled banana and ginger cocktails and vegan choices

North-east opening for The Botanist

By Gary Lloyd

Multiple operator New World Trading Company (NWTC) is set to launch a new site for its brand The Botanist in Sunderland.

Company initiative: the Blueprint was first unveiled in May this year and outlined the BrewDog's profit share scheme

BrewDog pays out over £300k in Blueprint bonus

By Nikkie Thatcher

Scottish brewer and multi-site operator BrewDog has revealed it has paid the first of its new Blueprint bonus profit share scheme to more than 1,700 bar staff.

Portfolio growth: the Engine Room in Ashton-under-Lyme was acquired from City Pub Group

Amber Taverns acquires three new sites

By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA

Amber Taverns has completed on three new sites, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Peterlee and Shrewsbury, managing director James Baer has told MCA.

Huge contribution: Steven Kenee to step down as Oakman Group chief investment officer (Pictured: Steven Kenee with Peter Borg-Neal)

Steven Kenee to leave Oakman Group

By Gary Lloyd

Steven Kenee is to leave his role as chief investment officer at Oakman Group. Kenee joined Oakman three years ago from Downing where he had grown to admire the company while managing Downing’s investment into the business.

Rising costs: Bath Pub Company managing director Joe Cussens says there is no help with ever-increasing energy prices

Bath Pub Company lfl revenue up 34% v 2019

By Gary Lloyd

Bath-based pub operator The Bath Pub Company has reported a 34% increase in like-for-like (lfl) revenue in the first half of 2022 versus the same period in pre-pandemic trading in 2019.

Delighted: Nightcap chief executive Sarah Willingham (credit: Nicky Johnston)

Nightcap announces 23.6% revenue increase

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, has reported a 23.6% like-for-like revenue increase for the final 13 weeks of its financial year, ended 3 July 2022.

Company portfolio: Red Oak Taverns now operates 208 sites across the UK, which are predominantly leased and tenanted

Red Oak secures £110m debt facility

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multi-site operator Red Oak Taverns has secured a six year £110m whole loan arranged by Excellion Capital to push forward with the group’s growth plans.

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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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