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- 2023 -25 January
Wetherspoon sales lag behind pre-Covid levels despite strong Xmas
Wetherspoon has said it is “cautiously optimistic” after half-year like-for-like sales rose by 13.1%, despite the fact they remained 0.7% lower than the same period pre-pandemic. The group was bolstered by strong festive trading, with like-for-like sales in the last 12 weeks 17.8% higher than the same period a year…
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24 January
Fuller’s issues profit warning as rail strikes wipe £4m from sales
Fuller’s has warned its full-year earnings may be lower than expected after its profitability was dented by rail strikes in recent months. Since the start of October, the group estimates that strike action wiped £4m from its sales, adding that the consequent impact on profitability means earnings may be below…
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18 January
Hospitality welcomes best December in three years
Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups welcomed their best December trading in three years, though real term sales still lagged behind pre-pandemic figures, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker has found. Like-for-like December sales were 15.0% ahead of December 2021, when festive trading was disrupted by the Omicron variant. However,…
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18 January
Revolution Bars issues profit warning amid temporary closure plans
Bar group Revolution has announced that it will close some sites on Mondays and Tuesdays in January and early February in an attempt to save on energy bills. The announcement came in a trading update delivered to investors in which it reduced its EBITDA guidance for the full year and…
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16 January
BBPA warns Gov drink spiking changes ‘must be based on evidence’
The BBPA has responded to the home office’s targeted consultation on proposed changes to Licensing Act guidance, saying measures must be “based on actual evidence” and warning against “imposing general conditions”. The home office’s consultation on changes aims to prevent incidents of drink spiking at licensed venues. Emma McClarkin, chief…
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13 January
Arc Inspirations to open Manahatta in Sheffield
Arc Inspirations is set to expand its portfolio of bars into a new city with the launch of Manahatta, Sheffield. The group currently operates 18 premium bars across the North of England, under the brands of Banyan Bar and Kitchen, BOX and Manahatta. It secured planning permission for the new…
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13 January
High demand for live music in pubs and bars, CGA finds
Nearly 80% of people said that they were more likely to visit a pub, bar or other similar venue if it offers live music, according to data from CGA and artist booking platform Gigrealm. As well as this 73% of people said they were more likely to stay at a…
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12 January
Mitchells & Butlers welcomes strong festive trading in Q1
Mitchells and Butlers has welcomed continued strong trading over the festive season, as like-for-like sales rose by 10.4% in its first quarter, with trading bolstered by the Christmas period. The group made a strong start to the financial year, with like-for-like sales up by 6.5% over the ten weeks to…
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11 January
Nightcap hails ‘record’ Q2 results despite rail strikes
Nightcap has welcomed “record” trading in its latest quarter, with revenues up by 60.9% to £12.9m and like-for-like sales up by 4.7%, despite rail strikes impacting hospitality over the period. Group revenue for the month of December 2022 was £5.9m, a 71.8% increase compared to the £3.4m reported in December…
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6 January
‘Extend Energy Relief Scheme or risk losing businesses’ BBPA tell Government
The British Beer and Pub Association has urged the Chancellor to extend the scheme Energy Relief Scheme or “risk losing business across the UK”. The scheme was brought in by the Government to help to cut energy prices for businesses, charities and public sector organisations, such as schools and hospitals.…
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