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.

Apr- 2019 -

2 April

Lincoln Green Brewery adds sixth pub with Star Pubs & Bars acquisition

Brewery, Lincoln Green Brewery and Pub Company, has taken the lease on The Railway Hotel at Belper in Derbyshire, increasing its pub estate to six sites. The Railway is Lincoln Green’s second leased pub with Star Pubs & Bars and closes this week for a joint £275,000 refurbishment. Following its…
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2 April

Hospitality gender pay gap in London narrows to 5.9%

The gender pay gap in London’s top hospitality establishments has narrowed to 5.9% (£1,784) in 2018 as a result of salaries for female employees increasing at a higher level than those for male employees. The gender pay gap in 2017 was 9.7% (£2,712), the figures are based on analysis of…
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1 April

Aprirose acquires British Land pub portfolio for c.£130m

Aprirose, the real estate investment company, has acquired a 45-asset Spirit Pub Company branded portfolio from FTSE-100 property company British Land for c.£130m. The portfolio comprises of 45 pubs geographically located across England, including in Brighton, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Nottingham and Twickenham, with the majority in the north west and south…
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Mar- 2019 -

29 March

Notting Hill’s The Little Yellow Door returns with permanent home

Following its pop up at Notting Hill Gate, cocktail bar and restaurant, The Little Yellow Door, will open a new permanent home on the All Saints Road in London’s Notting Hill. Based on a fictional flatshare between friends from all walks of life, the bar offers “inventive” cocktails in the…
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28 March

Star Pubs & Bars opens menus up to leased and tenanted licensees

Star Pubs & Bars (SP&B) has announced it is making its Just Add Talent (JAT) managed operator food menus available to its leased and tenanted licensees, enabling them to benefit from the negotiated discounts and food insight support it provides to its managed operators. Aimed at the company’s community pubs,…
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28 March

Beannchor to ‘bring back conversation’ with £500k bar investment

Northern Irish hospitality group, Beannchor, has announced a £500,000 investment that will transform The Cloth Ear bar and create 10 new jobs. The owners of the bar, which is part of The Merchant Hotel in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, have described the evolution of the venue as a “traditional Irish Victorian…
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27 March

New govt funding boost to support rural pubs

Rural pubs across England will be expanded to include Post Office facilities, grocery shops and libraries thanks to £188,000 of government funding. Minister Jake Berry announced 76 new projects will receive money through Pub is The Hub, an organisation that supports rural pubs to diversify and help pubs bring communities…
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22 March

Warrington multiple operator takes over at third Star Pubs and Bars venue

Warrington-based multiple operator Mark Condliffe has taken on his third site with Star Pubs and Bars, The Red Lion in Moore. Star Pubs and Bars has announced it is investing £240,000 with Condliffe and his partner, Neil Roughsledge, in the project. Work will see a “major upgrade” of the pub…
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21 March

Ridgeview Wines opens new bar in partnership with Exclusive Hotels

Ridgeview Wines has opened a new Ridgeview Beauty Bar as part of a brand new £15m spa by Exclusive Hotels at South Lodge. The company, which claims to have produced the world’s first English sparkling wine, will open the bar alongside the spa’s new Botanica Restaurant, which overlooks the swim…
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21 March

Group of seven pubs brought to market

A group of seven freehold pubs which operate within the Authentic Alehouse brand located across the north east and north west of England have been brought to market. The pubs have been brought to market by specialist business property adviser, Christie and Co on behalf of joint administrators, Quantuma LLP.…
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