Rebuilding the Pub Sector

Drinks sales 4% down compared with 2021: trade in managed venues dips as costs continue to increase (Credit: Getty/bogdankosanovic)

Drinks sales dip again as costs increase

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants were 4% down during the seven days to Saturday 10 September compared with the same week in 2021, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Difficult times: Insolvencies of UK businesses rise (Getty/ valentinrussenov)

59% hike in hospitality insolvencies

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Insolvencies of pubs, bars and restaurants have increased by 59% from 1,354 to 2,156 over the past year, with spikes in energy bills forcing many to consider closure.

Helping out: LTC has created a website that offers financial advice (Getty/ Adam Gault)

LTC launches financial support platform

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has compiled useful resources to help the sector manage finances as the cost-of-living crisis bites, including financial grants and a 24/7 helpline.

Inflation-beating end to August: latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker shows sales were 10% up vs 2021 levels in seven days to Saturday 3 September (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

Drinks sales in August 'inflation beating'

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 3 September were 10% ahead compared with the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

PM needs to act on energy crisis for pubs

Action is needed now Liz

By Ed Bedington

So the wait is finally over and the one MP most of her colleagues didn’t think was up to the job is now moving into number 10, but hey ho, what do they know that the wider Conservative membership doesn’t…

Fluctuating sales: latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker shows sales were 0.5% ahead vs one year ago in seven days to 27 August (Credit: Getty/monkeybusinessimages)

Drinks sales 0.5% ahead of a year ago

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 27 August were 0.5% ahead compared with the same week one year ago, the latest CGA by Nielsen IQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Little respite: drinks sales in the on-trade return to below pre-pandemic levels (Credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

Drinks sales 1% down vs 2019

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants were 1% down in the seven days to Saturday 20 August compared with the same week in 2019, the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Winter of discontent: The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington fears the industry will not last without help

Opinion

I think we’re alone now...

By Ed Bedington

What will it take for this Government to wake up and face the reality of the energy crisis for business?

Communicating difficulties: Metro Bank advises SMEs to tell customers why price increases have been implemented (Credit: Getty/ skynesher)

Honesty crucial amid cost-of-living crisis

By Rebecca Weller

Transparency is key for SMEs in navigating price increases as the cost-of-living crisis continues for both businesses and consumers, Metro Bank has stated.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: sales in the on premise were 9% ahead of 2019 levels in the seven days to Saturday 13 August (Credit: Getty/ViewApart)

Drinks sales 9% ahead of 2019

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 13 August were 9% ahead of the same week in 2019, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Welcome relief: CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker shows average sales were 4% ahead of 2019 in seven days to Saturday 6 August (Credit: Getty/Alina Rosanova)

Drinks sales 4% ahead of 2019

By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by value in Britain’s managed pubs, restaurants, and bars in the seven days to Saturday 6 August were 4% ahead of the same week in 2019, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Fuel costs begin to decrease: sector still suffering from uncertainty (Credit: Getty: Image Source)

Fuel costs decrease but sector suffers 'uncertainty'

By Rebecca Weller

Fuel prices have begun to slowly decrease, potentially lessening the strain on supply chains, but businesses are still suffering “uncertainty” as consumers continue to grapple with the cost-of-living squeeze.

Warning: Sacha Lord has also called for a temporary reduction in VAT on business energy bills from 20% to 5%

Lord: crisis is more damaging than covid

By Gary Lloyd

Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord has demanded the Government return to parliament to intervene in the economic issues that are “more damaging than Covid”.

A cry for support: Leaders' confidence crashes due to cost-of-living crisis (Getty/ South_agency)

Action needed as hospitality leaders’ confidence plummets

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The confidence of pub, bar and restaurant leaders has tumbled over the second quarter of 2022 after costs soared for both businesses and consumers, according to CGA and Fourth’s second-quarter Business Confidence Survey.

Support needed: New UKH Scotland chair discusses issues facing sector

‘We need further, immediate support’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality Scotland new chairman Chris Wayne-Wills opened up on the sector’s struggles with housing infrastructure, skyrocketing costs and a shortage of staff.

Shaw & Co second annual food and drink report: bars and restaurants continue to struggle post-pandemic (Credit: Getty/Zorica Nastasic)

Mergers and acquisitions could save SMEs

By Rebecca Weller

Turnover in bars and restaurants has continued to struggle in the aftermath of the pandemic, particularly big businesses, while other sub-sectors within the food and drink industry have remained flat, research from the second annual Shaw & Co Food...

Dining out: City of London pubs will be offered 'alfresco' dining licences free of charge (Getty/ Caia Image)

Free ‘alfresco’ licences up for grabs to city pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs and bars in Square Mile, central London, are gearing up for a summer of ‘alfresco’ dining after the City of London Corporation agreed to grant free pavement licences to hospitality businesses.

