Pubco + Head Office

Hart and soul of Ashill: the White Hart pub

MY PUB

My Pub: the White Hart, Ashill, Norfolk

By Gary Lloyd

Married couple Jonathan and Naomi Pearson took on the White Hart in Ashill during Covid and were forced to quickly close during the lockdowns of the pandemic.

Pubs need help: hospitality leaders have written to the Government (credit: Getty/miodrag ignjatovic)

BBPA members demand help ahead of Budget

By Gary Lloyd

Leaders of more than 80 of the UK’s pub companies and breweries – who are members of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) – have written to the Chancellor to demand action at next month’s Budget on VAT, business rates and beer duty.

Business anniversary: Urban Pubs & Bars is celebrating 10 years of trading this year

A look at Urban Pubs & Bars’ history

By Nikkie Thatcher

We’ve taken a look back at how Urban Pubs & Bars was formed and how the group is dealing with the current challenges facing the sector.

What's in the news 9 February

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

‘VAT cut would allow us to pay staff more’

By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser’s associate features editor Gary Lloyd caught up with Banwell House Pub Company managing director Toby Brett to get his take on the week's news, what he wants from the Spring Budget and gives a prediction for England v Wales...

Huge funding: the £3.8million raised is the equivalent of £434 every hour in 2023 and could fund up to 82,353 Macmillan nursing hours

GK celebrates £3.8m raised for Macmillan Cancer Support

By Gary Lloyd

Suffolk-based brewer and pub operator Greene King is celebrating another record-breaking fundraising year for Macmillan Cancer Support after its pubs, breweries and support centres raised an amazing £3.8m in 2023.

Company history: Urban Pubs & Bars was founded in 2014

Urban Pubs & Bars ‘poised for expansion’

By Nikkie Thatcher

London-based multiple operator Urban Pubs & Bars has reported an upswing in sales and turnover in its latest trading update and is eyeing further growth.

Cash injection: Admiral Taverns has invested more than £20m into its community pubs in 2023

Admiral pumped over £27m into 300 pubs

By Nikkie Thatcher

Community pub company Admiral Taverns ploughed more than £27m into refurbishments and updates across its Proper Pubs and tenanted and leased estate in England, Scotland and Wales last year.

Boss comments: M&B chief executive Phil Urban was delighted by the firm's trading performance

7.7% sales upswing for M&B

By Nikkie Thatcher

Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported like-for-like sales growth of 7.7%, according to a trading update for the 15 weeks to 13 January 2024.

Vacancies to fill: finding kitchen staff has been proving difficult for a long time (credit: Getty/andresr)

FEATURE – STAFFING, TRAINING, RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT

FEATURE: Overcoming the staffing shortage

By Michelle Perrett

Staffing has always been a challenge in the pub sector but since the perfect storm of Brexit, Covid, minimum and national living wage increases, the cost-of-living crisis, immigration changes – combined with the poor reputation of a career in the industry...

New site opening: Alex and Matt Crowther are opening the Lost Pug

Beer & Coffee Company to open the Lost Pug

By The Morning Advertiser

The Warwickshire-based bar and restaurant group behind venues including pubs the Royal Pug, the Fat Pug and the Black Pug in Warwick, and the Lazy Pug in Shipston is continuing to expand with plans for a new Pug venue.

Finding more ways to prosper: Professor Victoria Wells

OPINION

Pubs have had to diversify to survive

By Victoria Wells, Professor of Sustainable Management School for Business and Society, University of York

As a pub researcher I’m almost always given pub (or beer) related gifts for Christmas and birthdays – Christmas 2023 was no exception.

Honoured: Tim Martin, Adam Handling and Stuart Broad

New Year’s Honours roll call review

By Gary Lloyd

The New Year Honours list always attracts attention and the recent awards were no exception as JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin received a knighthood for his services to hospitality and culture.

Toughest month: the pub remains a ‘wonderful place’ even for those abstaining

OPINION

Remember pubs during the ‘longest month of the year’

By Gav Young, licensee of the Plough & Barleycorn, Isle of Wight

So we are here, 2024 has begun. Much of the population will have powered through the festive indulgences in preparation for new year resolutions as we head into, arguably, the longest month of the year.

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 70

The Lock In Podcast

New Year, new opportunities?

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.

Fresh challenge: taking on a pub or moving to a different site could be just what the doctor ordered (credit: getty/andresr)

The surge in applications to run a pub

By Gary Lloyd

“New year, new me.” So often the cry of someone who managed to survive the previous 365 days despite facing hammer blows all the way with the intention of reversing such misfortunes in the time it will take for the Earth to revolve around the sun again.

Stage stars: the Marston's pub of the year awards winners

Star shines as Marston’s T&L pub of the year

By Gary Lloyd

Publican Ally Heath praised her team after the Star in Penkridge saw off all other competitors to be crowned pub of the year in Marston’s tenanted & leased annual awards.

Looking back: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie reflects on the past 12 months

OPINION

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024

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.

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.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 79 Are you being served? (credit: Getty/ViewApart) Experts give comment for the Beer Report 2024 Ed Bedington opinion on James May interview OPINION: James May is right... but not about everything

Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

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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