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.

Apr- 2024 -

19 April

Chestnut acquires two pub with rooms in Norfolk

Hospitality Group Chestnut has expanded its footprint in Norfolk with the acquisition of The Lifeboat Inn and The Chequers Inn in the coastal village of Thornham. The acquisition accelerates Chestnut’s foothold in the region, through the addition of a further 28 bedrooms – with the opportunity to add more. The…
Read More »
11 April

Revolution Bars Group unveils restructuring plan as sales rise 8.3%

Revolution Bars Group has unveiled a restructuring proposal while also revealing an 8.3% boost in sales to £82.3m for the 26-week period ending 30 December 2023. Group like-for-like sales for the four weeks from 4 to 31 December 2023 were up 9%, the best festive period since 2019. LFL sales…
Read More »
10 April

Portobello Pub Company acquires Darwin and Wallace

The Portobello Pub Company has acquired London-based bar-restaurant business, Darwin and Wallace for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will add seven “high-volume” venues located in some key London ‘villages’ including Battersea Power Station, Clapham Old Town, Wimbledon and Richmond. Darwin and Wallace will continue to operate under the same name,…
Read More »
9 April

Red Engine secures £60M facility to drive global expansion

Red Engine has announced today that it has secured a new £60m facility from Santander, HSBC and Barclays. The company behind Flight Club Darts and Electric Shuffle has revealed that it plans to use this capital for a global expansion drive. Red Engine will open Electric Shuffle Manchester and New…
Read More »
9 April

RedCat losses widen to £31m in FY23

RedCat Pub Company has reported that net losses after tax widened to £31m during the year ending 2 April 2023, up from £5.4m in the year before. This comes despite the pub group achieving a turnover of £120.5m, up from £62.8m in 2022, and gross profits of £89.2m, rising from…
Read More »
9 April

Nine Stonegate Group managers gain leadership roles

Stonegate Group is celebrating the graduation of nine managers from its diverse pubs across the UK. The graduation ceremony, held at Stonegate’s Academy in Birmingham, celebrated six new regional managers, one area manager, one general manager and a pub support team manager. The milestone also marks the first-ever Aspirations cohort…
Read More »
8 April

Strong St Patrick’s Day tips drinks sales into growth

Average drinks sales in the UK’s managed venues for the week ended 23 March were up 1% compared with the same period last year. It follows a 1% increase over the previous week, and 5% growth in the seven days before that. Pubs and bars took advantage of St Patrick’s…
Read More »
8 April

Heartwood acquires The White Hart in Lymington

Heartwood Collection has extended its portfolio with the acquisition of a new pub, The White Hart in Lymington, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition is part of the group’s growth plans, which remains on track to grow to over 60 sites by 2027. Dating back to the 1700’s this historic…
Read More »
5 April

Majestic acquires Vagabond Wines

Vagabond Wines has been bought out of administration by the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer Majestic Wines. The strategic acquisition provides clarity and job security for 171 Vagabond colleagues following a period of uncertainty, after the business went into administration last month. Following the acquisition, Majestic plans to invest in…
Read More »
2 April

Revolution Bars shares suspended amid uncertain future

Revolution Bars has had its shares suspended from trading on AIM after it failed to produce its interim financial results. The company was required to publish its results by 30 March 2023 but was unable to do so. It follows the closure of eight Revolution bars across England in January…
Read More »