Punch Pubs & Co

Punch reopens historic sites after six-figure investment

18-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

Punch has reopened two pubs following transformation projects costing close to £1m.

Doctors revive Punch operation after £600k cash injection

20-Mar-2019 By Stuart Stone

Punch has teamed up with the owners of Westmorland Homecare to invest £600,000 and reopen the oldest pub in Kendal, Cumbria.

International Women’s Day

The women who lead in the on-trade

07-Mar-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

There are too few women at the top level in business across the world and the UK. While pubs and bars can't escape that fact either, here we tell the stories of nine women at the top in the on-trade.

Punch signals £80m investment in its ‘agile’ estate

27-Feb-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Nimble pubco Punch has set aside £80m to pump into its estate over three years to improve various aspects of its venues, chief executive Clive Chesser has said.

Punch pub reopens after £380k investment

19-Feb-2019 By Stuart Stone

The Rising Sun pub in Bath, Somerset, has reopened as the Claremont following a £380,000 revamp.

Spencer to replace Pavli at Punch

25-Jan-2019 By MCA

Paul Pavli is to leave his role as managing director of operations at national pub operator Punch, MCA has learnt.

Punch launches publican training facility

25-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

Independent pub company Punch has launched a new training facility, The Academy, at its support centre in Burton-upon-Trent, east Staffordshire.

Petition backing landlord after Punch eviction notice gathers pace

05-Sep-2018 By Stuart Stone

An online petition calling on Punch to offer John Pybus of the Blue Bell pub in York a new tenancy agreement has passed 2,500 signatures in less than a day.

Punch credit cycle changes 'unfair', says tenant

22-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Pubco Punch Taverns has been accused of unfairness by a tenant after it made changes to its credit cycle.

Punch returns to the acquisition trail

03-Aug-2018 By MCA

Punch has made its first individual pub acquisitions for 11 years, as it continues to grow its Mighty Local and Champs formats.

Patron completes acquisition of Laine Pub Co

03-May-2018 By MCA

Patron Capital, the backer of Punch, has completed the acquisition of Laine Pub Company, the 54-strong Gavin George-led group.

Pubco Punch unveils Urban Oasis bar concept in Bath

27-Apr-2018 By James Wallin, MCA

Punch, the Patron Capital-backed pubco, is to launch its Urban Oasis high street bar format in Bath with plans for further openings, MCA understands.

Punch appoints Clive Chesser as CEO

16-Apr-2018 By Michelle Perrett

Clive Chesser, the former managing director of Greene King’s brewing division, has joined Punch as its new chief executive officer.

Punch becomes latest pubco to stop using straws

22-Jan-2018 By Georgina Townshend

Punch has become the latest pubco to join the war against plastic straws by eliminating their use across its 70-strong retail pub estate, while encouraging its circa 1,200 leased and tenanted pubs to follow suit.

Second Punch boss steps down just weeks after Garrood

28-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Giles Kendall, Punch operations director, is to leave the business after 16 years' service.

Pubcos slammed for using Section 25 notices to block MRO

26-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Pubcos have come under fire for using a specific notice to hinder licensees from accessing the market-rent-only (MRO) option.

Licensee celebrates MRO deal with Punch after year-long battle

20-Sep-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Paul Crossman, licensee of the Swan, on Bishopthorpe Road, York, said that it took a year of negotiation before the deal for the free-of-tie deal was finalised.

Great British Pub Awards 2017

The Eagle and Child wins John Smith’s Great British Pub of the Year 2017

08-Sep-2017 By Ed Bedington

A socially conscious pub was celebrating after taking the title of John Smith’s Great British Pub of the Year 2017.

Exclusive

Outgoing Punch chief executive on the future for Punch pubs

06-Sep-2017 By Claire Churchard

Following the news that Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood has decided to leave the business, after Patron completed its deal to buy the group's pubs, The Morning Advertiser gets the inside track on why he isn’t staying for the transition period...

Punch CEO Duncan Garrood steps down after Heineken sale

06-Sep-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Punch chief executive Duncan Garrood will step down following the sale of 1,900 Punch pubs to Heineken, saying it is time for a new CEO to lead.

Pub-industry bodies slam PCA’s MRO report as ‘one-sided and opaque'

23-Aug-2017 By Claire Churchard

Pub-industry bodies have slammed a report from the pubs code adjudicator containing evidence that pub-owning businesses (POBs) are blocking tied tenants’ access to the market rent only option (MRO) and going against the spirit of the pubs code.

PCA to confront pub owning businesses over MRO blocking

23-Aug-2017 By Claire Churchard

Pub-owning businesses (POBs) are blocking tied tenants’ access to the market rent only option (MRO) and going against the spirit of the pubs code, according to a report commissioned by the pubs code adjudicator’s office.

Heineken: ‘we will find buyers for 30 pubs’ as part of Punch deal

21-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Heineken has committed to find “viable buyers” for the 30 pubs it proposes to sell as part of its deal to purchase 1,900 Punch pubs, The Morning Advertiser has learned.

CMA greenlights revised Heineken deal to buy Punch pubs

18-Aug-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has accepted proposals from Heineken to address concerns that its purchase of 1,900 Punch Taverns would undermine competition in certain areas.

How can tied pubs still host beer festivals?

