Latest Briefing Archive Tab News Tab Events Tab Advertising Tab Contact Tab
 
Search our Previous Briefings
 
New Archive Heading
Current
Feb 2024
Jan 2024
Dec 2023
Nov 2023
Oct 2023
Sep 2023
Aug 2023
Jul 2023
Jun 2023
May 2023
Apr 2023
Mar 2023
Feb 2023
Jan 2023
Dec 2022
Nov 2022
Oct 2022
Sep 2022
Aug 2022
Jul 2022
Jun 2022
May 2022
Apr 2022
Mar 2022
Feb 2022
Jan 2022
Dec 2021
Nov 2021
Oct 2021
Sep 2021
Aug 2021
Jul 2021
Jun 2021
May 2021
Apr 2021
Mar 2021
Feb 2021
Jan 2021
Dec 2020
Nov 2020
Oct 2020
Sep 2020
Aug 2020
Jul 2020
Jun 2020
May 2020
Apr 2020
Mar 2020
Feb 2020
Jan 2020
Dec 2019
Nov 2019
Oct 2019
Sep 2019
Aug 2019
Jul 2019
Jun 2019
May 2019
Apr 2019
Mar 2019
Feb 2019
Jan 2019
Dec 2018
Nov 2018
Oct 2018
Sep 2018
Aug 2018
Jul 2018
Jun 2018
May 2018
Apr 2018
Mar 2018
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
Dec 2017
Nov 2017
Oct 2017
Sep 2017
Aug 2017
Jul 2017
Jun 2017
May 2017
Apr 2017
Mar 2017
Feb 2017
Jan 2017
Dec 2016
Nov 2016
Oct 2016
Sep 2016
Aug 2016
Jul 2016
Jun 2016
May 2016
Apr 2016
Mar 2016
Feb 2016
Jan 2016
Dec 2015
Nov 2015
Oct 2015
Sep 2015
Aug 2015
Jul 2015
Jun 2015
May 2015
Apr 2015
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014
Nov 2014
Oct 2014
Sep 2014
Aug 2014
Jul 2014
Jun 2014
May 2014
Apr 2014
Mar 2014
Feb 2014
Jan 2014
Dec 2013
Nov 2013
Oct 2013
Sep 2013
Aug 2013
Jul 2013
Jun 2013
May 2013
Apr 2013
Mar 2013
Feb 2013
Jan 2013
Dec 2012
Nov 2012
Oct 2012
Sep 2012
Aug 2012
Jul 2012
Jun 2012
May 2012
Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
 
 
Nory Banner
 
Knorr Banner
 
Alcumus Banner
 
St Austell Brewery Banner
 
Solo Coffee Banner
 
Heinz Banner
 
Quorn Banner
 
Heinz Banner
 
Meaningful Vision Banner
 
Mccain Banner
 
Jameson Banner
 
NSF Banner
 
Thatchers Banner
 
HDI Banner
 
UCC Coffee Banner
 
Propel Banner
 
Wireless Social Banner
 
Payments Managed Banner
 
Deliverect Banner
 
Hospitality Rising Banner
 
John Gaunt Banner
 
HGEM Banner
 
Venners Banner
 
Zonal Banner
 
Access Banner
 
Propel Banner
 
Christie & Co Banner
 
Kurve Banner
 
Bristol Syrup Co Banner
 
CACI Banner
 
Sector Banner
 
Airship – Toggle Banner
 
 
Thursday 31st January 2013
Breaking News - Mitchells & Butlers and TGI Friday’s
Mitchells & Butlers – trading more volatile
TGI Friday’s – two business innovations reduce staff turnover

Mitchells & Butlers – trading has become more volatile: Mitchells & Butle … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 31st January 2013
Breaking News - FSA - 90% of interest rate swap cases examined show element of mis-selling
FSA – 90% of interest rate swap cases examined show element of mis-selling: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has confirmed that Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS will start a full review of their sales of interest rate hedging produc … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 31st January 2013
Admiral Taverns, Enterprise and M&B
Mitchells & Butlers reports 4% up in December but hit by weather in January: Managed operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has reported strong December trading but that bad weather in January has caused a small drop in like-for-likes in the … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 30th January 2013
Breaking News - Luminar owners pays £6m final installment
New Luminar owner pays £6m final installment early: The new owner of nightclub company Luminar made the payment of a final large installment of £6m to buy the company out of administration early. The payment to Ernst & Young was due on … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 30th January 2013
Breaking News - Patisserie Valerie and Gordon Ramsay
Patisserie Valerie Ebitda near £10m
Gordon Ramsay files full accounts – like-for-likes up 3%