Sinking pints for summer: Brits urged to go to the pub

British holidaymakers urged to visit pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging Brits to visit pubs as part of their staycation this summer, with warm weather set to continue after this week’s heatwave.

Jolly June: Good news for hospitality yet rising costs pile on pressure (Getty/ 10'000 Hours)

Like-for-like sales up 5% in June

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

June’s like-for-like sales at Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 5% ahead of pre-Covid levels in June 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Building back: BBPA urges new PM to support pubs and brewers (Getty/ Scott E Barbour)

New Prime Minister must support pubs, says BBPA

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Amidst the race to become the new Prime Minister, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has issued all Conservative candidates a manifesto setting out what action needs to be taken to help the industry.

Government help: BII survey sheds light on a struggling sector (Getty/ Vladimir Vladimirov)

15% of pubs say business no longer viable

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has called for Government support to ensure the future survival of pubs, after a survey of its members revealed the fragility of the sector as it battles huge economic challenges.

UK economy grew 0.5% in May: accommodation and food service activities saw a decline of 0.2 percentage points (Credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

GDP grows 0.5% but sector remains behind

By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector saw a decline in May despite the UK economy having grown by 0.5%, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed.

Drinks sales down 7% in week to 25 June: rail strikes impact trade (Credit:Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Drinks sales down 7% vs 2019 during week of rail strikes

By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by value for managed venues in the seven days to Saturday 25 June were 7% down on the same week in 2019 as the biggest rail dispute for more than 30 years impacted city-centre and after-work occasions, according to the latest CGA by NielsenIQ...

Record low: number of pubs in England and Wales falls to below 40,000 for first time (Credit: Getty/AndyRoland)

Number of pubs in England & Wales reaches record low

By Rebecca Weller

The number of English and Welsh pubs fell below 40,000 for the first time during the first half of 2022, having fallen by 7,107 in the past 10 years, new research from real estate adviser Altus Group has revealed.

Key part: nightclubs important role in a town's identity and heritage (Credit: Getty/Maki Nakamura)

Reopening nightclubs 'key' to regenerating high street

By Rebecca Weller

UK’s late-night economy harbours “an abundance of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit”, having a huge part to play in the regeneration of high streets and towns nationwide, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Low levels of trade: city pubs hit hard as limited rail services provided over the weekend due to strikes (Credit: Getty/Dan Pratt)

City pubs see 50% decline in weekend sales following rail strikes

By Rebecca Weller

Weekend rail strikes saw hospitality sales “hugely affected”, particularly in London and Manchester, with some city pubs having reported a 50% decline in sales, according to S4labour and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Warnings issued: Hospitality Ulster chair Tony O’Neill, CEO Colin Neill and vice-chair Stephen Magorrian

Triple whammy warning over NI hospitality sector

By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland are facing a triple threat from rising business costs to a lack of consumers’ disposable cash and labour shortages, according to Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill.

Championing hospitality: Chris Wayne-Wills becomes UKH Scotland chairman

UKH Scotland appoints new chairman

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Crerar Hotels chief executive Chris Wayne-Wills has been appointed UKHospitality Scotland chairman as the sector grapples with unprecedented financial pressures and workforce shortages.

Catastrophe ahead: NTIA braces for impact of rail strikes (Getty/ Monty Rakusen)

NTIA braces for strike action impact

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The events sector is bracing itself for this week’s planned rail strikes, which are due to have a substantial hit on trade, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

What's in the news 10 June?

The MA's Review of the Week

Never been a greater need for innovation

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Creative Hospitality's Bruno Nunes for his take on the big news this week, from pessimism in the face of the oncoming challenge through to reinvention for survival.

Rail strikes: network disputes could have

Rail strikes will have 'devastating' impact on sector

By Rebecca Weller

Rail strikes confirmed to take place later this month will have a “devastating” impact on the hospitality industry as it continues to rebuild following the pandemic, according to trade bodies and representatives across the sector.

Are pubs able to weather the economic storm?

Are we all doomed?

By Ed Bedington

According to Luke Johnson, we might as well pack up our bags and go home, but are we as doomed as he suggests?

Can the sector survive the economic challenges?

Industry facing 'two years of hell'

By Ed Bedington

The industry is facing “two years of hell” and needs to “batten down the hatches and probably pray” according to one leading sector investor.

Unable to cope: More than 10,000 sites could close warns Kate Nicholls (Getty/ gwengoat)

More than 10,000 pubs and restaurants could close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

More than 10,000 pubs and restaurants could close as the sector faces “as big a crisis, if not bigger” than the pandemic, warned UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive.

To the rescue: CAMRA call for Gov support after hundreds of pubs shut down in 2021 (Getty/ whitemay)

Action needed as 2021 saw 290 pubs demolished or converted

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called for Government intervention after its research showed an average of just over 5 pubs a week (290 in total) were demolished or converted to another use in 2021.

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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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