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.
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Aug- 2020 -14 August
Brewhouse & Kitchen sales up 115% thanks to Eat Out to Help Out
Brewhouse and Kitchen, the 22-site national brewpub group, has reported that sales have grown by 115% during the first six days in which the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Following its staggered reopening, the group had already achieved growth of 6.1% during its first four weeks of trading, with…
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14 August
BBPA welcomes no US tariff on beer for British brewers
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the decision from the US not to place tariffs on beer imported from the UK. According to the trade union, the US Trade Representative (USTR) was considering revising the retaliatory tariffs it has placed on various goods imported from EU countries…
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13 August
Hospitality sales halve in July
Managed pub, restaurant and bars saw total July sales down 50.4% against the year before, according to the latest data from CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker. While the overall market reported trading that was “well below” July 2019 levels, the London market “struggled” the most, with London trading down 58.3%…
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11 August
Hospitality Ulster urges NI executive to create ‘financial rescue package’
Trade body Hospitality Ulster has called on the Northern Ireland executive to create a “financial rescue package” for staff and owners of traditional non-food pubs to avert mass redundancies and business closures as a new indicative date for reopening moves to 1 September. The organisation has stated that the call…
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10 August
The Great British Beer Festival goes virtual
The Great British Beer Festival, which usually takes place this week at Olympia in London, is making its virtual debut from 11-13 September 2020. For the first time ever, visitors to CAMRA’s beer event can purchase a ticket to a weekend of live beer tastings that will run from 2pm…
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7 August
JD Wetherspoon to axe up to 130 head office roles
JD Wetherspoon has warned that up to 130 positions in its head office could be at risk of redundancy, following a restructuring of the group. The company confirmed it has written to all 417 employees at its head office, including those who are regionally based, to inform them of the…
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7 August
No trade-off needed between pubs and schools, says BBPA
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has refuted claims that a trade-off is needed between pubs and schools, to enable schools to reopen in September. The trade association has said that the government has made it clear it does not need to nationally close pubs to reopen schools, but…
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6 August
CAMRA urges PM to cut the price of a pint to boost pub jobs
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on the PM to cut tax on pints served in pubs to boost jobs and spending, following a recent survey which has found that 42% of people are visiting the pub less often than they did before lockdown. The survey of nearly…
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5 August
One in three pubs fail to break even
Over a third of pubs in the UK have failed to break even after their first month of reopening, the British Beer and Pub Association has reported. The latest data comes from a survey of its members that was conducted exactly a month after pubs were allowed to reopen on…
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5 August
CMA clears Amazon’s Deliveroo investment
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Amazon’s 16% investment in Deliveroo, after finding that it will not “substantially lessen competition”. Under the deal, Amazon will acquire 16% of Deliveroo as the lead investor in a $575m (£438m) funding, which was first announced last year. At that point the…
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