Pubs and Bars

The latest news and updates on pubs and bars, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Jul- 2024 -

16 July

JD Wetherspoon rebuffs TUC accusation of being low-pay employer

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has hit back at comments made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) head Paul Nowak, which called the pub chain an employer that has “built its business model on low-paid insecure employment”. The rebuttal comes after The Telegraph published an interview with Nowak on Sunday…
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15 July

Drinks sales beat inflation for third week amid Euros boost

Drinks sales in the UK’s managed venues rose 6% in the week ended Saturday 6 July, compared with the same period last year. It follows the same rate of growth in the previous week, and a 9% increase in the seven days before that. Growth peaked on Sunday 30 June…
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15 July

Four Scotsman Group pubs hit the market for undisclosed sum

A portfolio of four traditional public houses situated across Scotland has recently hit the market on behalf of Scotsman Group. The four licensed venues include the Beresford Lounge and Hummingbird in Glasgow, the Illicit Still in Aberdeen, and The Bothy in Perth. Positioned on the “busier” end of Sauchiehall Street,…
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12 July

Euros final to result in £120m boost for UK pubs

British pubs and bars are expected to benefit from a 50% rise in sales on Sunday (14 July) as England will be playing in the Euros final, according to UKHospitality. The boost in sales will be part of an almost billion-pound windfall from the tournament. Reaching the final also means…
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11 July

JD Wetherspoon offloads 26 pubs as it posts healthy LFL sales

JD Wetherspoon has revealed it has sold or surrendered a total of 26 pubs so far this year and has seen its like-for-like sales in the year-to-date increase by 7.7%. According to the group, which currently has a trading estate of 801 pubs, most of the disposals were smaller and…
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10 July

The Hound coaching inn to open in Chiswick

The Hound, a new modern-day coaching inn, will officially open its doors in Chiswick, London on Wednesday 17 July. The third pub from Dominic Jacobs and JKS Restaurants comprises a pub floor, a reception room, two private dining rooms, a covered outdoor courtyard and a south-facing front terrace. Housed in…
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9 July

Drinks sales rise 6% as Euros continues

Drinks sales in the UK’s managed venues rose 6% in the week ended 29 June, according to data from CGA. This upswing was mostly caused by England’s final group game at the European Championship vs Slovenia. The game on Tuesday 25 June saw sales rise 71% compared with the same…
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9 July

Cheltenham’s Tivoli pub to open in late July

West country’s pub landlord pair Tom Noest and Peter Creed are set to open a new pub in Cheltenham on 26 July. Bringing their portfolio up to five venues, The Tivoli marks the first foray into a “slightly more urban domain”, with the new venue opening in the heart of…
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9 July

Marston’s to dispose of 40% stake in Carlesbeg JV

Marston’s has announced the sale of its 40% interest in Carlsberg Marston’s Limited to a subsidiary of Carlsberg for £206m in cash to create a business entirely focused on pubs. According to Marston’s, pubs are at the “heart of UK socialising and the UK pub market offers significant opportunities to…
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8 July

Bohem Brewery opens second London bar

London’s Bohem Brewery has opened its second venue after taking on the lease of the Nicholas Nickleby pub in Finsbury Park. The pub has reopened after an extensive refurbishment, serving a range of beers brewed in “authentic Czech style” at the Bohem Brewery in Tottenham. Beer dispensing at the Nicholas…
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