11-Aug-2017 By James Beeson

The hot summer weather may be but a distant memory, but for many pubs the arrival of summer is hailed as the perfect opportunity to increase trade and footfall by hosting a beer festival. 

London pub reopens following £100,000 Punch investment

06-Jul-2017 By Helen Gilbert

A London pub has reopened following a £100,000 investment from Punch Taverns and with two new publicans at the helm.

Heineken to sell a number of pubs as part of Punch deal

27-Jun-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Heineken has offered to sell a number of pubs in 33 areas across the UK “to preserve competition and ensure customers in these locations do not lose out” as part of its Punch deal.

A breath of fresh air: how the smoking ban has changed the pub trade

19-Jun-2017 By Claire Churchard & Georgina Townshend

The smoking ban became a fact in England on 1 July 2007 with an unprecedented impact for pubs. But how has the trade changed in the past 10 years since it came into force?

CMA finds Heineken-Punch deal ‘reduces competition in 33 areas’

13-Jun-2017 By Claire Churchard

Heineken’s proposed acquisition of 1,900 Punch pubs “could reduce competition in 33 areas across Britain”, according to an initial investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Low MRO numbers caused by 'complex and convoluted procedures'

05-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

Billed as a ‘new dawn’ for tenants last July, take-up for the market-rent-only (MRO) option has proved slow ever since. What has gone wrong with this critical tenet of the pubs code?

PCA to examine claims pubcos ‘inhibit’ tenant access to MROs

02-Jun-2017 By Liam Coleman

The office of Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) Paul Newby has approached industry bodies for evidence following concerns pubcos could be inhibiting tenant access to the market-rent-only (MRO) option.

Meagre MRO take up across major pubcos

26-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

Only eight licensees have taken up the market-rent-only (MRO) option across five of the six pubcos governed by the pubs code since it came into force in July 2016.

Licensee complains to Punch after debt collectors ‘steal’ property

26-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

A licensee has complained to the chief executive of Punch pubco, claiming her personal property was “stolen” last month by the representatives of a debt collection firm used by Punch.

Punch strikes distribution deal with Marston’s

24-May-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Punch will change its delivery service ahead of its proposed takeover by Heineken and Patron Capital, following current distributor Carlsberg’s announcement to withdraw its UK delivery service.

Vauxhall site reopens following refurb

15-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Vauxhall Griffin in Vauxhall, south London, has reopened following a £337,000 refit.

Punch brings back free pint promo

12-May-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Punch has announced the return of its free drinks promotion in partnership with Carling, Stella and Rekorderlig Cider.

Punch updates tenants on Heineken bid

11-May-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Punch has emailed its tenants to tell them that the sale of 1,900 pubs to Heineken is expected to be completed before the end of August.

Six biggest tenanted pubcos to honour new planning laws early

04-May-2017 By Liam Coleman

The six biggest pubcos have agreed to honour new planning legislation ahead of it coming into force in July.

Investigation of Punch takeover extended again

21-Apr-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Heineken's proposed purchase of 1,900 Punch pubs has for the second time had its investigation by The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) extended.

Punch honours seven pubs for community spirit

11-Apr-2017 By Liam Coleman

Punch has praised tenants from the company’s Mercury division in the north of England and Wales in a special awards ceremony to celebrate top performance.

Star Pubs & Bars licensees back Punch takeover

31-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

Heineken’s proposal to take over 1,900 Punch pubs received a morale boost as licensees from its tenanted-arm Star Pubs & Bars voiced support for the deal.

CMA extends investigation into Punch-Heineken deal

28-Mar-2017 By Liam Coleman

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has extended its investigation into Heineken’s bid to take over 1,900 Punch pubs.

Punch welcomes care home residents with free carvery dinners

03-Mar-2017 By Claire Churchard

Pubco Punch has hosted a free carvery for residents and carers at its pub the Blacksmiths Arms, in Burton-upon-Trent, as part of an ongoing initiative to give something back to the local community.

Punch grows Village Pub & Kitchen estate

24-Feb-2017 By James Wallin, MCA

Punch has grown its Village Pub & Kitchen format to seven sites and is assessing its estate for the next stage of rollout, MCA has learnt.

Punch-Heineken deal to be investigated by CMA

16-Feb-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially launched an investigation into Heineken’s proposed acquisition of 1,900 Punch pubs.

Heineken issues full assurances to Punch tenants

10-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Heineken has made further assurances to Punch tenants that there are no plans to force them to buy solely Heineken products.

Punch tenants won’t be forced to buy only Heineken products

09-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Star Pubs & Bars managing director Lawson Mountstevens has assured current Punch tenants they will not be forced to buy solely Heineken products.

Heineken's Punch takeover not a blanket MRO trigger

08-Feb-2017 By Liam Coleman

Heineken’s proposed deal to buy 1,900 Punch pubs will not act as an immediate blanket trigger for all the tenants to be able to request the market-rent-only (MRO) option, according to a letter from the pubs code adjudicator's (PCA) office.

Heineken urged by CAMRA for assurance on Punch deal

08-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on pub giant Heineken for assurances on the affect the takeover of 1,900 Punch pubs would have on its members.

Gallery: pub openings January 2017

02-Feb-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Morning Advertiser takes a look at the newest pub openings and refurbishments across the UK.