Pubs

'Another crushing blow' for hospitality as Government tightens restrictions on sector

22-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants across England must have a 10pm closing time from Thursday (24 September) under new Coronavirus restrictions that have been described as 'another crushing blow' for the sector.

EOTHO gave industry a boost - but figures still down on 2019

02-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Diners spent 34.2% more at restaurants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August than they did in July thanks to the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out Initiative but the industry is still down on last year.

Pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen get green light to reopen as local lockdown eases

25-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen will be able to reopen tomorrow (26 August) as the city's local Coronavirus lockdown is lifted.

Hospitality Ulster seeks rescue package for Northern Ireland's wet-led pubs

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Trade body Hospitality Ulster is calling on the the Northern Ireland Executive to create a rescue package for wet-led pubs, which have been told they can’t open until 1 September at the earliest.

Mandatory calorie counts strongly opposed by hospitality bosses

07-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The hospitality industry is strongly opposed to mandatory calorie counts on menus and alcohol point of sale material, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence.

Kevin Tickle returns to Lake District dining scene with the Crown Inn

04-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Former L’Enclume and The Forest Side chef Kevin Tickle is to take on a 17th century coaching inn in the Lake District village of High Newton with wife Nicola.

Branded operators report “steady improvement” in sales

31-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Branded restaurant, pub and bar operators are seeing a steady improvement in sales as more sites reopen across the country - but collective like-for-like sales in trading sites are still down 28.5% on the same week last year.

Tom Kerridge: "We need to stay positive for our customers"

10-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The high profile chef on turning his hugely successful Meals from Marlow initiative into a fully-fledged charity and what he thinks of the Government’s response to the pandemic.

More than 18,000 pubs reopened on 4 July

07-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Data collated by the CGA's Outlet Index suggests that 18,277 of a possible 40,575 pubs and bars in England reopened on 4 July.

"We’re heavy hearted, but we just cannot open" – Why many operators aren’t reopening on 4 July

26-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

A number of high-profile restaurateurs including chef Sat Bains and Bancone founder Will Ellner say they have decided to not reopen their restaurants on 4 July.

Relaxed social distancing allows for extra 145m pints to be sold

24-Jun-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

An additional 145 million pints of beer can be sold out of home now that social distancing has been relaxed, according to CGA.

Restaurants and pubs can reopen on 4 July, with less than two metre distancing, says Government

23-Jun-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurants, pubs and hotels will be able to open from 4 July in England with social distancing rules also being eased, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.

Pubs and restaurants in Northern Ireland given green light to reopen earlier than planned

16-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

The Stormont Executive has agreed to bring forward the reopening days of pubs, restaurants and hotels in Northern Ireland to 3 July.

Tom Kitchin on the plight of Scottish hospitality

01-Jun-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Edinburgh-based chef restaurateur Tom Kitchin says he is deeply concerned about the Scottish hospitality industry, which is expected to re-open for eat-in no early than August.

Campaign to make public spaces available to hospitality launched

14-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

A campaign has been launched to safely re-start the UK hospitality industry by transforming public spaces and streets into al fresco dining spaces whilst adhering to physical distancing.

‘Crowded by design’ venues unlikely to open in July

11-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants and pubs that will be liable to crowding and will therefore struggle to implement social distancing measures are unlikely to reopen any time soon, according to new details released today (11 May) by the Government.

The Lowdown: Vilnius

30-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Lithuanian capital is temporarily giving public spaces to its restaurants and bars to help them comply with physical distancing rules.

Restaurant, pub and bar closures slow to lowest rate in two years

09-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

An average of six restaurants, pubs or bars closed every day in Britain last year, according to latest Market Growth Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

Aiden Byrne planning Salford restaurant and pub

28-Jan-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Aiden Byrne has announced plans to open a large restaurant and pub in Salford just weeks after the sudden closure of his Manchester flagship MCR.

Steven Smith on Mr Smith's

29-Nov-2019 By James McAllister

Lancashire's Steven Smith already runs one of the UK's most ambitious pubs but is upping the ante with Mr Smith's, a 10-cover communal table that offers a more top-end and involved experience.

Flash-grilled: Ben McKellar

04-Oct-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Largely Brighton and Hove-based chef restaurateur Ben McKellar runs a total of five venues including fine dining restaurant the Gingerman and recently launched small plates restaurant The Flint House.

Steve Drake drops The Anchor to focus on Sorrel

02-Oct-2019 By Joe Lutrario

Steve Drake has sold his Surrey pub The Anchor to focus on his Michelin-starred Dorking restaurant Sorrel.

The Lowdown: Tom Kerridge's pub programme

01-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Chef and publican Tom Kerridge will headline a new primetime TV show on BBC Two about British pubs that are under threat.

How I got here: Maria Tamander

08-May-2019 By Joe Lutrario

A former film executive, Swedish-born Maria Tamander took over upmarket Paddington pub The Cleveland Arms in 2014.

Pied à Terre owner David Moore talks pubs, cookery classes and street food

26-Apr-2019 By Sophie Witts

High-profile restaurateur David Moore founded Fitzrovia fine dining institution Pied à Terre in 1991. More recent projects include street food concept Cook Love at London’s Dinerama and The Devereux pub in Holborn, which launched last month.

