Operators

Admiral Taverns ploughs £250k into pub

14-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Bush Inn, Aberdare, South Wales, reopened on Thursday 7 December after a major investment from Admiral Taverns of £250,000.

Big Interview

Looking to get lucky

14-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

“It’s not about singing well,” according to the king of karaoke, Charlie Elek, md of Lucky Voice who’s on a mission to change the perception of karaoke.

Shepherd Neame pub reopens after £1.2m revamp

14-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Shepherd Neame has reopened its historic pub the Royal Crown in Rochester, Kent, following a £1.2m refurbishment.

Outsourced staff working for Greene King agree new pay deal

13-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

GXO staff members who are contracted by Greene King as lorry drivers and warehouse workers have agreed a new pay deal after going on strike on days last week and at the end of November.

Amber Taverns to reach 170 sites with four openings

13-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Amber Taverns will open pubs at four new locations in spring 2024.

Valiant acquires 4 pubs from McManus

13-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator McManus Pub Company has sold four Northamptonshire-based pubs to Valiant Pub Co.

Trio of community heroes hailed by Admiral division

13-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns’ community wet-led Proper Pubs division has announced a trio of winners for its Community Hero Awards.

Wine pub launches in capital

13-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

An all-day ‘wine pub’ and restaurant has opened its doors in Spitalfields, east London.

Team takes full control of historic pub

13-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Full control of a historic pub in Salford will be handed over to the team who have operated it for the past two years, making it one of the only independently owned pubs in Manchester.

Admiral opens 200th Proper Pubs site

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Admiral Taverns has opened the 200th site in its Proper Pubs division in time for Christmas.

Town’s longest serving licensee leaves industry after 19 years

12-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The operator of a seaside town pub is leaving the industry after almost two decades at the helm.

Town campaigns to save much-loved pub

11-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Drayton residents are rallying to save a much-loved Greene King pub, after complaints the pub company had not given a clear reason for its closure.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

'We need a fair deal, potential to make profit and ability to get on with it'

08-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Jonathan Neame of Shepherd Neame to discuss the top headlines of the week.

Kidd joins Windmill to roll out Mc & Sons

07-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

Former Nightcap group commercial director Tom Kidd has joined forces with Windmill Taverns to roll out the company’s Mc & Sons concept.

BBPA appoints Nick Mackenzie as chairman

06-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie has been elected as chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) today (6 December).

BIG INTERVIEW

The Big Interview: James Lyon-Shaw of Brucan Pubs

06-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Humble and honest are two of the qualities that come through clearly when talking to James Lyon-Shaw.

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.

Inn Collection Group pubs rise to the challenge as snow hits

05-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Inn Collection Group pubs in the Lake District offered refuge to people who were stranded due to heavy snowfall over the weekend.

Couple plan to travel the UK after 27 years at the bar

04-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

A couple that has spent 27 years at the helm of a North Yorkshire pub and raised more than £100,000 for charity are quitting to travel the UK and spend time with friends.

OPINION

Seeking positive feedback as a community stalwart

04-Dec-2023 By Zoe Eliasson, licensee at the Boot at Sarratt, Hertfordshire

With our pub, the Boot at Sarratt (established 1729), being situated in the middle of our picturesque village, we had no choice but to agree to a Christmas plea from the Church and local primary school.

Milton Portfolio Op Co 3 administrators to sell 25 pubs

04-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The joint administrators of Milton Portfolio Op Co 3 Ltd have appointed agents to market the 25-pub portfolio.

Review of the Week

Better Government leadership needed

01-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's CEO Simon Emeny to get his take on the week's events, from the Covid Inquiry to the death of a footballing icon.

M&B reports record market outperformance

01-Dec-2023 By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported financial results for the year ended 30 September 2023 (FY23), with like-for-like (lfl) sales growth of 9.1% against FY22.

'I was lucky!'

30-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

As the McElhinney family celebrate more than three decades in the UK pub trade, the MA speaks to founder Jack, and son Ryan, to find out the secrets to their success.

Ex-England cricketers’ pub celebrates first anniversary

29-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Ex-England cricketer Harry Gurney feels “pretty ecstatic” as his pub surpasses trading expectations while rounding off its first year of opening.

