Marston's Pub Company

The Lock In podcast

Winning ways!

09-Apr-2024 By Ed Bedington

As the dust settles on the recent Publican Awards, the Lock In team caught up with some of the winners to find out what makes them tick.

PCA: ‘Big six’ must be proactive over code breaches

05-Apr-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie has praised pub companies for taking the principles of the pubs code to heart but also warned them they must be proactive when the code is breached.

Marston’s unveils new partnership agreement

24-Jan-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

Wolverhampton-based pub company Marston’s has announced a new partnership agreement, which will eventually include all partner pubs.

Christmas trade helps Marston’s boost lfl sales by 8.1%

23-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Marston’s has reported an 8.1% boost in like-for-like sales during the festive period.

Star shines as Marston’s T&L pub of the year

22-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Publican Ally Heath praised her team after the Star in Penkridge saw off all other competitors to be crowned pub of the year in Marston’s tenanted & leased annual awards.

Marston’s revenue rises 9%

05-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Marston’s pub company has reported a 9% uplift in revenue in its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 30 September 2023.

Marston’s CEO Andrea replaced by Merlin strategy officer

17-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Marston’s CEO Andrew Andrea has agreed with the board he will step down from his role with immediate effect and will be replaced by Merlin Entertainment chief strategy officer Justin Platt.

Marston's sales up 10% as pubco reduces head office costs

11-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Marston’s has reported like-for-like sales in the 52 weeks to Saturday 30 September were 10.1% up compared with the same period last year as well as a £5m reduction in head office costs.

GBPA 2023

Meet the winner of the Marston’s Pub of the Year 2023

27-Sep-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Fighting off adversity and disaster on a number of occasions, the Rose and Crown has gone on to be named the Marston’s Pub of the Year in the Great British Pub Awards.

MA LEADERS CLUB

Marston’s delighted as staff rate company as a ‘great place to work’

14-Sep-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Staff members at pub operator Marston’s have given the company a staff engagement score above the business’s target of eight out of 10 as its seeks to become a “great place to work”.

My Shout

Where is the outrage for all pubs?

10-Aug-2023 By Heath Ball

The justified anger and passion from the general public, members of parliament, and the press regarding the suspected arson of the beloved Crooked House near Dudley has truly captured the nation's attention and fuelled our collective outrage.

Crooked House pub blaze treated as ‘arson’

10-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A fire, which tore through Britain’s ‘wonkiest’ pub just a month after its sale, is being treated as arson, according to police.

‘Britain’s wonkiest pub’ burns down a month after sale

08-Aug-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Police are “reviewing all the available evidence” on the cause of a fire that destroyed “Britain’s wonkiest pub” after it was sold to a private buyer last month (July).

Marston’s ‘to benefit’ in H2 as lfl sales rise 10.7%

16-May-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Midlands-based pub operator Marston’s has invested heavily in the first half (H1) of its current financial year (FY23) with an eye to “capitalise on the benefits” in the second period of the FY.

Marston’s secures extension of debt facilities

31-Mar-2023 By Swetali Sapte

Marston’s has announced it has successfully secured an amendment and extension of its bank and private placement debt facilities to the end of January 2025.

Marston’s sees ‘positive sales momentum’

24-Jan-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Marston’s has reported like-for-like sales up 4.5% for the 16-week period to 21 January 2023 compared to FY2020, the last period unaffected by Covid-19.

Marston’s boasts strong trading year

06-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

It’s been a strong year for Marston’s, as the company’s latest trading results revealed improved profitability, an uptick in net asset value and positive cash flow.

Marston’s signs Race At Work Charter

16-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Marston’s has joined more than 900 employers in signing up to the Race At Work Charter.

GBPA 2022

Meet the winner: Marston’s Pub of the Year – the Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex

12-Oct-2022 By The Morning Advertiser

Former art teacher Sally Harris has brought her own creative touches to a pub that's served the village since the 17th century.

Marston’s considering ‘small pub package disposal’

05-Jul-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco Marston’s is examining the possibility of selling a number of “non-core pubs” from its estate.

The Gun Inn crowned best Marston’s pub

10-Jun-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Gun Inn, Findon, West Sussex bagged top prize at Marston’s annual Pub of the Year Awards 2022 at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham.

UKH board member appointed as Marston’s non-executive director

07-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Marston’s has appointed UKHospitality board member Nick Varney as a non-executive director to the board, with effect from 1 July 2022.

Marston’s reveals 50% rent support for Welsh tied tenants

24-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Marston’s is reducing the rent payable to 50% of the headline rent, starting from 26 December for its tied tenants in Wales.

New pub deal from Marston’s proclaimed a “game-changer”

30-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

Marston’s is hoping to reinvent the pub trading partnership with the launch of what it describes as a “game-changing” deal for operators.

Marston's wins trio of awards

17-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewer Marston's has won three awards at the 2020/2021 International Green Apple Environment Awards, which has recognised and rewarded companies globally for best environmental practice since it launched in 1994.

The story of Marston's mergers and acquisitions

03-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser has delved into the history of Marston’s, looking at the company’s biggest deals across the years.

