MA’s review of the week
‘Pubs part of the problem’ mindset needs serious reassessment
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.
Further reading:
- Award-winning publican keeping Lion ‘match fit’ behind closed doors - Adrian Emmett explains how he’s readying the Lion in Treorchy to come out of the post-pandemic blocks and sheds light on taking Britain’s Best High Street digital during Covid-19 shutdown.
- Pubs gear up for outdoor trading - The on-trade is preparing for outside service when it is permitted next week (Monday 12 April).
- 'We couldn't have taken any more money' - Operators recounted a positive first week of outdoor trading amid high demand but said they faced challenging circumstances.
- ‘Small steps, but good ones’ as pubs reopen for outdoor trading - The first weekend went really well – we can seat around 75 in the garden and another 36 on the terrace and I'd say both were full from 2pm onwards.
- Welsh pubs to open inside alongside English counterparts - Welsh pubs and bars will be able to open indoors from 17 May after low Covid incidence, the First Minister has said.
- 'Pubs aren’t always a straightforward option to use as a polling station' - A general election usually means the public visiting schools in many parts of the country to cast their votes but the rarity of a December poll means more pubs may be used instead.
- ‘Business rates cap will harm pub revival’ - The Government must re-consider its proposed £2m business rates relief cap or face the continued “systemic closure” of pubs, according to Colliers International’s head of business rates.
- 107 Covid 'outbreaks' linked to pubs since last summer - Trade bosses have said a paper produced by Government scientists proves hospitality is a safe environment.
- Pub outbreak numbers reveal restriction scandal - One hundred and seven. Read that again - 107. That is the total number of outbreaks in pub settings between June 2020 and February 2021.
- Stonegate to buy Ei Group for £1.3bn - Stonegate Pub Company has today (18 July) agreed to buy pubco Ei Group for £1.27bn, which will see the operator’s estate rise by 4,000 sites, making Stonegate the UK’s largest pub owner.
