Stonegate Group

Stonegate seeing ‘material improvements in profitability’

09-Apr-2024 By MCA

Stonegate has reported a “highly respectable performance”, with positive like-for-like growth, most notably in Craft Union, its fast-growing operator managed business.

Stonegate brings back 'Kids Eat for £1' deal

26-Mar-2024 By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate Group, Britain’s largest pubco, has announced the relaunch of its ‘Kids Eat for £1’ initiative this Easter.

Stonegate reveals operating board changes

20-Mar-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has announced appointments to its operating board after new hires and promotions.

Helen Charlesworth ‘stepping down one of the hardest things I’ve done’

28-Feb-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK’s biggest pub company Stonegate Group has announced Helen Charlesworth has decided to step down as managing director for its managed business.

Slug & Lettuce’s £650k investment into second new concept site

23-Feb-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

Stonegate Group’s managed cocktail bar division Slug & Lettuce has announced its second new look venue is set to open after a £650,000 transformation.

Toy cheer from Craft Union

29-Jan-2024 By Ed Bedington

Community focused pub group Craft Union is celebrating another year of charity success having brought joy to children and their families last December.

Fears Stonegate sites at risk as TDR looks to refinance £2.5bn debt

11-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

More than 650 Stonegate pubs could be put at risk as its parent company seeks to refinance £2.5bn worth of debt, though the firm claims it is “well-placed” to deliver on its long-term objectives.

The Big Interview

'I've got a ridiculous addiction to pubs' - Stonegate's Payne takes a look back

19-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

After more than 50 years in the pub trade, Stonegate founder and chairman Ian Payne is hanging up his bar blade. The MA met up with him to chat over 50 amazing years in the trade.

Stonegate CEO Ian Payne to retire

17-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Stonegate chairman and founder Ian Payne MBE has decided to retire at the end of January 2024 and step down from his role with the group after 13 years.

Slug & Lettuce reveals ‘transformational’ new look and plans for more

28-Sep-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Slug & Lettuce, the managed cocktail bar division of Stonegate Group, has reopened its flagship venue in Deansgate following a £680,000 investment.

Stonegate receives backlash for dynamic pricing move

13-Sep-2023 By Shwetali Sapte

Stonegate Group has received backlash following its announcement to introduce dynamic beer pricing.

Stick or twist: Will Stonegate's dynamic pricing gamble pay off?

12-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

Stonegate’s decision to run dynamic pricing in some "select pubs" in its managed estate has opened up quite an interesting can of worms.

Stonegate launches dynamic pricing

12-Sep-2023 By Ed Bedington

The UK’s largest pub group has launched a new system of dynamic pricing, which could see prices increase in some pubs during busier periods.

Stonegate 'to axe up to 260 jobs'

25-Jul-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pub company Stonegate is set to enter into a consultation process that could make up to 260 roles redundant, as it restructures its central functions and operations management team.

‘Stand-out’ performance from Craft Union arm of Stonegate

18-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Craft Union, Stonegate Group’s operator-led pub model has delivered a “stand-out” performance as like-for-like (lfl) sales rose by 14.7% for the 28-week period to 9 April 2022.

Be At One staff trek across London for charity walk

14-Jul-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Staff from Stonegate Group’s late-night bar brand Be At One have taken part in a 26-mile walk taking in as many sites as possible on a ‘bar-a-thon’.

McDowall 'I'm in my dream job'

23-Jun-2023 By Ed Bedington

For some of us, we’re lucky enough to enjoy our jobs, but for Stonegate boss David McDowall, he’s delighted to find himself doing the job he’d always wanted!

Stonegate promotes Melissa Wisdom to chief commercial officer

05-Jun-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Stonegate Group has announced the appointment of Melissa Wisdom as the company’s chief commercial officers.

Stonegate raises £250k for MND Association

24-May-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The UK’s biggest pub company, Stonegate Group, has raised £250,000 for its corporate charities, the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and MND Scotland.

Ex-football star Bridge opens sports bar Clubhouse 5

19-May-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Stonegate officially launched its state-of-the-art sports bar Clubhouse 5 on Wednesday (17 May) with former football star Wayne Bridge meeting customers on the night.

Baker to step down as commercial director at Stonegate

12-May-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Stonegate Group commercial director Suzanne Baker has announced she will step down from her role to take a seat on the board as a non-executive director.

Record GBPA winner moves to Stonegate’s Clubhouse 5 site

05-May-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Multi-award-winning pub operator Paul Eastwood – whose Famous Three Kings site has scooped Best Pub to Watch Sport at the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) an incredible FIVE times – has taken over new site Clubhouse 5.

Craft Union to continue growth after reaching 500 pubs

05-Apr-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Craft Union is planning to expand its estate further as it marks a milestone opening in its portfolio.

Stonegate reverses decision on glassware charges

30-Mar-2023 By Ed Bedington

Leading pubco Stonegate has announced a reversal in its decision to charge operators for glassware after operators reacted angrily to the move.