SA Brain puts 99-pub package on the market

08-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Cardiff-based brewer and operator SA Brain & Co is seeking a buyer for 99 pubs, which are currently let to Marston’s Estates on 25-year leases.

Marston’s: Trading has been ‘better than our expectations’

28-Jul-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Pub group Marston’s has revealed that trading since the relaxation on Monday 17 May has been “better than expectations”.

Jobs round-up

New hires at WSTA, Marston’s, Pernod Ricard and Mangrove UK

07-Jul-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Alongside a host of new on-trade appointments, the latest jobs round-up includes recruitment news from Greene King, UKHospitality and Navitas safety.

Real estate adviser appointed to sell 8 Marston's pubs for £21.6m

16-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Global real estate adviser CBRE has been appointed by Aviva Investors to sell a collection of Marston's sites worth more than £20m.

Opinion

Looking ahead: the post-Covid pubs code

28-May-2021 By Fiona Dickie – pubs code adjudicator

The announcement that I would be the next pubs code adjudicator (PCA) was made on 24 February 2020. The first lockdown came just three weeks later.

Property round-up

Revere Pub Company and Greedy Gordons Group grow, Sky News reports possible Hawthorn takeover

26-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The latest property news from the pub sector includes new site updates from groups including Greedy Gordons and Revere Pub Company, as well as further news from ‘big six’ operators including Punch and Admiral.

Marston’s records £105.5m loss

19-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

While pub operator Marston’s has revealed a £105.5m pre-tax loss in the 26 weeks to 3 April, the firm cites post-lockdown sales hitting 80% of pre-pandemic levels as cause for optimism.

Marston’s appoints Andrew Andrea as next CEO

12-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

Marston’s board has announced Andrew Andrea will take the reins as its next chief executive officer from 3 October 2021.

‘Business rates cap will harm pub revival’

05-May-2021 By Stuart Stone

The Government must re-consider its proposed £2m business rates relief cap or face the continued “systemic closure” of pubs, according to Colliers International’s head of business rates.

Pubs gear up for outdoor trading

09-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The on-trade is preparing for outside service when it is permitted next week (Monday 12 April).

Property round-up

Former poker pro acquires Canterbury pub, Melt Pub Company acquires fourth site

07-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest pub property round-up includes a done deal for a 17th century Oxfordshire pub, hopes of a full house in Canterbury, and updates from Marston’s and Melt Pub Company.

Marston’s reveals 700 pubs to reopen from 12 April

07-Apr-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub company Marston’s will reopen about 70% of its managed and franchised estate with outdoor areas in England next week (on or around Monday 12 April).

Marston’s CEO Ralph Findlay to step down

11-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Boss of Marston’s Ralph Findlay will be stepping down from his role of CEO at the end of September, the company has announced.

Jobs round-up

Marston’s CEO to step down, new City Pub Group director

11-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

This week’s round-up includes news that Marston’s CEO Ralph Findlay is to leave his role after 20 years, City Pub Group has hired a former Walmart boss, and the founder of Seafood Pub Company is to lead a new Oakman division.

JDW and M&B among pubcos to claim most furlough in December

02-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

JD Wetherspoon and Mitchells & Butlers were among the pub companies to claim the most through the furlough scheme in December 2020.

Opinion

'Back to normal’ no longer enough for pubs

26-Feb-2021 By Paul Davies, CEO, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company

Paul Davies, chief executive officer of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), outlines much-needed measures from the Chancellor’s Budget on 3 March to protect the future of the brewing, pub and hospitality industries.

Platinum walks away from Marston’s bid

11-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Platinum Equity Advisors has announced it does not intend to submit a revised proposal for Marston’s and will not make a firm offer for the business.

Marston’s 'unanimously' rejects Platinum share offer

01-Feb-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco Marston’s has refused a proposed takeover offer from America-based firm Platinum Equity Advisors.

Marston’s confirms private equity interest

29-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Pub company Marston’s has confirmed reports that US-based Platinum Equity has made an initial approach to take the Wolverhampton-based operator private.

Marston’s anticipates pubs will be closed until March at the earliest

08-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay has described an extended business rates holiday and a VAT cut throughout 2021 as a ‘minimum requirement’ after the imposition of England’s third national lockdown.

Brains brewery may be relocated to England

06-Jan-2021 By MCA Insight

Brains beer may be relocated to England due to a failure to find a buyer for the iconic Welsh brewery business, ITV News reports.

'I'm not sure if politicians understand what burning money looks like'

24-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Despite the company exhibiting symptoms of the Covid-19 crisis such as dented profits and sounding off job loss warnings, Marston’s Ralph Findlay argued the operator exits 2020 in better shape than it entered.

Marston’s takes on SA Brain’s 156-strong pub stable

23-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Pub company Marston’s has announced it will operate SA Brain’s portfolio of 156 pubs in Wales on a combination of leased and management contract arrangements, safeguarding 1,300 jobs.

Marston’s records £397m pre-tax loss

10-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Pub operator Marston’s has revealed that it made a total loss of £397.1m during the year to 3 October 2020 following the closure of its near 1,400 strong pub estate for 15 weeks.