Rebuilding the Pub Sector

Energy scandal: Pubs, charities and schools have all claimed they've been targeted by brokers

Pub part of £2bn claim against energy firms

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A pub is among millions of businesses lawyers say could be entitled to compensation from energy giants over secret commissions paid to third-party brokers allegedly inflated customer bills by billions of pounds.

Saying goodbye: Cornish pub announces closure with a

Britain’s most southerly pub to shut doors

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The most southern pub in Britain has been forced to close its doors after factors impacting the sector made it “impossible” to maintain the establishment.

Independents suffering: Sacha Lord says not all hospitality businesses are able to fall back on funding

OPINION

Forgetting independents is a self-defeating exercise

By Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester

These days, there’s no escaping the seemingly endless amount of data proving that the hospitality sector is in severe difficulty.

Was January trade positive for pubs?

Opinion

January trade - win or loss?

By Ed Bedington

Against a backdrop of rocketing price rises, rampant inflation, and closures and sales, it’s been interesting being on the road for the Publican Awards judging this week.

Lock in podcast episode 54: can community pubs remain viable?

Can community pubs remain viable?

By Ed Bedington

In the latest episode, the Lock In team look at the role of community pubs and the threat escalating costs is having on that area of the pub trade.

Tough trade: NTIA reacts to nightclub losses (Getty/ SolStock)

Nightclub losses reflect ‘disproportionate support’

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A third of nightclubs have been lost since before the pandemic, which reflects “disproportionate support” and a challenging trading environment, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Empty roles: Vacancies have dropped in the last quarter (Getty/ 10'000 Hours)

Hospitality vacancies fall by 5.5%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There were 149,000 empty job roles recorded in the accommodation and food service activities sector from October to December 2022 – a drop of 5.5% from the previous quarter.

Pleasing start: drinks sales in week to Saturday 7 January were 24% ahead of 2022 but remained below pre-Covid levels (Credit: Getty/LeoPatrizi)

Drinks sales show 'pleasing start' to year

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales during the first week of January showed a “pleasing start” to 2023 but inflation and rail strikes meant trade was still below pre-Covid levels, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Crisis: NTIA poll shows more than 50% of businesses do not have enough cash reserves to survive early part of 2023  (Credit: Getty/	sturti)

50% of firms at risk in early 2023

By Rebecca Weller

More than 50% of businesses do not have the necessary cash reserves to survive the early part of 2023, a flash poll conducted by the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has revealed.

Perilous situation: sector would need to generate extra £17bn to keep up with inflation (Credit: Getty/Igor Vershinsky)

Extra £17bn needed to keep up with inflation

By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector would need to generate an additional £17bn in turnover to keep up with inflation, figures from UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA have revealed.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 52

The Lock In Podcast

Looking ahead to 2023

By Ed Bedington

In the last episode of the year, the Lock In team assemble a crack team of guests to assess what the year ahead is likely to hold for the pub trade.

Shutting up shop: Staffing shortage will hit sector over festive period (Getty/ EvgeniiAnd)

1 in 3 businesses reduce Xmas opening hours

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged Government to tackle the recruitment crisis, after data revealed one third of businesses were reducing Christmas opening hours due to staff shortages.

(Credit: Getty/	Zorica Nastasic)

Like-for-like sales up 3.7% in November

By Rebecca Weller

Like-for-like sales in Britain’s managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.7% up in November compared with the same period in 2021, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

New openings: Uptick in high street pubs since pandemic but fall in nightclubs (Getty/ benedeck)

1.6% more high street pubs since Covid

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

There are 1.6% more high street pubs and bars since the first Covid lockdown, but the number of nightclubs has plummeted, new research has revealed.

Bright end to difficult year: World Cup sees drinks sales in pubs exceed inflation (Credit: Getty/Extreme Media)

World Cup sees drinks sales exceed inflation

By Rebecca Weller

Average sales by volume in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants saw growth for the tenth successive week in the seven days to Saturday 26 November, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Strike action: RMT rejects initial offer to call off strikes (Getty/ kev303)

Sector hits out at Xmas rail strikes

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Christmas train strikes will go ahead after the RMT union rejected an initial offer by the group representing train companies, a decision that has come under fire from trade bodies.

What's in the news 25 November

Another Christmas lost?

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington catches up with hospitality expert Paul Pavli to get his take on the week's news, dominated by the rail union's decision to announce fresh strikes.

Cultural and economic benefits: a new report has urged the Government to recognise the importance of the late-night sector (Credit: Getty/urbazon)

Gov urged to recognise club culture importance

By Rebecca Weller

A new report commissioned by the Electronic Impact Group in coordination with the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), B:electronic and the Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) has aimed to showcase the importance of electronic music and club...

Job vacancies: despite initiatives such as higher wages, the sector is still short of labour (credit: Getty/Rowan Jordan)

11% of sector jobs remain vacant

By Gary Lloyd

One in nine hospitality jobs remain vacant despite successful recruitment processes post-Covid, such as offering higher wages, according to surveys by CGA by NielsenIQ and Fourth.

What's in the news 11 November

Reasons to be optimistic

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Robinsons Brewery's William Robinson to discuss the economic outlook and grounds for optimism amid the challenges we're facing.

