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- 2019 -20 March
Yolo dessert bar opens in Covent Garden
A dessert-only bar, Yolo, has opened in London’s Covent Garden, which aims to specialise in homemade cakes and plant-based desserts, alongside a record shop named RockPopRecords. The bar will bake all of its offering fresh every morning, and vows to use “no nasties or food colourings, just traditional baking techniques”…
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15 March
Disqualified restaurant operator gets second ban
A previously disqualified restaurant director has received a second ban for illegally running a restaurant. Jane Goodfellow, 56, from Yeovil, has received a second ban lasting 12 years and at the same time Clare Watts, 51, also from Yeovil, was banned for five years for allowing Goodfellow to run her…
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15 March
Wetherspoons profits slip amid staff wage increase
Pub group JD Wetherspoon reported a drop in profits before tax for the half-year to 27 January 2019. Despite a 7.1% increase in revenue to £889.4m, the group’s profits before tax fell by 18.9% to £50.3m from £62m the year before. It closed the period with an operating profit of…
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14 March
£500,000 Star Pubs & Bars refurbishment of Langton Court to start mid-March
Langton Court in St Anne’s and is set to undergo a £500,000 refurbishment with Star Pubs & Bars. The pub’s lease has been taken up by Paul Frost, who also operates the Colston Arms in Bristol. The pub is the only one in St Anne’s and will re-open in May…
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13 March
Subterranean bar launches low-alcohol spirit
A drinks entrepreneur who has made a name for himself by turning underground public conveniences into neighbourhood bars has launched Willow, a low-alcohol spirit. Created in William Borrell’s subterranean neighbourhood bar, the Ladies and Gentlemen in Kentish Town, north London, the spirit’s name is a combination of his first name…
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12 March
Ei Group achieve Investors in People Gold Award
Pub operator, Ei Group, has achieved the Investors in People Gold Award, which is given to organisations who “demonstrate excellence in developing and supporting their employees”. Following a re-assessment process, the pub group now joins a small list of accredited organisations across the UK that have achieved the gold standard.…
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11 March
Pubs see Feb sales boost as restaurants continue to struggle
Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw collective like-for-like sales increase just 0.3% in February against the same month last year, according to latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker. While managed pub groups enjoyed a 1.4% increase in collective like-for-like sales, restaurant groups saw a collective decline recording…
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8 March
London’s first Oden Bar extends residency due to demand
London’s first Oden Bar at Cubé restaurant in Mayfair will remain open until the end of May instead of the end of March like originally planned. The Oden Bar launched at the beginning of February as an informal and secret Japanese bar with 12 seats serving just one dish, hidden…
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8 March
Ei Group launches Spitfire Pub & Kitchen
Pub operator, Ei Group, has announced it is to launch a new pub named Spitfire Pub & Kitchen. Launching as part of the Ei Publican Partnerships initiative which will see them partner with multi-operators, Adam and Sue Franklin, the new pub in Ainsdale has been refurbished following its acquisition as…
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7 March
Bubbledogs refurbishes following operator’s second Michelin star
Champagne and hot dog bar, Bubbledogs is set to undergo a refurbishment after its operator’s Kitchen Table restaurant was awarded a second Michelin star. JKS’ Kitchen Table is ran from the rear of the same premises as Bubbledogs, where it is thought that refurbishment changes will also affect the menu…
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