Loungers: ‘we’re very positive about 2024’

29-Nov-2023 By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Loungers plans to leverage the versatility of its offer, with a pipeline in place across multiple types of locations, chief executive Nick Collins told The Morning Advertiser's sister publication, MCA.

Admiral licensees raise more than £1m for charity

29-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Admiral Taverns operators have raised more than £1m for local causes over the past 18-months, the pubco has announced.

Loungers to create 1,000 jobs, CFO to step down

28-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

All-day café-bar-restaurant operator Loungers said it is on track to create 1,000 jobs through the opening of 34 UK sites by the end of 2023.

Review of the Week

'NLW rise will mean we need to turn over quarter of a million more'

24-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Mojo's Martin Greenhow to get his take on the week's news and the Autumn Statement.

Exclusive

East London Pub Co goes into administration

24-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The East London Pub Company has gone into administration, although the businesses four sites are continuing to trade.

Train strikes hit trade at Nightcap, revenue up 42.7% in FY23

23-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Current trade at Nightcap has been hit by rail strikes and warm weather but revenue in its financial year to July has risen by 42.7%.

Shepherd Neame expands tenanted estate

21-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepheard Neame has expanded its tenanted estate with the acquisition of a historic seafront pub in the South-East.

Famed sandwich maker and publican to open third pub

20-Nov-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Sandwich supremo Max Halley and publican Ethan Davids are opening their third pub together later this month.

Punch appoints ex-Peach MD Stoddart as strategic adviser

20-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Co-founder of Peach Pubs Hamish Stoddart has joined Punch Pubs & Co as a strategic adviser to its board.

Joseph Holt pub launches dementia support group

18-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A Joseph Holt site has set up a group for those with dementia and their carers after the operator’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

The Turks Head: ‘The business is in the best shape’

17-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Business is in better shape than ever at the Turks Head in south London, which took home the title of Best City/Urban Pub at the Great British Pub Awards 2023.

Star invests more than £50m into pub estate

17-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Star Pubs & Bars has injected more than £51m into its pub estate since September last year.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Business rates support ‘is the big one’

17-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke to Oak Taverns managing director Simon Collinson to get his thoughts on the week's news and the upcoming Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.

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.

Stonegate CEO Ian Payne to retire

17-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Stonegate chairman and founder Ian Payne MBE has decided to retire at the end of January 2024 and step down from his role with the group after 13 years.

‘Tale of two halves’ as Young’s reports ‘strong’ results

16-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

London-based pub operator Young’s has reported a 12% lift to its adjusted profit before tax and labelled the 26-week period of its financial year as a “tale of two halves”.

Young’s bid to acquire City Pub Group, valued at £162m

16-Nov-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

The boards of Young’s and City Pub Group have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash and share acquisition to which Young’s will acquire City Pub Group.

Emeny hails ‘excellent financial results’ at Fuller’s

15-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Pub operator Fuller’s has delivered “excellent financial results” with like-for-like (lfl) sales up 12.7% in the first half of its financial year (H1 2024) compared to the same period last year.

Hydes opens £3.6m premium dining pub

15-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

North west brewery and pub retailer Hydes has launched its first new establishment in five years, following the opening of its latest premium pub dining venue on the Wirral, Merseyside.

Star licensee marks 40th anniversary

14-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Operators at a village pub in Lincolnshire have been recognised for their service to the community on their 40th anniversary at the helm.

Logistics staff contracted by Greene King to strike in Xmas run-up

14-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Lorry drivers and warehouse staff contracted by Greene King will take part in a series of strikes after a below-inflation pay offer was rejected.

Loungers opens four sites, roll-out plans on track

13-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Loungers boss Nick Collins has expressed his joy at opening four sites since mid-September and confirmed the company’s fast-track roll-out plans are on track.

Pubs community role needs recognising

13-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Government needs to recognise and support the important role pubs play in the community, according to the chief executive of a leading family brewer.

Operator branded 'angry little man' by customer expecting free drinks

10-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

A pub operator has been forced to put a sign on his frozen cocktail machine after a customer helped themselves then complained the drinks were not free on Trip Advisor.

Review of the Week

‘It doesn't feel like inflation is under control’

10-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington spoke to Brucan Pubs’ James Lyon-Shaw to get his take on the week's events.