Pubs and Bars

The Pubs and Bars section on Catering Today covers the business developments, market trends, and operational challenges shaping the UK’s pub and bar sector. It reports on acquisitions, brand expansions, drinks innovation, and regulatory updates, alongside insights into staffing, sustainability, and consumer behaviour. With expert commentary and commercial analysis, Catering Today provides industry professionals with the intelligence needed to navigate a competitive and fast-evolving on-trade environment.

Nov- 2025 -

7 November

Wetherspoon reports 3.7% rise in Q1 sales amid cautious outlook

JD Wetherspoon has reported a 3.7% increase in like-for-like sales for the 14-week period ended 2 November, as total sales rose 4.2% compared with the same period last year. It comes as bar sales during the first quarter grew by 5.7%, food sales rose by 0.9%, and slot and fruit…
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6 November

Arc Inspirations FY turnover holds steady at £47.2m

Arc Inspirations has reported that turnover stood at £47.2m for the year ended 31 March, marginally below the £47.4m recorded in the previous year, as record festive trading offset market pressures. The hospitality business saw its operating profits for the year fall from £721k to £134k, while adjusted EBITDA were…
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4 November

Neighbourhood bar and kitchen Squeeze opens in Dalston

A new independent bar and kitchen, Squeeze, has opened on Kingsland Road in Dalston, featuring an on-site microbrewery and rooftop terrace.Set across three floors within Staycity Dalston, the venue will aim to act as a community hub offering food, drink and events inspired by the local area. Squeeze serves an…
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4 November

Greene King invests £6m in London pub refurbishments

Greene King has invested more than £6m in its pubs across London in 2025, with 14 managed sites reopening following refurbishment work. The brewer and pub company, which operates more than 1,600 managed pubs nationwide and 166 across Greater London, said the investment programme aims to enhance customer experience and…
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3 November

Modest growth for drinks sales in first half of October

Average drinks sales in managed venues rose by 4.5% in the seven days to 11 October compared with the same period in 2024, a figure that is above the UK’s current rate of inflation, according to data from CGA. Meanwhile, trading conditions were tougher in the following week to 18…
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Oct- 2025 -

31 October

Urban Pubs and Bars acquires Albion and East

Urban Pubs and Bars has officially acquired the Albion and East group, adding four London venues to its portfolio as it continues to expand across the capital. The deal includes Teatro Hall in Ealing, Canova Hall in Brixton, Botanica Hall in Clapham Junction, and Serata Hall in the City of…
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27 October

Punch Pubs FY earnings rise amid conversions boost

Punch Pubs Group has reported a “strong uplift” in trading from pubs converted to its partnership model, helping to lift underlying EBITDA from £88.6m to £95.8m for the year ended 10 August. The group said performance across its leased and tenanted and pub partnership segments had strengthened, with total revenue…
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24 October

Hospitality sales growth remains flat at 0.2% in September

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups remained flat in September with a like-for-like sales growth of 0.2%, though “cautious optimism” has been reported ahead of the festive quarter, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. It marks a second consecutive month of fractional growth, following a 0.5%…
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24 October

Revel Collective launches strategic review amid weak trading

The Revel Collective has launched a strategic review that could lead to a sale of the company or parts of its business after continued weak trading and rising costs. The board of the premium bar and gastro pub operator said it was considering “all options”, including a formal sales process…
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23 October

EBH Holdings acquires Mahiki

Mahiki, the London-born lifestyle and entertainment brand known for its Polynesian-inspired bars and celebrity clientele, has been acquired by EBH Holdings. The deal, completed following what the company described as a “forensic period of due diligence”, marks the latest chapter for a brand that has faced years of financial instability…
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