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.

Feb- 2022 -

1 February

UKH urges gov to boost duty reforms

UKHospitality has revealed that while it has “heralded” the reforms to the alcohol duty system that were announced in the last budget, it is now urging the government to support the “beleaguered” industry further by expanding them. In its response to a government consultation, UKHospitality has called for the government…
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1 February

Arc Inspirations secures £14m banking agreement

Premium bar operator Arc Inspirations has secured a new £14m banking agreement with HSBC, which includes a separate £5m facility to help boost the group’s ongoing expansion and growth. The £5m will in particular support investment in a number of new sites for Arc. It comes as the operator of…
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Jan- 2022 -

31 January

Marston’s sales dampened by Omicron

Marston’s PLC has reported a 3.9% fall in total like-for-like sales for the 16-weeks ending 22 January 2022, compared to the same period in 2019. The group said this reflects the impact of the Omicron variant and consumer sentiment related to the variant in the last eight weeks. Total sales…
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28 January

BBPA calls for heightened gov support after ‘devastating’ winter

While publicans and brewers have “raised their glasses” following the end of Plan B restrictions this week, the BBPA is still calling for more government support as the “devastating” impact of Omicron over winter has become clear. The BBPA is urging the government to help combat the increasing financial pressures…
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28 January

Maximal Concepts debuts in the UK with new London offering

Maximal concepts has made its first venture into the UK with the opening of The Aubrey London, a new drinking and dining space in Hyde Park. The Aubrey, which replaces Bar Boulud, is described as “an eccentric Izakaya” with two distinctive bar experiences and accompanying Japanese cuisine. According to the…
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21 January

Buzzworks to open latest site in Ayrshire

Independent restaurant and bar operator, Buzzworks Holdings, is set to open the doors to its latest venture in Ayrshire in the coming weeks. The Fox, a casual live music bar, will open on the site of former restaurant Papi Milano, located on West Portland Street, Troon, having undergone a “significant…
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20 January

Modest growth seen in new site openings during Q4

Britain’s hospitality sector witnessed “modest” growth in the last quarter of 2021, with a 1.6% increase in site numbers between September and December 2021, marking the first quarter-on-quarter growth for more than five years. According to the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners, there was a particularly encouraging…
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20 January

Revolution Bars posts upbeat trading update

Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 67 premium bars, trading mainly under the Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba brands, has announced that like-for-like (LFL) sales for the majority of the half, from 19 July 2021, when restrictions were relaxed in England, to 13 November were very strong at +14% versus…
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20 January

Adventure Bar to bring Tonight Josephine to Cardiff

The Adventure Bar Group, the company behind venues such as Adventure Bar, Blame Gloria, Bar Elba and The Escapologist, have announced plans to launch its latest Tonight Josephine site in Cardiff. It revealed the Cardiff site will launch in March with the opening creating 30 new jobs. Formerly known as…
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19 January

Managed groups sales dip 11% in December

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar sector suffered a double-digit drop in sales from pre-pandemic levels in December, following the widespread cancellations of Christmas celebrations, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker. The research found that total sales in the month were down by 11% on December 2019, following…
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