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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Jan- 2024 -23 January
Marston’s sales jump 8.8% over festive period
Marston’s PLC has reported an 8.8% sales increase in the group’s managed and franchised pubs for the 16-week period to 20 January 2024. Both drink sales and food sales have been “strong”, a result which the pub company said demonstrates “the resilience and appeal of our predominantly suburban pubs”. Like-for-like…
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22 January
Christmas hangover hits as drinks sales drop 7%
Average sales in managed venues dropped 7% in the week ended 13 January compared with the same week in 2022. After a strong Christmas and a solid first week of 2024, many people will have sought to save some money by staying in. Cold weather and ‘Dry January’ may have…
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18 January
Young’s reports 9.0% rise in revenues
Young’s and Co Brewery has reported a 9.0% increase in managed revenues and 7.2% increase in like-for-like sales for the five-week Christmas and New Year period ending 1 January 2024. Additionally, its total managed revenue rose 6.9% and 4.7% on a like-for-like basis for the 13 weeks ended 1 January…
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17 January
NTIA accuses Government of systematically closing nightlife
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has accused the Government of systematically closing nightlife following the news of the Rekom Group calling in administrators. Rekom, which owns the Atik and Pryzm brands, said any restructure of the business could see some of its well-known nightclubs shut for good. As a…
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16 January
Scales Cocktail Bar opens in Marylebone
Scales Cocktail Bar, the brainchild of mixologists Din Jusufi and Engji Shala, who have honed their craft for five years at Farzi London, has officially opened its doors in Marylebone. Tucked away beneath Drink with Sasha, the new site features a discrete door in the wine shop and a dimly…
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15 January
More than 4,500 Stonegate pubs at risk amid £2.6bn debt
More than 4,500 Stonegate pubs could be at risk as parent company TDR capital seeks to refinance £2.5bn of debt, GMB Union has warned. Gary Lindsay, boss of TDR Capital which also owns supermarket giant Asda, told the Business and Trade Select Committee on Tuesday [9 January] he was ‘confident’…
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15 January
Drake and Morgan delivers record Christmas
Drake and Morgan has announced record festive trading with like-for-like sales up 31.7% against the same period in 2022. This trading followed “record” Christmas bookings which were up more than 20% on last year across its whole estate. Despite this, the company saw its adjusted EBITDA fall to £4.1m for…
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15 January
UK pubs see drinks sales growth in 2024, CGA finds
Britain’s pubs and bars have started 2024 with year-on-year growth in drinks sales, CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker shows. Average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday 6 January were 25% ahead of the corresponding week in 2022—though this is inflated by the inclusion of New Year’s…
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15 January
Heartwood Collection appoints new CEO
Heartwood Collection has announced the appointment of Richard Ferrier as its new chief executive officer. Ferrier’s latest promotion this month comes after he joined the brand, which operates Brasserie Blanc and Heartwood Inns, in 2011. During his time at Heartwood Collection, Ferrier held the roles of operations director of Brasserie…
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12 January
Corporate buyers return to pub market in 2023
Tenanted pub companies made up 23% of freehold buyers in 2023, compared with 12% in 2022, according to data from Christie and Co. Furthermore, Christie and Co’s pub price index dropped 8.1% for 2023 as a result of interest rate hikes and a stubborn inflationary environment during 2023. Activity was…
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