Running your pub

Publican Awards: celebrating excellence across the sector

The PUBLICAN AWARDS 2024

The Publican Awards: a trip down memory lane

By Rebecca Weller

With the 2024 Publican Awards set to take place in less than 12 weeks, The Morning Advertiser has taken a look back at the last five years of the event.

Cautiously optimistic: drinks sales up 7% in final fortnight of 2023 (Credit: Getty/	zeljkosantrac)

Drinks sales up 7% during last two weeks of 2023

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales were up 7% year-on-year during the final fortnight of 2023, indicating “positive trends” for 2024 despite continued “difficult trading conditions”, according to CGA.

Gig economy: Live music expected to boom in pubs this year (Credit: Getty/mixeto)

Live music in pubs could skyrocket in 2024

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Gigs in the ‘seed’ music industry – those staged in hospitality venues across the UK – soared 37% over the festive season, providing a boost for artists and the pubs they performed in.

Overnight stays: Voucher sales for pub accommodation website soar (Credit: Getty/ Kathrin Ziegler)

Pub accommodation predicted to grow in 2024

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs with rooms website Stay In A Pub has predicted pub accommodation to grow in 2024 after it reported a 50% increase in voucher sales over the Christmas period.

Collaborative approach: JDW's Tim Martin put the honour down to a team effort

JDW boss Tim Martin knighted in New Year Honours

By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) founder and chairman Tim Martin is among a number of people from the hospitality sector who have been recognised in the King’s 2024 New Year Honours list.

Prestigious event: the 2024 Publican Awards will return to Evolution London in March

PUBLICAN AWARDS

2024 Publican Awards finalists revealed

By Nikkie Thatcher

With the first stage of the rigorous judging process complete, the 2024 Publican Awards finalists can now be unveiled.

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 69

The Lock In Podcast

Snowball anyone? Anyone?

By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look at Christmas, from how to handle the irregular customers (Doreen from Accounts, we're looking at you) through to nostalgic tipples!

We have to change: Hamish Stoddart is also a coach or non-executive to other smaller businesses.

OPINION

Everyone has to start saving the planet soon

By Hamish Stoddart, founder of Peach Pubs and strategic adviser to Punch Pubs

COP26 was the moment the UK and our industry came together to commit to try to play our part in keeping global warming to below 1.5°C.

Community care: Every year the Alexandra hosts free lunch for those spending Christmas Day alone

These pubs are serving up free meals this Christmas

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Enter one Wimbledon pub on 25 December and you’ll find a warmly lit sports bar twinkling with tinsel and abuzz with a mix of widowers, retail workers, au pairs, army lads and NHS staff sharing Christmas dinner over laughter and wine.

Christmas food and drink: the price offer extends to 700 products including Peroni

Help is at hand with your festive food offer

By The Morning Advertiser

If you haven’t sorted out your food provider for the festive period – or maybe you’ve been let down at the last minute – help is at hand from Booker Wholesale.

The Hunters Walton Park turns into Whoville for Christmas

Pub turns into Whoville for Christmas

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Lancashire-based pub the Hunters has boosted December trade through transforming into Whoville for the festive period.

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast episode 68

The Lock In Podcast

We kid you not....

By Ed Bedington

Children and pubs, a classic combination, or not! The Lock In team take a look at the joys of targeting the family market and how pubs can make it work.

(Credit: Getty/ staticnak1983)

'Seed' music scene could boost sector by £2.4bn

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A report published today (29 November) reveals the ‘seed’ music scene, gigging in the hospitality sector, could be the catalyst for a multi-billion-pound boost to venues and artists.

Deadline extension: operators now have until Friday 1 December to enter the Publican Awards

Extra time to enter 2024 Publican Awards

By Nikkie Thatcher

The entry deadline for next year’s Publican Awards has been extended, meaning operators have an additional week to be in with a chance of being named the best of the best.

Live Your Life award: HIT Training's Jill Whittaker with Keith Knowles (left) and Steve Alton (right)

Training excellence recognised at BII’s NITAs

By Gary Lloyd

Pubcos and individuals were honoured for their excellence in people development at the British Institute of Innkeeping’s (BII) National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs).

Valued gift: Black Friday is deemed a great time to sell gift cards (credit: Getty/kelvinjay)

POLL

VOTE NOW: do you sell gift cards at your pub?

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality gift cards could help “boost sales” during the quiet post-Christmas period, do you sell them at your pub? Have your say now in our snap poll.

Nearby pints: Zoopla and Useyourlocal have joined forces (Credit: Getty/Rossella De Berti)

Home-hunters can now pick property based on proximity to pub

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Useyourlocal, the UK’s largest online audience of people looking to go to the pub, has joined forces with property website Zoopla to help home-hunters pick a new property based on the proximity to their local pub.

Community pubs 10,000 pound boost from Coke

Community hero gets £10,000 boost

By Ed Bedington

Community events at an award winning pub have been given a £10,000 boost from Coca-Cola, following its success at the Great British Pub Awards.

Heineken teams up with Marmalade Trust to tackle loneliness

£90,000 raised to help tackle loneliness

By Ed Bedington

A charity to help solve the challenges of loneliness has been given a £90,000 boost thanks to a glittering gala ball hosted by Heineken UK.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 66

The Lock In Podcast

Going to the dogs...

By Ed Bedington

With dog ownership booming, the Lock In team get to grips with how pubs can best embrace man's best friend and create the paw-fect (sorry) doggy offer.

Community payback: Stroud Brewery boss Greg Pilley says local sourcing for staff and suppliers has reciprocal result

OPINION

Can't afford to save the planet?

By Greg Pilley, managing director, Stroud Brewery

How often do you find yourself having to balance your values against cost?

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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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