Mitchells & Butlers reports strong festive period with sales up 4.7 per cent January 13, 2017 Pub, bar and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers has reported an uptick in sales during the first quarter of the year, citing a particularly strong festive period. The figures Like-for-like sales growth for the year-to-date increased to 1.7 per cent in the 15 weeks to 7 January, with trading over the festive period "particularly strong [...]
Pubs Code Adjudicator defends his appointment and announces new conflict of interest policy at BIS Select Committee meeting May 10, 2016 The government's new Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) defended his appointment today and announced he would put in a conflict of interest policy to act as a check and balance to his role. "I believe I can do the job fairly, lawfully and properly," Paul Newby told the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee this morning. [...]
Alcohol industries call for duty freezes in Autumn Statement to distill Brexit fears November 18, 2016 The beer and spirit industries are hopeful for another year of duty freezes, while the wine sector looks for a levelled playing field ahead of Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement. Earlier this year, George Osborne froze the duty rates on beer, spirits and most ciders, but most wines and higher strength sparkling cider were set to go up, [...]
Daisy Group is reported to be considering stock market float February 26, 2017 Daisy Group, the telecoms company which went private two years ago, is reported to be considering a stock market comeback either this year or in early 2018. According to The Sunday Times, the company is plotting a £1.4bn market return, after private equity firms Toscafund and Penta Capital taking Daisy Group out of public hands [...]
Enterprise Inns results show steady growth as it moves away from one-size-fits-all management style November 15, 2016 Shares gained some fizz yesterday at the UK's largest pub owner, Enterprise Inns, while full-year profits after tax swung back. The figures Revenue rose 1.1 per cent to £632m from £625m last year. Profit after tax swung to £71m following 2015's loss of £65m, due to low exceptional refinancing costs and lower property charges arising from [...]
The business rates backlash continues… this time Sainsbury’s speaks out February 19, 2017 Sainsbury's is the latest company to raise its voice amid growing concern over the impending rise in business rates which will see thousands of businesses with a bigger bill. The supermarket's chief executive Mike Coupe slammed the levy as "archaic" and called for reforms to "level the playing field with firms such as Amazon which [...]
Challenger bank Tandem pranked people in a north London pub by swapping the bar staff for bankers April 4, 2016 Challenger banks love to poke fun at the status quo. None more so than Tandem, the UK's newest digital bank, which is set to open later this year. The new lender on the block, spearheaded by Capital One co-founder Ricky Knox, made its presence known last week by pulling a prank in a north London pub to poke [...]
Asda has mixed Prosecco and Pinot Grigio to create an unholy booze chimera February 17, 2017 Remember that time Italian politicians discovered British pubs were serving Prosecco on tap and, um, took exception? Well, there's a good chance Britain is about to offend their delicate sensibilities again, after Asda unveiled Progrigio. Yes, it's a Frankensteinian blend of Prosecco and Pinot Grigio. In an article for Asda Good Living, Asda wine buyer Jack Clayton describes it [...]
Christmas celebrations boost overall consumer spending for December January 9, 2017 Visa cardholders spent more in the final quarter of 2016 than they had for two years, according to Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index, pointing toward a solid increase in household spending. The monthly report showed that consumer spending in December was up 2.6 per cent on the year in December with online purchases leading the [...]
London Marathon 2016: What time it starts, where to watch, what the weather forecast is and the best pubs along the route April 18, 2016 Carb-loading, hamstring-stretching and thanking your lucky stars that you can actually have a lie in from next weekend onwards? Welcome to the London Marathon…. This weekend the capital will be over-taken by more than 35,000 runners (and more than a few walkers) looking to finish the 26.2m course. If you haven’t been sleeping, eating and [...]