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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May- 2022 -23 May
J&S takes on fifth Star Pubs site
The North Yorkshire multiple operator, J&S Pub Company, has taken on its fifth Star Pubs and Bars site, Mist Bar and Lounge in Scarborough, taking its pub estate to a total of seven. The company has also completed a £205k joint refurbishment with Star Pubs, transforming the high street pub…
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23 May
Drinks sales continue to rise for fourth week in a row
A warm Saturday helped Britain’s On Premise to end the week’s drinks sales just ahead of pre-COVID-19 comparatives, according to CGA’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker. Average sales by value in managed pubs, bars and restaurants in the seven days to (14 May) were 1% up on the same week three…
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20 May
Young’s appoints first retail director
Young and Co’s (Young’s) has announced that Mark Loughborough will join the board in the newly created role of retail director, effective 30 September 2022. In his new role, Loughborough will report to Young’s chief operating officer, Simon Dodd. Loughborough has a wealth of experience, having spent 11 years with…
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19 May
Pubs expect to see £105m boost during Jubillee weekend
Pubs and brewers are preparing for an estimated 90 million pints expected to be sold resulting in a £105m boost for the trade during the platinum jubilee weekend, according to British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). With opening hours extended until 1am across the Jubilee weekend and an extra day…
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19 May
Young’s swings to profit in FY22
Young and Co (Young’s) has returned to profitability as its pre-tax profits hit £42.1m in the 52 weeks ended 28 March 2022, up from a loss of £44.5m last year, despite varying levels of Covid restrictions. Operating profits were also £51.7m, growing year-on-year from a loss of £34.5m. Additionally, total…
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18 May
Marstons returns to profitability as sales hit pre-pandemic levels
Marstons has returned to profitability as its pub operating profit surged to £39.9m in the 26 weeks ending 2 April 2022 (H1 FY22), up from a loss of £57.2m in H1 FY21. Pre-tax profits are also up from a loss of £105.5m last year to £25.6m, and total revenues are…
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18 May
Inflation hits 40-year high
UK inflation has hit its highest level in 40 years during the month of April, driven by the rising cost of energy bills. The figure, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), was up from 7% in March. The ONS said that around 75% of…
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17 May
Vagabond opens first airport site at Heathrow
Vagabond Bar and Kitchen has announced it will launch its first airport site this week at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, following a £1.2m investment. The new site will be composed of 4,500 square feet, with space for 170 guests, and it will create 60 new jobs. Over 100 varieties of wine…
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17 May
C&C to sell stake in Admiral Taverns for £55m
Drinks company C&C Group has announced the sale of its entire minority interest in Admiral Taverns to Proprium Capital Partners, with whom it originally invested into Admiral Taverns in September 2017, in a deal worth £55m. It also confirmed the sale of the shares will be completed and consideration will…
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13 May
Brakspear reopens The Bull on Bell Street in Henley
Brakspear has reopened The Bull on Bell Street in Henley-on-Thames after an “extensive refurbishment”, the first major investment within its managed estate since it was rebranded as Honeycomb Houses last autumn. The transformation, devised by Brakspear’s in-house design team, has created an extensive outdoor space behind the pub, now called…
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