Patisserie Valerie Ebitda near £10m; plans 18 new openings: Café chai … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 30th January 2013
Greene King, M&B and Peach
Geof Collyer – Mitchells & Butlers could stand out by shelving the roll-out programme: Deutsche Bank analyst Geof Collyer has argued that Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) could “stand out from the crowd by shelving its roll-out programme”. … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 29th January 2013
Breaking News - Cloverleaf Restaurant founders step down
Cloverleaf Restaurant founders step down from the board: Former Whitbread executives Gary Douglas and John Winder have stepped down from the board of the Cloverleaf Restaurants business owned by Greene King. Their departure from the board come … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 29th January 2013
City Pub Company, Lavazza and Pubs ‘n’ Bars
City Pub Company to launch £10m EIS fund-raising in next month: City Pub Company, the Enterprise Investment Scheme-backed company set up by David Bruce and Clive Watson, is to launch its next round of fund-raising, with a target of £10m … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 28th January 2013
Breaking News - Orchid Pub Company
Orchid Pub Company creates new quality pubs division: Managed operator Orchid has created a new umbrella group of quality pubs called ‘Do Drop Inns’. A customer-facing name to identify the current Modern British pubs as part of a reco … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 28th January 2013
Breaking News - Sarumdale and Living Ventures
Sarumdale administrator reports possible interest rate mis-selling claim against Barclays
Living Ventures looks to raise £750,000 through individual investors

Sarumdale administrator reports … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 28th January 2013
Barworks, McMullens and Gordon Ramsay
YouGov poll – minimum pricing won’t help the pub: A YouGov poll commissioned by SABMiller shows that, contrary to the government’s claims of a boost to the industry, a 45p minimum price for alcohol will turn people away from pubs. Y … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 25th January 2013
Breaking News - St Austell Brewery, Harry Ramsden’s, Camerons
St Austell Brewery buys cask beer company
Harry Ramsden’s reports increased losses
Camerons reports profits increase

St Austell Brewery strengthens its position as the … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 25th January 2013
Breaking News
Douglas Jack – Buy Enterprise Inns shares: Numis Securities analyst Douglas Jack has issued a Buy recommendation on Enterprise Inns shares with a Target Price of 110p ahead of a trading update next Thursday. He said: “Thursday’s (fi … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 25th January 2013
Friday Opinion

Subjects: Galvanising managed operators, alcohol science and property déjà vu

Authors: Paul Charity, Paul Chase and Neil Morgan

view

................................................................................................
 
Friday 25th January 2013
Carluccio’s, TGI Friday's and Wok&Go

Story of the day:

On-trade beer sales drop 4.8% in fourth quarter of 2012: Punishing tax hikes caused beer sales in the on-trade to drop by 4.8% in the fourth quart … view

................................................................................................
 
Thursday 24th January 2013
Breaking News - Burger King in u-turn on horseburgers
Burger King in u-turn on horseburgers: Burger King is to throw out millions of beef-burgers supplied by the horsemeat scandal firm — a few days after insisting it was unaffected, The Sun has reported. The Sun said: “Managers have been told … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 24th January 2013
Black Sheep Brewery, McDonald’s and PizzaExpress

Story of the day:

Roger Whiteside quits as chief executive of Punch to take top job at Greggs; chief executive role to be left vacant for the time being: Punch Tave … view

................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Breaking News - Subway steps up VAT campaign
Subway takes VAT campaign to Downing Street with 150,000 signature petition: Subway has stepped up its campaign to reverse the government’s position in imposing VAT on toasted sandwiches by delivering a 150,000-name petition to Downing … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Antic, Fuller's and Spirit

Story of the day:

Spirits makes 17 redundancies as it re-shapes for the future: Managed pub company Spirit is making 17 head office redundancies as … view

................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 22nd January 2013
Breaking News - Spirit unveils major changes
Spirit unveils major changes to become UK’s number one hospitality company; scraps Original Pub Company brand; Local pubs to report into head of leased Chris Welham: Managed operator Spirit Pub Company has unveiled major changes today a … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 22nd January 2013
Costa, Marston's and Tavistock

Story of the day:

Marston’s reports like-for-likes up 5.8% in three key Christmas weeks; chairman David Thompson presides over last board meeting today: Midlands- … view

................................................................................................
 
