Legal

Xmas trade better than expected for 50% of pubs

11-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Half (50%) of operators say trade was better than expected over the festive season, according to a recent snap poll by The Morning Advertiser.

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips for bingo in pubs: a time-honoured tradition gets a modern twist

11-Jan-2024 By Alex Tomlinson, licensing solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Bingo, a classic game that has entertained people for generations has found a new and vibrant home in pubs around the UK.

Pub loses 'thousands' in damaged stock due to Storm Henk flooding

09-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

A Cambridgeshire pub has lost “thousands” of pounds worth of stock due to flooding caused by Storm Henk.

Tube strike cancellation 'too late' for sector

08-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

The damage done to hospitality businesses by tube strikes is “undoubtedly too late to reverse” as planned tube strikes in London are cancelled at the “eleventh hour”.

NTIA poll reveals ‘fragility’ of night time economy

08-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

One trade body has called for government intervention to support the night time economy after its research shed light on the instability of the sector.

The Lock In Podcast

New Year, new opportunities?

08-Jan-2024 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a look ahead to see what 2024 has in store, both the opportunities and the challenges and how you can embrace both.

Pubs urged to strike energy deals while costs are low

05-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs should lock in price deals on energy as commodity costs continue to reduce and are 60% lower than a year ago.

Darts – what are the rules for pubs?

05-Jan-2024 By Alex Tomlinson, solicitor at Poppleston Allen

This week, we saw 16-year-old Luke Littler compete in the PDC World Darts Championship final before losing 7-4 to Luke Humphries.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Tying up loose ends – changes to licensing law in 2024

05-Jan-2024 By Andy Grimsey, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

So, welcome to 2024. We usually write a piece at this time of year looking forward to likely changes in the licensing landscape over the next 12 months, and this year is no different.

UKH demands Gov help to enact 2024 plan

02-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has announced a three-point plan for 2024 that demands action from the Government.

Farewell 2023, here's to 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

There's a strange feeling of deja vu as I sit down to write my thoughts on the year and hopes for the year ahead.

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: part two

21-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

In the second part of our look ahead we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what 2024 will hold.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Q&A: notifying councils about refurbs and under 18s playing bingo

21-Dec-2023 By Imogen Moss, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Poppleston Allen answers questions about having to notify local authorities about changes to a property and looks at the rules around under 18s playing bingo.

OPINION

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As we approach the new year, it is an opportunity to review some of the key milestones for the pubs code and the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) during 2023.

Inflation drop ‘good for economy, far from reality for hospitality’

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

A decrease in the rate of inflation is a good sign but the upcoming increase in business rates will cause operators more pain, one trade body has said.

New Year 2024

Industry hopes and fears: Part one

20-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

With 2024 looming, we spoke to a number of leading industry figures to get their thoughts on what the year ahead will hold.

Scottish Budget ‘bitter pill to swallow’

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Voices from across the Scottish hospitality sector have responded with disappointment in reaction to the Budget announcement.

Business rates support slashed for Welsh pubs

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs in Wales will see their business rates relief decrease from 75% to 40%, finance minister Rebecca Evans has announced.

London borough scheme helps to fill staffing shortages

19-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

More than 200 businesses in one London borough have been given support in a bid to help fill 121,000 hospitality job vacancies in the UK.

Festive lifeline needed to save firms

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of small to medium business (SME) owners will have to close, put plans on hold or find other employment if Christmas isn’t a successful trading period, research has found.

Beer and cider draught sales volumes 7.4% higher than last year

19-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Weekly volumes sales of draught beer and cider have risen 7.4% versus the corresponding week in 2022 – driven by an increase in footfall and dwell time in the run-up to Christmas.

UKH to help advocate spiking prevention guidance

19-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has said it is committed to providing venues with up-to-date guidance on preventing spiking.

Government publishes tipping code of practice

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie, MCA

The Department for Business and Trade has published a draft code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips.

NTIA welcomes modernisation of spiking laws

17-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has welcomed the Home Office’s announcement to modernise legislation around drink and needle spiking.

Potential for a flagship bar at luxury London destination?

