Siba report - local beer is bucking overall market declines: Local beer is offering a lifeline to Britain’s troubled brewing and pub industries, with volume up by an estimated 6.8% last year to over 1.4 million barrels, according to th … view

Orchid launches new style carvery – one site sees 62% sales growth: Managed operator Orchid Group has launched the first of its new style carvery pubs which aim to take eating out to the next level with a unique inclusive, community sty … view

Brewhouse & Kitchen buys Wetherspoon pub in Plymouth for first brewpub site with bespoke brewhouse: Brewhouse and Kitchen, the Enterprise Investment Scheme company headed by Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell, is to open its first brewpub next … view

Whitbread reports Costa like-for-likes climb 5.5%: promises new measures over horsemeat scandal: Whitbread has reported that Costa Coffee sales climbed 5.5% in the 11 weeks to 14 February but its pub restaurants were ahead by just 0.2% in … view

Brains behind Fuller’s craft beer pubs sets up own brewery – plans pubs: Steve Keegan, the man who developed Fuller’s innovative craft beer pubs, The Barrel and Horn and The Union Tavern, has set up his own brewery, Late Knights Bre … view

Snow hits Domino’s sales in January with two-thirds of UK stores closed at some point: Snowy weather in January forced the closure of 498 stores at some point in the month, which meant that like-for-like sales rose only 1.6%. Chief exec … view

Ex-M&B chairman Lovering backs new company Fireside Pubs & Restaurants: Former chairman of Mitchells & Butlers John Lovering has backed an operational team that is looking to build a group of food-led pubs in the south of England. Loverin … view

 

Marston’s chief executive becomes Keel University Pro-Chancellor: Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay has been named as the next Pro-Chancellor of Keele University. He will initially join the University’s Council in April befor … view

Coca-Cola Enterprises adopts radical new strategy on draught: Coca-Cola Enterprises has adopted a new policy on post-mix product – and will decline to install it from now onwards in on-trade premises where it is unsuited. The company ha … view

British private equity companies plan catering company swoop in biggest deal since 2008: A British pair of private equity companies are planning a 3.5 billion euros bid for French contract catering company Elior in the biggest deal of its … view

Jamie Rollo – 2,000-2,200 sites might be Costa Coffee’s upper UK limit: The UK saturation point for Costa Coffee may be 2,000-2,200 sites, Morgan Stanley analyst Jamie Rollo has argued. He said: “We think 2,000 outlets might be Cost … view

Jamie Rollo – Whitbread’s competition has intensified: Morgan Stanley analyst Jamie Rollo has argued that Whitbread’s competition has intensified. He said: “Whitbread remains a high quality investment, but we raise some medium-ter … view

It was … view

Britvic chairman – the Office of Fair Trading is myopic: Britvic chairman Gerald Corbett has launched a scathing attack on the decision by the Office of Fair Trading to refer the proposed merger of Britvic and AG Barr to the Competition … view

Five freeholds on the market after collapse of Powder Train: Five freehold pubs in the south of England are up for sale through agent Christie + Co after the collapse into administration of Powdertrain, the company that worked closely wit … view

Barclays Capital – confidence returning across the pub sector: Barclays Capital analyst Richard Taylor has argued that major quoted pub companies are more confident about their prospects than a year ago, especially in the tenanted secto … view

Snowy weather causes pub and restaurant like-for-likes to decline by 2.4% in January: Bad weather took its toll on the eating and drinking out market in January, with leading pub and restaurant groups collectively seeing a 2.4% drop in li … view

Nightclub company Luminar reports ‘progress’ in first year – and 13 refurbishments planned for 2013: The UK’s largest nightclub company Luminar, which operates 56 nightclubs, has reported “progress” in the 14 months since it w … view

Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in Cornwall re-opens after £1.5m refit to create more open plan kitchen and antipasti bar: Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall re-opened at the weekend after a £1.5 refurbishment to create an antipas … view

Punch Taverns restructure attracts criticism: The complicated restructuring unveiled yesterday for Punch Taverns is thought likely to face challenges from senior bondholders. Plans outlined by chairman Stephen Billingham are likely to div … view

Ed Turner to replace Rupert Clevely as Geronimo boss: Rupert Clevely is to step down as managing director of Geronimo Inns on 2 April, two years after the company he co-founded in 1995 with his wife Jo was sold to Young’s. Clevely will … view

Douglas Jack – Punch has found a favourable restructuring solution: Numis leisure analyst Douglas Jack has issued a Buy note on Punch shares with a 15p price target after news of progress on its restructuring. He said: “Punch Taverns … view

Speaker list unveiled for Propel Multi-Club conference on Tuesday, 19 March: A host of top speakers have been unveiled for the first Propel Multi-Club conference on Tuesday, 19 March, which is free to attend for multi-site operators. P … view

TLC Inns and M&B move to premiumise offer: Two companies unveiled moves to premiumise their offers yesterday. TLC Inns, the award-wining multi-site pub company, is premiumising its White Horse at Ramsden Heath site with the introduction o … view

Mitchells & Butlers launches new premium brand segment with £55 menu item: Managed operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has launched a new brand segment, called Premium Castle, that is arguably the company’s most upmarket food and beer o … view

TGI Friday’s to open six sites in 2013; reports 16 consecutive quarters of growth: TGI Friday’s is to open six new UK restaurants this year, creating more than 600 jobs and 25 new management positions. The next two openings will be in … view

PizzaExpress operator reports operating profit down 23.1% to £36.7m; 31 million pizzas sold through supermarkets: Restaurant company Gondola Holdings, the operator of 680 UK restaurants owned by private equity firm Cinven, has reported, … view

Chief executive of Smashburger – the fastest growing company in the history of US quick service restaurants - to present at first Propel Multi Club conference: Chief executive of US better burger chain Smashburger Dave Prokupek is to pr … view

Jens Hofma – we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to get Pizza Hut on the front foot: Pizza Hut UK boss Jens Hofma has argued that the company has a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to get on the front foot after private equity … view

Corney & Barrow Bars plunges into the red as like-for-likes sales drop 11%: London operator Corney & Barrow … view

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Enterprise Inns to embark on re-positioning of pubs with £10m spend; further £10m will be spent to ensure every pub has curb appeal by September: Enterprise Inns has embarked on a £10m investment in around 30 pubs ripe for repositionin … view