Publican Awards winners revealed

13-Mar-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The Liberation Group, Cirrus Inns and Inception Group were among the winners at the Publican Awards 2019, which took place in London last night.

Emily Watkins to leave The Kingham Plough

28-Feb-2019 By Stefan Chomka

Emily Watkins and her husband and business partner Miles Lampson have sold The Kingham Plough after having spent 12 years at their popular Oxfordshire gastropub.

Latest opening: The Crown

30-Jan-2019 By Joe Lutrario

The latest pub from former Racine chef Henry Harris has a Mediterranean-inspired menu.

in association with Barclaycard

Hip hip hooray: How Three Cheers Pub Co. delivers a memorable experience

19-Dec-2018 By Restaurant

Three Cheers Pub Co. is capitalising on the experience economy with its quirky collection of pubs that offer guests a distinctive and memorable experience.

The Restaurant Group buys Food & Fuel gastropubs for £15m

31-Aug-2018 By Sophie Witts

London gastropub group Food & Fuel has been sold to The Restaurant Group (TRG) for £15.4m.

Flash-grilled: Tom Oldroyd

23-Jul-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The former chef director of Polpo on dungarees, bubble tea and Doritos with mayo.

Stephen Harris on being a self-taught chef

12-Jul-2018 By Joe Lutrario

The Sportsman chef patron on learning how to cook from the books and restaurants of high profile chefs and how he ultimately went on to forge a style of his own.

World Cup fever 'a boost to pubs and restaurants', says Barclaycard

10-Jul-2018 By Stefan Chomka

World Cup fever led to an increase in spending in pubs and restaurants last month, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.

Wetherspoon’s Tim Martin hits out at pub VAT and business rates

22-Nov-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has again hit out against the VAT and business rates paid by pubs, saying that they are “killing pubs”.

Business Profile: Fuller's

09-Feb-2015 By Joe Lutrario

Brewer and pub operator Fuller's has successfully delivered its vision of a food-led future and its premium positioning and careful expansion policy is paying dividends.

MPs vote against bid to tighten pub planning laws

26-Jan-2015 By James Wallin, M&C Report

A Parliamentary vote to stop pubs being converted or demolished without planning permission has been narrowly defeated.

#WorldCup2014: Pubs and bars get £116m sales boost

11-Jul-2014 By Lauren Houghton

Consumers have spent an extra £116m in pubs and bars during this year’s football World Cup, according to research by vouchercodes.co.uk. 

CAMRA calls for councils to protect pubs

08-Jul-2014 By Lauren Houghton

A new report released by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) highlights how local councils can work to save British pubs by recognising their place in the community and blocking conversions from developers. 

Supermarket sweep: Expanding stores call last orders on hundreds of pubs

07-Feb-2014 By Luke Nicholls

With 18 pubs closing every week across the UK, new research from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has found that two of those pubs are being converted to supermarkets, despite objections from local residents. 

Brits celebrated Christmas 2013 and New Year in restaurants and pubs

16-Jan-2014 By Emma Eversham

Brits decided to celebrate last Christmas and New Year by eating out in pubs and restaurants according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker which found that like-for-like sales were up 3.3 per cent on the same period in 2012. 

Sector to find more space for rooms

29-Nov-2013 By Mark Wingett

Following the food revolution, the next growth area for the pub sector is gearing up to be accommodation, with a number of operators set to invest significant funds into growing their room stock over the coming 18-24 months and as overseas tourists return...

Pubs & Charity Month: Pint-sized fundraisers raise the profile of British pubs

03-Jul-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Despite being continually battered by a perfect storm of high taxes, cheap supermarket alcohol and grim economic times, pubs across the UK remain resolute in their work with charities, raising more than £106m in the past year alone – an average of £2,742...

The A-Z of Pubs and Bars

30-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

While publicans might not be faced with as baffling a list of acronyms as hoteliers or as driven by fashion as some restaurateurs, our handy A-Z glossary of key industry terms and trends is a must-read for those looking to make a few pounds from a few...

Brakspear buys two Enterprise Inns pubs, declares intention to expand further

09-Jul-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Brakspear pubs has purchased two venues from Enterprise Inns as chief executive Tom Davies declares the tenanted pub operator will remain on the acquisition trail and intends to expand further this year.

Protected pubs list among options in Kensington and Chelsea consultation on pub closures

11-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has launched a public consultation on options to change local planning laws to stop the closure of pubs including asking residents to make a list of pubs they want saved and protected.

Former Pubfolio sites among package of 74 pubs put up for sale

10-Feb-2012 By Mark Wingett

A 74-strong package of closed freehold and long-leasehold pubs, which includes sites from the former Pubfolio and Goldtry estates, has been placed on the market, according to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Report.

MPs support campaign to amend smoking ban in pubs

29-Jun-2011 By Emma Eversham

MPs from the three main parties are hosting a reception at The House of Commons later today to gain support for a campaign to amend the smoking ban.

David Miliband launches campaign to save British pubs

02-Aug-2010 By Becky Paskin

Labour leadership hopeful David Miliband hopes to give tenants the choice to opt out of the beer tie and reinstate a pubs minister under a new campaign to save the British pub

After hours with...Emily Hodgson

06-Jan-2010 By Emma Eversham

BigHospitality catches up with one of hospitality's top achievers for the lowdown on her career and thoughts about the industry