Monday 21st January 2013
Breaking News - Amber Taverns reports 16% like-for-likes
Amber Taverns reports 16% increase in like-for-like sales over 12-day festive period; looking to add ten sites in 2013: Amber Taverns, the fast-growing wet-led pub company based in Preston and backed by LGV Capital, has reported like-for- … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 21st January 2013
Luminar, Marston’s and Wagamama
Londonderry MP sets out the case for VAT reduction: The Northern Ireland MP who tabled a parliamentary motion last week calling for a reduction in VAT for the hospitality sector has set out the benefits of the move in Northern Ireland. Ma … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 18th January 2013
Breaking News - Welcome Break completes £350 refinance
Welcome Break completes £350 refinance: Welcome Break, the UK motorway service area operator, has completed a £350m refinancing of its debt facilities. The refinancing was concluded via £221m of senior debt provided by eight lenders an … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 18th January 2013
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Site focus,  limitations of like-for-likes and maximising TripAdvisor
Authors: Paul Charity, Paul Charity and Mark McCulloch

The benefits of site focus by Paul Charity

In deepes … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 18th January 2013
Mitchells & Butlers, Stonegate and Wetherspoon
Wetherspoon property case set for High Court return this month: The latest round of JD Wetherspoon’s long-running legal action over alleged property fraud is set to heard in the High Court at the end of this month. Two years ago, The Su … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 17th January 2013
Breaking News - Antic subsidiary in administration
Antic subsidiary placed in administration: A subsidiary company of highly regarded London pub operator Antic, Antic Limited, which runs a small number of leasehold sites, has been placed in administration with Chantrey Vellacott. The sites are … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 17th January 2013
Individual Restaurants, McDonald’s and Wetherspoon
1,000 capacity Mood nightclub forced to quit Edinburgh premises after Aviva Investors recruits buffet restaurant operator: Aviva Investors has served notice on the 1,000 capacity Mood nightclub in the Omni Centre, Edinburgh after recruit … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 16th January 2013
Breaking News - Tim Martin - "We’ve upped the tempo"
Tim Martin – like-for-like sales increases flow from “upping our tempo”: JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin has claimed that 8% like-for-like sale increases in the most recent quarter result from the company “upping the tempo”. H … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 16th January 2013
Brasserie Blanc, JD Wetherspoon and Mitch Tonks
Pub and restaurant like-for-likes up 2.1% in December: Britain’s pub and restaurant groups have reported better Christmas and New Year trading than a year ago – though not by much. Collective like-for-like sales for the six weeks up t … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 15th January 2013
Breaking News
Costa Coffee launches new generation Costa Express machine
Hop Back Brewery reports pub market tipping point 
Redcomb Pubs in talks on funding; plans up to five new openings in 2013

< … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 15th January 2013
Balthazar, Redcomb Pubs and Spirit
Spirit reports like-for-like sales up 5% over Christmas: Managed company Spirit has reported like-for-like sales grew 5% in the three weeks ending 5 January. On the first 20 weeks of its trading year, the company stated this morning: “O … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 14th January 2013
Breaking News - Molson Coors UK buys Irish craft brewery
Molson Coors UK buys Irish craft brewery: Molson Coors UK & Ireland has bought the Franciscan Well craft beer brand and micro-brewery in Cork City, Republic of Ireland, and, this year, will be developing a new 75,000HL (150,000 keg) craft … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 14th January 2013
Gary Rhodes, Giraffe and Greene King
Greene King reports record Christmas sales: Suffolk-based Greene King has reported record Christmas sales. Chief executive Rooney Anand said this morning: “Our strong momentum has been maintained over the last six weeks. We achieved rec … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 11th January 2013
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Prohibition by stealth, the funding dilemma and the challenge of 2013
Authors: Paul Chase, Richard Hamlin and Paul Wells