15-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

A new bar, restaurant and event space at luxury destination The Royal Exchange has been announced by Des Gunewardena, co-founder of restaurant group D&D London.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips - children in pubs

14-Dec-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The busy Christmas trading period and families with children in pubs can increase risk of falling foul of the law around children in pubs

Party-goers spend 2.1% less on nights out

14-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

For the first time in over a year people are spending less on a night our according to the quarterly survey commissioned by the UK’s largest late-night operator Rekom UK.

Solid November for managed pubs

13-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 4% in November, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

NTIA: Covid inquiry a waste of money without sector insight

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Failing to include representation from the hospitality sector in the Covid-19 inquiry will be a waste of taxpayers’ money, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Like-for-like on-trade drinks sales volumes down

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

On-trade drinks sales have fallen behind last year’s volumes but it would be difficult to beat last year’s biggest single day of sales when England competed in the football World Cup quarter final.

OPINION

Where have all the pubs gone?

11-Dec-2023 By Stephen Owens, managing director – Pubs & Restaurants, Christie & Co

It seems hardly a day goes by without the media commenting on the rate of pub closures or the rising price of a pint.

Reminder of licensing law round children in pubs

08-Dec-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

During a recent episode of the Lock In podcast, Poppleston Allen's Suraj Desor outlined the legalities around children in pubs. Here he goes into more detail about the topic.

Ofgem proposals ‘needed for fairness’ says UKH

08-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has backed Ofgem’s proposals to expand existing rules of standards of conduct to al businesses.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Licensing – Over regulation?

08-Dec-2023 By James Anderson, partner, Poppleston Allen

Is the licensing process stifling business?

Rekom to shut city's largest nightclub

07-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pryzm Plymouth will close for good after a final New Year’s Eve party as the cost-of-living crisis squeezes student budgets.

Villagers rally to save their last pub

07-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Villagers have come together to save the last pub in King’s Walden which has been labelled the “heart of the community”.

Night czar: overseas salary plans ‘risk huge damage to sector’

06-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

London night czar Amy Lamé fears plans to raise the minimum salary required for skilled overseas workers will hit the hospitality sector hard.

OPINION

'Is a pub ever truly viable?'

05-Dec-2023 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

It was 1983. I was the Midland’s Senior Officer at the National Licensed Victuallers Association.

New immigration plans 'will worsen staff shortages'

05-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s changes to the immigration system will “further shrink” hospitality’s talent pool and contribute to greater shortages, one trade body has warned.

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Reminder to check your licence for Christmas trading

01-Dec-2023 By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

Be careful, it will not have escaped people’s notice that this year both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday.

Xmas rail strikes cast 'dark shadow' despite RMT deal

30-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Industrial action will cause a “dark shadow” over festive trade despite rail unions pay deal to end dispute ahead of next year’s Spring strikes.

POLL: How much of an impact will the NLW rise have on your business?

29-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

From April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be eligible for NLW with the rate for that age bracket being £11.44, rising from its current level of £10.42.

PROPERTY ROUND UP

Trio takes on Shepherd Neame pub

28-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Three friends have come to the helm of a Shepherd Neame pub, while another venue has launched a fish & chip shop as operators expand their estate.

Consultation into licensing hours extension for Euros launched

28-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Home Office has launched a consultation into extending the licensing hours for the semi-final and final of the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament if England, Wales or Scotland are playing.

Fears for Grade II-listed pub's future after closure

28-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A Grade II-listed pub in Greater Manchester is shutting doors after owners sold the property, but its operator is worried about the building’s future.

Hospitality Ulster: Gov a ‘disgrace’ as business rates relief not granted in NI

27-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster members have demanded an explanation of why the sector has not been afforded business rates relief in the Autumn Statement in line with England, Scotland and Wales.

‘Iconic’ LGBTQ+ venue to shut

27-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Owner of G-A-Y Late Jeremy Joseph has announced the closure of the Soho venue, citing a number of external pressures as the reasons why.

Drinks sales flat ahead of Xmas period

24-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales were 0.5% up compared to 2022 levels in the week to Saturday 18 November, remaining virtually flat ahead of the crucial run-in to Christmas for operators and suppliers.

A look at NLW rises since it began

24-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

24-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.