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.

Oct- 2025 -

24 October

Revel Collective launches strategic review amid weak trading

The Revel Collective has launched a strategic review that could lead to a sale of the company or parts of its business after continued weak trading and rising costs. The board of the premium bar and gastro pub operator said it was considering “all options”, including a formal sales process…
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23 October

EBH Holdings acquires Mahiki

Mahiki, the London-born lifestyle and entertainment brand known for its Polynesian-inspired bars and celebrity clientele, has been acquired by EBH Holdings. The deal, completed following what the company described as a “forensic period of due diligence”, marks the latest chapter for a brand that has faced years of financial instability…
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22 October

Urban Pubs and Bars reopens St John’s Tavern after £1m refurb

Urban Pubs and Bars has announced that the St John’s Tavern in Archway, London is set to reopen on 31 October 2025 following a £1m refurbishment. The company commenced the transformation after it acquired the venue from an independent leaseholder at the end of September. The reimagined space will accommodate…
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21 October

Greene King celebrates top maintenance partners through awards

Greene King has named the winners of its annual Repairs and Maintenance Contractors Awards, celebrating the performance of partners across its pub estate. The event took place earlier this October as part of the brewer’s annual Repairs and Maintenance Contractors Conference at its Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds. Around…
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17 October

Nearly 70% of Brits see hospitality as vital to communities

Nearly 70% of Brits believe that hospitality plays an important role in their communities, according to a survey from Zonal, in partnership with CGA by NIQ and UKHospitality. Alongside this, 74% agree the industry needs and deserves greater support from the Government. The survey of 5,000 British adults shows that…
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16 October

Vagabond opens Liverpool St site amid ongoing expansion

Wine bar group Vagabond Wines will open a new site beside Liverpool Street Station tomorrow (17 October), joining British Land’s redevelopment of the Broadgate estate. The bar will feature Vagabond’s self-pour system offering more than 100 wines by the glass, alongside a food menu designed for sharing. It marks the…
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13 October

Valiant Pub Group revenues rise 63% amid expansion

Valiant Pub Group has announced that its group revenue increased by 63% year-on-year to £29.6m for the financial year ended 30 March 2025, up from £18.2m in the previous year. Alongside this, the company’s adjusted group EBITDA, post group overhead, turned positive at £0.8m, while its pub EBITDA increased to…
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9 October

Pubs and bars could stay open longer under gov’s licensing reform

Pubs and bars in England and Wales could stay open longer following the government’s launch of a fast-track review that could “tear up outdated licensing rules”. As part of the move, a four-week call for evidence has been announced, inviting landlords and customers to contribute their views. The call for…
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8 October

Marston’s welcomes strong profit growth for second year in a row

Marston’s is set to welcome its second consecutive year of “significant” profit growth in FY25, with pre-tax profits expected to be ahead of expectations, after last year’s profits were up by 65%. The pub group said this “step-change in profitability” was driven by a sustained margin expansion, with its focus…
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3 October

Wetherspoon warns of new cost pressures despite rise in FY profits

JD Wetherspoon has reported a rise in annual sales and profits for the 52-week period to 27 July, but warned that new energy levies and higher wage costs will weigh on the business and add to inflation. The pub operator said sales for the year stood at £2.13bn, up 4.5%…
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