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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Mar- 2020 -12 March
Pub, bar and restaurant sales fall 3.3%
Like-for-like sales across the pub, bar and restaurant sector fell 3.3% in February against the year prior, according to the latest data from Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Managed pub groups saw collective like-for-like sales fall 4.2%, while restaurant groups were down 1.8%, and bar chains down 2.8%. The weekly results…
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11 March
Shepherd Neame welcomes ‘strong’ performance as profits hit £8m
Shepherd Neame has announced that underlying operating profit increased by 1.1% to £8m in its half-year results. In the 26 weeks ended 28 December 2019, turnover also rose by 3.3% to £79m, while underlying profit before tax was up 4.8% to £6.2m. Its 69 managed sites achieved a “solid” performance,…
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10 March
Priory Inns North West takes on tenth site
Priory Inns North West announced it has taken on its tenth site, The Big Lock in Middlewich, alongside Star Pubs and Bars. The Warrington-based operator will now undertake a joint £480k refurbishment of the site with the pub company. It marks the third joint investment between both groups. The move,…
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9 March
Pub, bar and restaurant closures reach lowest rate since 2018
The number of restaurants, pubs and bars across Britain fell by only 1.8% in the 12 months to December 2019, the lowest rate of year-on-year decline for almost two years. According to the latest Market Growth Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners, Britain had a total of 116,203 licensed premises at…
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2 March
Arc Inspirations announces two new appointments
Bar operator Arc Inspirations announced it has made two key appointments as it “gears up” for the next stage of the company’s growth. Laura Lewis was announced as the group’s head of marketing, while Tim Knockton is the new financial director. Arc Inspirations operates a number of premium bar brands…
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Feb- 2020 -27 February
Unite announces Greene King pay dispute strike dates
Workers at drinks giant Greene King have announced a rolling programme of strikes into July as a result of an ongoing pay dispute. Unite union announced the first two days of strike action will be on 12-13 March by its 160 delivery drivers, draymen, brewery production staff and warehouse workers…
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25 February
The Three Blackbirds to reopen following devastating fire
The Three Blackbirds pub in Woodditton, Suffolk, is to reopen in March after a fire devastated the property in 2018. The Chestnut Group, which owns the property, said the rebuild work has retained much of the old pub’s “charm and character”, including original features, exposing charred beams and original paintings…
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24 February
Calls for new Treasury minister to cut tax on beer sold in pubs
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has written to the new chancellor and his Treasury team to call on them to slash tax on beer sold in pubs. With a new chancellor of the Exchequer, chief secretary to the Treasury and Exchequer secretary to the Treasury appointed in the recent…
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19 February
The Vintry reopens following four-week refurb
The Vintry in London’s Abchurch Yard has reopened its doors following a four-week makeover. Pub and hotel operator Fuller’s, which owns the venue, said the refurbishment has breathed a “new lease of life into an already much-loved pub and dining room”. New additions to property include updated ‘Britain-meets-Europe’ food menus,…
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14 February
Jamie Forbes and Andria Stirling to relaunch Henricks Bar & Restaurant
Having met through working at London’s Bourne and Hollingsworth Group, as managing director and head of marketing respectively, Jamie Forbes and Andria Stirling are set to relaunch Henricks Bar. Henricks Bar is a neighbourhood bar offering cocktails and comfort food in a “relaxed environment”. A Bruntsfield fixture for 20 years,…
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