Out and about: Economic growth secure in cities but more support needed (Getty/ NORRIE3699)

Hospitality needs support to keep up growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs, bars and restaurants are recording positive sales in Britain’s major cities – but high inflation is making real-terms growth very difficult, according to the latest Top Cities report.

Ceasing trade: Historic pub forced to close (Getty/ Luis Alvarez)

13th century pub forced to close

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Historic pub the Ring of Bells in North Bovey, Devon, closed its doors for the final time on 1 November.

Restricted spending: while overall consumer spending grew by 3.5% year-on-year in October the hospitality sector saw its smallest uplift since March 2021 (Credit:Getty/bogdankosanovic)

Consumers taking 'restrained approach' to Christmas

By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector saw its smallest uplift since March 2021 during October despite consumer card spending having grown 3.5% year-on-year, data from Barclaycard has revealed.

Top tips: we will be providing information on how businesses can battle the ongoing energy storm

The MA Energy Focus in partnership with Heineken

Time for action on energy

By Ed Bedington

With energy prices spiralling, The Morning Advertiser (MA) is launching a new series of features, in partnership with Heineken, to give operators some much needed advice and support to help mitigate the challenges.

Long way to go: on-premise drinks sales 2% ahead of 2021 over Halloween but inflation holds growth down (Credit: Getty/shironosov)

Drinks sales 2% up vs 2021 over Halloween

By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales by value in Britain’s managed pubs, bars, and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 29 October were 2% up compared to the same week in 2021, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Hospitality Rising needs support from pub companies

Pubcos need to step up

By Ed Bedington

Pub companies and brewers need to step up and support a campaign that aims to revolutionise recruitment for the hospitality sector.

Serious change: sector sales down 7.1% in October (Credit: Getty/AleksandarNakic)

Hospitality sales down 7.1% in October

By Rebecca Weller

Sales in the hospitality sector were down for the second consecutive month compared to the same period in 2021, figures from S4labour have revealed.

Encouraging sign: drinks sales exceed 2021 levels for fifth successive week but inflation holds trade down in real-terms (Credit: Getty/Caia Image)

Drinks sales top 2021 levels for fifth week in a row

By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales have topped last year’s levels for a fifth successive week, but inflation has continued to wipe out real-terms growth, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ has revealed.

Party on: Young people will keep going on nights out despite cost-of-living crisis (Getty/ Flashpop)

Gen Z will party on despite rising costs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Soaring inflation rates will impact the way consumers spend at clubs but Gen Z will pay to keep the party going, according to research from Rekom UK.

Pub sales: Consumer confidence remains low (Getty/ Henrik Sorensen)

Like-for-like sales slump by 3%

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Like-for-like sales of Britain’s top managed pub, bar and restaurant groups were 3.0% behind the levels of September 2021, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Birmingham named Britain's most vibrant city: inflation and strikes threaten hospitality driven economic recovery in cities (Credit: Getty/ChrisHepburn)

Birmingham named UK's most vibrant city

By Rebecca Weller

Birmingham has been named Britain’s most vibrant city for the second successive period, the latest Top Cities report from CGA by NielsenIQ and leading connectivity solutions provider Wireless Social has revealed.

Cautiously optimistic: drinks sales 3% ahead of 2021 in seven days to Saturday 8 October (Credit: Getty/Caia Image)

Drinks sales show 'cautious optimism'

By Rebecca Weller

On-trade drink sales have topped 2021 levels for a third successive week despite growing costs crisis and trading pressures, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

Crucial times: Kate Nicholls says the sector must continue to be swift to embrace change

UKH plans for sector to be net zero by 2040

By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has set out bold plans for the sector to reach net zero by the year 2040 with unnecessary single-use packaging eliminated by 2025.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: additional bank holiday for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral lifted trade as consumers chose to mourn together in communal environments  (Credit: Getty/bogdankosanovic)

Trade boosted by extra bank holiday

By Rebecca Weller

Average drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants in the seven days to Saturday 24 September were 1% ahead compared with the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

The sector's recovery: Birmingham named UK's most vibrant city (Getty/ georgeclerk)

Birmingham ranked UK’s most vibrant city

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Birmingham has been crowned the UK’s most vibrant city for the first time this year, new research from CGA by NielsenIQ and Wireless Social has revealed.

Tough comparative week: sales in the on premise were 1% behind 2021 levels in the seven days to Saturday 17 September (Credit: Getty/monkeybusinessimages)

Drinks sales 1% behind v 2021

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in the seven days to Saturday 17 September were 1% behind compared to the same week last year, the latest CGA by NielsenIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker has shown.

What's in the news 23 September?

Review of the Week

Reasons for optimism?

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington spoke with trade association bosses Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality and the BII's Steve Alton to get their take on the mini-budget and whether there was any grounds for optimism.

Industry in need: Sector's growth since Covid knocked back by inflation (Getty/ fotoVoyager)

Inflation wipes out hospitality’s growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in August were a modest 2.0% ahead of pre-Covid levels of August 2019, the new Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Continued dispute: October train strikes planned (Getty/ Emma Kim)

Train strikes to resume in October

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Train drivers are set to stage strikes in early October in a long-running fight for higher wages and improved working conditions.

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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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