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.

Aug- 2024 -

13 August

Riots drag down hospitality sales by 10%

Violent disorder and the nationwide threat of rioting last Wednesday (7 August 2024) caused a significant 10% drop in sales as businesses closed and customers stayed away, according to CGA by NIQ. The impact on sales in towns where rumoured protests were planned to take place was as high as…
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12 August

Revolution Bars to go ahead with restructuring plan

Revolution Bars Group, the operator of the Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba and Peach Pubs brands, has announced that its restructuring plan – which was launched on 31 May – has been approved. The news comes after the group’s subsidiary, Revolution Bars Limited, which proposed the restructuring plan, was sanctioned by…
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9 August

Proper Pubs launches ‘Meet the Team’ initiative

Proper Pubs, a wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, has launched a brand-new ‘Meet the Team’ initiative to address the nationwide hospitality recruitment issue. Since the end of July, Proper Pubs has been hosting a series of open days at several of its sites across the country to combat this…
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7 August

Heineken partners with AND Digital to implement new sales platform

Heineken UK has partnered with AND Digital to launch HeiDeal, a new “data-driven” sales platform. The brewer stated that the new platform would “transform” how its sales teams build valuable contracts, providing customers with a smoother experience and more tailored deals. HeiDeal will model multiple deal scenarios that optimise margin,…
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7 August

Fuller’s acquires Lovely Pubs for £22.5m

Fuller’s has announced the acquisition of Lovely Pubs, a collection of seven pubs in Warwickshire – for a total consideration of £22.5m. The news comes as the portfolio of Warwickshire pubs are “a perfect fit” with Fuller’s existing managed pub estate, both geographically and operationally. Lovely Pubs is made up…
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5 August

Euros hangover pushes drinks sales down in July

Drinks sales in the UK’s managed venues fell 6% for the week ended 27 July 2024 as consumers tightened their spending following the European Championship, according to CGA. It found that patchy weather and tough comparatives with July 2023, which included the boost of the Women’s World Cup, were also…
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5 August

Liberation Group sees LFL sales rise 6.4% in H1

Liberation Group, a privately owned premium pub operator and brewing group with sites stretching from Mayfair in London to St Aubin in Jersey, has reported a 6.4% increase in H1 LFL sales. The group’s LFL growth was delivered in all markets and channels, with a “standout” performance in food at…
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2 August

The Croft pub hits the market for £1.35m

Lisini Pub Company’s The Croft Bar and Restaurant in Glasgow is up for sale for £1.35m. Located on Lugar Place, within the South side of Glasgow, The Croft has a “reputation” among locals and the wider community for its food and drink offering, as well as its sports showings and…
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1 August

Stonegate Group secures refinancing deal from TDR Capital

Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, has secured a refinancing deal from TDR Capital LLP, a UK-based private equity firm. Stonegate Group has agreed to refinance £3.0bn of debt, following strong demand from investors. As part of the deal, funds managed by TDR Capital will make a £250m shareholder…
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Jul- 2024 -

30 July

JD Wetherspoon boss sells £10m of company shares

JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has sold almost £10m worth of shares in the pub chain. On 26 July 2024, Martin sold 1,361,000 of the company’s ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange at a price of £7.39 per share. As a result of the transaction, Martin’s voting rights in…
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