Rebuilding the Pub Sector

Hertfordshire: Villagers try saving the Plough King's Walden

Villagers rally to save their last pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Villagers have come together to save the last pub in King’s Walden which has been labelled the “heart of the community”.

Daily Drinks Tracker: sales remain flat ahead of Xmas (Credit: Getty/Wavebreakmedia)

Drinks sales flat ahead of Xmas period

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales were 0.5% up compared to 2022 levels in the week to Saturday 18 November, remaining virtually flat ahead of the crucial run-in to Christmas for operators and suppliers.

Out of print: Great British Pub Awards Pub of the Year owner Tim Bird says restaurants are above pubs when it comes to guide books

OPINION

Lack of guide books means people are not finding pubs

By Tim Bird, owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns

Where have all the guides gone? That is my question and I am not referring to the helpful folk who talk us around a stately home or indeed the younger version who help the community, collect badges and, in my experience, bake rather nice cakes for charity.

Government action is vital: Sacha Lord says pubs are at breaking point

Lord: Gov must make major statement on 22 November

By Gary Lloyd

The Government must make positive changes in the upcoming Autumn Statement because pubs are already in a precarious position says night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord.

Poll results: 68% of operators allow non-paying guests to use the toilet (Credit: Getty/Adam Gault)

68% of pubs allow non-paying guests to use toilets

By Rebecca Weller

The majority of pubs allow non-paying guests to use their toilet but urge customers to ask permission first and consider charity donations in lieu of a purchase, adding hospitality venues are “public houses not public conveniences”.

Poll: do you allow non-paying customers to use the toilet at your pub? (Credit: Getty/miodrag ignjatovic)

POLL

Should pubs allow non-paying guests to use the toilet?

By Rebecca Weller

Should pubs allow non-paying customers to use the toilet? While it may be seen as the hospitable thing to do, there can be a cost to operators involved and rude guests to contend with.

Disparity: research shows no-shows are increasing but not all pubs are affected (credit: Getty/SolStock)

Pubs counter ‘no-shows double’ research claim

By Gary Lloyd

The unwelcome sight of increased numbers of ‘no-shows’ has reared its ugly head once again in the sector but not all pubs The Morning Advertiser spoke to are convinced the situation is getting worse.

Damage: Pubs are dealing with flooding after heavy downpour (Credit: Getty/ BremecR)

Storm Babet forces pubs to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub in Edinburgh has sustained thousands of pounds worth of damage after Storm Babet destroyed it "from top to bottom".

On-trade boost: sales of cider rose the most year-on-year last week (credit: Getty/ViewApart)

Weather and sport boost weekly drink sales

By Gary Lloyd

Drinks sales in the on-trade rose by 3% in the week to last Saturday (14 October) with the Rugby World Cup and good weather cited as the key drivers.

'Continuing difficulties': Sacha Lord speaks out on inflation

Sacha Lord: Inflation to cause ‘continuing difficulties’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, has said the unchanged Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate released today (18 October) will pile further pressure on small business, especially those in hospitality.

Daily Drinks Tracker: drinks sales up 3.8% six months to September 2023 (Credit: Getty/	bogdankosanovic)

Drinks sales up 3.8% but real-terms growth 'hard-won'

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the on-trade were up 3.8% overall during the last six months, though inflation, rail strikes and soaring costs make real terms growth "hard-won", CGA data has revealed.

Ghost towns: 30% of nightclubs have shut doors since the pandemic (Credit: Getty/ Flashpop)

'Youth culture is lost’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Britain has lost 30% of nightclubs since Covid, and the ex-owner of the UK’s longest running club has argued that Gen Z need to spark a cultural shift to revolutionise nightlife.

Look back: A timeline of events since the Crooked House burned down

The Crooked House tragedy: as it happened

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The burning down of Britain’s wonkiest pub, the Crooked House, last month, sparked national outrage. Investigations are ongoing, and several people have been arrested under suspicion of arson. We take a look back at events to see how the tragedy unfolded.

Good news: Community venues secure Government funding: (Credit: Getty/ Henrik Sorensen)

Government secures £1.2m for 4 pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

More than £1m has been earmarked for four pubs as part of the Government’s community ownership fund scheme, which UKHospitality (UKH) has celebrated as “really positive news”.

The George Pub, Bethersden, opens cafe

‘If you don’t diversify you get stuck behind’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub in Kent has celebrated the launch of its community café, and has advised operators to focus on quality coffee, keep adapting, and diversify the offering if they want to do the same.

Trading conditions: Lumina's new report gives insight into the sector (Credit: Getty/Dimensions)

70% of hospitality leaders face staffing challenges

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Around 70% of leaders in the hospitality sector are facing challenges with tough trading conditions expected to continue, according to the new Lumina Intelligence Top of Mind Report 2023.

Climbing back: Pubs and restaurants weather the storm of summer rain (Getty: Credit/Kar-Tr)

Pub sales growth in August 'encouraging'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs overcame wet weather to record almost 5% growth in sales during August, which one trade body celebrated as “encouraging”.

Celebration: The future of nightclub E1 has been secured (Credit: Getty/dwphotos)

NTIA celebrates as future of E1 club secured

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

East London nightclub E1 has been working with Tower Hamlets and Big Yellow Storage to safeguard the future of the nightclub in new development plans.

Weathering the storm: Rainy days thwart trade at most pubs (Credit: Getty/ Tim Parker)

Rain ruins summer trade at 82% of pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Wet weather has ruined summer trade for more than 80% for operators, a recent survey by The Morning Advertiser has revealed.

Closing down: The hospitality sector battles financial pressures (Credit: Getty/ ilbusca)

Pub closures hit highest quarterly figure in a decade

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pub closures reached the highest quarterly figure in more than a decade in the second quarter of 2023 (Q2), smashing the previous record set in Q1, according to data obtained by Price Bailey.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: sales in growth for ninth successive week (Credit: Getty/zoranm)

Drinks sales up 7%

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the on-trade were ahead of 2022 levels at the end of last month, marking the ninth consecutive week of year-on-year growth.

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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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