Stonegate doubles revenue to £1.6bn in ‘creditable performance’

22-Mar-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Stonegate has recorded a “creditable performance” but has not ruled out further site disposals, according to its 2022 financial year results ended 25 September 2022.

Stonegate operators feel 'second-class' after glassware charges introduced

21-Mar-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate operators have been left feeling like “second-class citizens” after the pubco introduced an “extra cost” for branded glassware across its leased and tenanted sites.

Stonegate launches Pub Hub as part of £10m investment

17-Feb-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Stonegate Pub Partners has unveiled a new platform for licensees that offers ideas and advice on how to increase sales, cut operating costs and a run a successful business.

Stonegate looking to sell 1,000 pubs to pay off debt

01-Feb-2023 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Stonegate Group is looking to sell off around 1,000 of its pubs in order to pay down some of its £2.6bn debt pile, according to a report by Bloomberg.

BrewDog’s McDowall replacing Stonegate’s Longbottom

09-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Stonegate Group chief executive officer Simon Longbottom is stepping down from the role at the country's biggest pub company and is set to be replaced by BrewDog’s David McDowall in February 2023.

Stonegate raises more than 13k for charity

07-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pubco Stonegate Group has raised more than £13,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association through its Tour de Stonegate 2022 virtual cycling fundraising drive.

Craft Union donates £37,000 to local projects

19-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Craft Union Pub Company, part of Stonegate’s managed pubs division, has donated more than £37,000 to local projects as part of its ‘Love your Local’ campaign.

Stonegate ruling sets 'dangerous precedent'

18-Oct-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The outcome of pub company Stonegate’s legal battle against insurers MS Amlin, announced yesterday (Monday 17 October), sets a “dangerous precedent” and is “far from conclusive”.

Stonegate announces operational shake up

02-Aug-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK’s largest pub company Stonegate Group has revealed a number of new senior operational roles.

Stonegate ‘exploring 75 pub package sale’

01-Jul-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The UK’s largest pub company Stonegate Group is reportedly looking to sell 75 pubs for a rumoured £100m.

Stonegate unveils new premium division

05-May-2022 By Finn Scott-Delany, MCA editor

Stonegate has launched the first site under its new premium division, which will be known internally as the Chapter Collection.

Stonegate scoops two awards at BII's NITAs 2022

04-May-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large pub operator Stonegate Group has won two awards at the British Institute of Innkeeping’s (BII’S) 2022 National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs).

Licensees’ joy on reaching combined 60 years behind the bar

14-Apr-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pub managers for operator Stonegate, owned by the Ei Group, are celebrating a combined 60 years of service in hospitality.

Stonegate wins ‘Best Employer of the Year’ award

28-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large operator Stonegate Group has been awarded ‘Best Employer of the Year’ at the British Credit Control Awards 2022.

Stonegate offering free drinks this March

08-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Stonegate Pub Partners is offering customers a buy one, get one free deal on selected drinks across its estate to support charity until the end of March 2022.

Stonegate Group only pubco nominated at the British Credit Awards 2022

08-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Large pub company, the Stonegate Group, has been shortlisted for three awards at the British Credit Awards 2022.

Stonegate buys remaining 25% share of Hippo Inns

11-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Large pub company Stonegate has acquired 25% of the issued share capital in Hippo Inns from Rupert Clevely and Ian Edward for an undisclosed sum.

Stonegate pub to reopen after £500k investment

03-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Stonegate Group pub the Oak Tree in Norwich has opened its doors after a short period of closure following an investment of half a million pounds.

Stonegate Group to host unique recruitment event

09-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator the Stonegate Group is hosting a recruitment day on Wednesday 10 November at the Alice in Houndsditch, London.

‘Our job is to put the party back into people’s lives’

22-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Stonegate Group’s operations director for its late-night division has said venues still have a responsibility to reduce the spread of Covid, as the sector is finally freed of legal restrictions.

Stonegate files £845m lawsuit against insurers

19-Jul-2021 By Georgi Gyton

Stonegate Group has filed a £845m lawsuit against its insurers: MS Amlin, Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe and Zurich, in the latest sector dispute over business interruption policies.

MA’s review of the week

‘Pubs part of the problem’ mindset needs serious reassessment

07-May-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with the award-winning operator of the Lion in Treorchy to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Ei rent credits to stop at end of June

26-Mar-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Tied Ei Publican Partnerships licensees on substantive agreements in England will receive rent credits until 20 June but The Morning Advertiser understands the credits will stop after this date.

Stonegate registers £746m loss amid pandemic pub closures

18-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

The UK’s largest pub company revealed that the enforced closure of its sites has yielded a £746m loss and forced it to tap investors and debt markets for £1.4bn funding.

JDW and M&B among pubcos to claim most furlough in December

02-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

JD Wetherspoon and Mitchells & Butlers were among the pub companies to claim the most through the furlough scheme in December 2020.

Changes at the top for Stonegate

02-Feb-2021 By Ed Bedington

Realignment moves at Stonegate has seen the departure of one of the companies senior directors.