Prohibition by stealth by Paul Chase

When challenged over … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 11th January 2013
Brewdog, El Mexicana and Prezzo
Demand in central London so high landlords are buying tenants out of leases as boom conditions arrive: Demand for quality restaurant sites in central London is so high that landlords are buying tenants out of their leases to replace them … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 10th January 2013
Hydes, Pesto and Wagamama
Pesto plans ten openings this year; adds board members: The Italian restaurant group Pesto Restaurants, founded by La Tasca creator Neil Gatt and his partner Sara Edwards, is planning to open ten or more Pesto in the Pubs this year. The … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 9th January 2013
Breaking News - Atmosphere chief executive steps down
Atmosphere Bars and Clubs chief executive Harbottle to step down; Searcys’ boss Christian Rose to replace him: Atmosphere Bars and Clubs chief executive Paul Harbottle is to leave the business on 19 January after two years at the helm. The c … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 9th January 2013
Camerons, Domino’s and Restaurant Group
JD Wetherspoon rolls-out premium food presentation style: JD Wetherspoon has embarked on a radical change to the style of its food presentation. Morning Briefing understands the company is experimenting with a much more premium presentati … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 8th January 2013
Breaking News - La Tasca to open independent tapas bar
La Tasca to open independent tapas bar: La Tasca Restaurants will unveil the first of its new independent format tapas bars, called Bellota, later this month in Brighton. Bellota will incorporate the UK’s first standalone Cava Bar, in p … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 8th January 2013
Breaking News - 2013 could be year for consolidation
Jamie Rollo – 2013 could be the year for sector consolidation: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has argued that 2013 could be the year that sees sector consolidation. He said: “The managed pub sector is relatively fragmented … view
................................................................................................
 
Tuesday 8th January 2013
Boston Tea Party, Papa John's and TGI Friday’s
Papa John’s teams up with Welcome Break: Pizza delivery franchise Papa John’s has teamed up with Welcome Break to open eleven pizza outlets across the UK’s motorway network. Papa John’s is now serving up pizza to motorway travelle … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 7th January 2013
Breaking News - Kornicis reports Ebitda up 17 per cent
Jamies wine bar operator Kornicis reports strong growth pipeline and Ebitda up 17 per cent: City of London-based operator of Jamies, Smollensky’s and Henry J Bean’s, Kornicis, headed by Nick Tamblyn, has reported a pre-tax profit of £841, … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 7th January 2013
Breaking News
Wolseley operator Rex Restaurant Associates reports losses as it geared up for expansion: Rex Restaurant Associates, which operates the Wolseley on Piccadilly and The Delaunay on Aldwych and is led by Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, has reported … view
................................................................................................
 
Monday 7th January 2013
Be At One, Beds and Bars and Gourmet Burger Kitchen
Be At One Group reports turnover up, Ebitda down as it gears up for expansion: London-based cocktail specialist Be At One, in which Piper Private Equity acquired a significant minority stake in October 2011, has reported a year of reduce … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 4th January 2013
Breaking News
Oakman Inns and Restaurants reports year of progress
Anglian Country Inns reports turnover nears £5m
Grand Union Bars reports 13 per cent like-for-like growth in December

Oakm … view
................................................................................................
 
Friday 4th January 2013
Admiral Taverns, InnBrighton and Spirit
US private equity firm buys Lloyds Banking Group stake in Admiral Taverns: US private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has bought Lloyds Banking Group’s majority stake in tenanted pub operator Admiral Taverns for an estimated £2 … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 3rd January 2013
Breaking News
Joule’s to add nine pubs with £1m of funding;
InnBrighton adds iconic Brighton pub;
Walkabout operator Intertain reports like-for-likes up 8.6 per cent in December.

Joule’ … view
................................................................................................
 
Thursday 3rd January 2013
Red Hot World Buffet and December trading
Red Hot World Buffet to open flagship £2.7m site with 27,000 square feet of space later this month: Red Hot World Buffet will open a £2.7m site, occupying 27,000 sq ft, in Nottingham’s Cornerhouse complex on 24 January. The 500-seater … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Breaking News: TCG withdrawn from the market
TCG reports 2.5 per cent like-for-like sales increase in December; reports sale off the agenda: Managed operator TCG has reported like-for-like sakes were up 2.5 per cent in December. News of December trading comes as the company also reports … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Breaking News - December trading updates
Ego Restaurants reports like-for-likes up 14 per cent: Ego Restaurants, led by James Horler, has reported like-for-like sales growth of 14 per cent at its eight suburban restaurants in December. Business was boosted by creating two price- … view
................................................................................................
 
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Arkell’s, Bill’s Restaurants, December trading
Two companies report December trading figures; Christmas Day provides growth: Two food-led companies have provided the first reports on the all-important December trading period. Oakman Inns and Restaurants, led by Peter Borg-Neal, has re … view
................................................................................................