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- 2024 -27 August
Hydes achieves ‘record’ FY turnover of £39.3m
Brewer and pub chain, Hydes, has reported that its turnover rose £5m to £39.3m for the year ended 31 March. Hydes also saw its overall pre-tax profits rise from £2.3m to £2.6m during the period. The family-owned business has attributed its “record” results to its investment in refurbishments, the opening…
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27 August
Drinks sales dip 1% amid civic unrest and patchy weather
Drink sales in managed venues recorded a 1% drop in the seven days to 17 August 2024, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Daily Drinks Tracker. This is the third year-on-year drop in four weeks in the wake of civic unrest and patchy weather. The heatwave led to year-on-year growth…
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23 August
Shepherd Neame launches first pub pizza wagon
Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has unveiled its first pizza wagon, Little Tom, offering handmade sourdough pizzas to eat in or take away at its pubs. The wagon, titled Little Tom due to its tomato-red colour, has been adapted to incorporate a bespoke pizza oven along with…
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22 August
Robinsons Brewery completes The Alexandra refurb
Robinsons Brewery has completed the refurbishment of The Alexandra, a Grade II-listed pub in Edgeley, which “preserves and celebrates” the venue’s Victorian heritage. The Alexandra now boasts a new bar area and toilets, where the original black and white Victorian tiled floor was uncovered. Hidden beneath modern tiles for decades,…
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22 August
Punch Pubs and Co appoints Andy Spencer as CEO
UK pub group Punch Pubs and Co has announced the appointment of current chief operating officer Andy Spencer to the role of chief executive officer. Spencer will assume the role of CEO on 27 September, succeeding current CEO Clive Chesser who is stepping down after six successful years to become…
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21 August
UK hospitality groups report 1.5% YoY growth in July
Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved year-on-year growth of 1.5% in July 2024, down from June’s rate of 2.9%, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. As July started with the peak of the 2024 Euros, including the quarter, semi-final and final games, Britain’s pubs experienced like-for-like growth of…
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20 August
Castle Grounds in Coventry reopens following refurb
The Castle Grounds pub in Coventry has reopened following a £109,000 refurbishment. The refurbishment has “transformed” the site into a Craft Union venue, with new branding, refreshed decoration and interior additions such as a brand-new dart board to complement the existing pool table. The pub is also introducing a new…
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19 August
On Premise alcohol consumption falls 23% as soft drinks gain popularity
The On Premise is witnessing a marked decrease in alcohol consumption, with a 23% decline in the UK, resulting in a growing appetite for soft drink options, according to CGA by NIQ’s leading OPUS data. Among the 18-24 year old demographic, almost a third (30%) reported drinking less than they…
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15 August
Urban Pubs and Bars acquires The Herne Tavern in East Dulwich
Urban Pubs and Bars has announced its latest acquisition of The Herne in East Dulwich for an undisclosed amount, taking its estate of London sites to a total of 44 with more to follow. Built in the mid-19th-Century, The Herne is a Victorian pub which benefits from a large beer…
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13 August
Drinks sales up 7% as heatwave hits the country
Total drinks sales in the UK rose 7% for the week ended 3 August 2024 as a heatwave hit the country, according to data from CGA. On 28 and 29 July, drinks sales rose 17% and 19% respectively compared with the same period in 2023. Tuesday saw more moderate growth…
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