Monday
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Enterprise Inns increases drinks prices by 2.9%
By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 09-Feb-2015
Enterprise Inns has increased its drinks prices by an average of 2.9% from today (9 February).
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/Enterprise-Inns-increases-drinks-prices-by-2.9
PropelInfonews.com: Loungers reports all six Cosy Club sites in top ten of estate by sales: Loungers, the cafe bar brand founded by Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop, has reported that all six of its Cosy Club sub-brand sites were in the top ten of estate sales in the year to 27 April 2014, with its Cardiff Cosy Club the company’s top performer in sales terms. The company reports it is set to hit 61 sites by the end of the current financial year with 17 sites opening in the financial year. In the last financial year, turnover grew 52.3% to £33.73m.
Bighospitality.co.uk: Independents outperform chains on public Wi-Fi
By Carina Perkins+Carina Perkins, 06-Feb-2015
Independent hospitality businesses are beating the chains when it comes to providing public Wi-Fi, according to new research.
http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Independents-outperform-chains-on-public-Wi-Fi
PropelInfonews.com: Heineken to change recipe of Newcastle Brown Ale: Heineken is to change the recipe of Newcastle Brown Ale, after fears over the caramel colouring it contains, which has been linked to cancer in animal studies. The company said it will now achieve the colouring and flavour of the brown ale using roasted malts instead. A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are in the process of changing our recipe for Newcastle Brown Ale – sold in both the UK and the USA – and it will no longer include caramel colouring.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: BBPA launches website to strengthen campaign for beer duty cut
By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 09-Feb-2015
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has launched a website providing new data on the positive impact of beer and pubs on jobs and the local economy, to make a compelling case for a third cut in beer duty in the Budget.
PropelInfoNews: KFC puts West Croydon store under new management after hygiene failure: A KFC store in West Croydon, South London has been placed under new management after it was rated just one out of five by hygiene inspectors. Its rating was the lowest score received by a branch of KFC in London, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website. According to research by The Croydon Advertiser newspaper, KFC branches scored an average of 4.53 out of five after 131 inspections in London. The FSA says any business that scores below three out of five has failed the inspection.
Tuesday
Telegraph.co.uk: Is the alcopop back in fashion? Reports of the death of alcopops have been greatly exaggerated. Diagio has confirmed that the category is growing again, with sales up 23pc in the UK in the six months to December 2014. Growth was driven by its new take on Smirnoff Ice: Smirnoff frozen pouches, as well as its pre-mixed cans of G&T and rum ’n’ Coke.
Huntspost.co.uk: The results are in… The Harlequin will be the name for Huntingdon’s J D Wetherspoon pub as voted for by Hunts Post readers.
PropelInfonews.co.uk: More than 150 suppliers sign up to take part in Enterprise Inns roadshow: Dedicated zones featuring digital technology, the retail offer, gardens and business support are among the new attractions at Enterprise Inns’ 2015 roadshows. More than 150 suppliers from across the industry have already signed up for Enterpriselive, which kicks-off on 24 February at London’s Glow at Bluewater and takes in venues around the UK before finishing back in London, at Wembley Stadium, on 19 March.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Publicans warned about scam business rates appeals
By Ellie BothwellEllie Bothwell, 10-Feb-2015
Licensees have been warned about scam companies that promise a reduction in business rates but, in many cases, leave them facing higher bills.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/Publicans-warned-about-scam-business-rates-appeals
PropelInfonews.co.uk: Government to act to ensure supply of essential services to insolvent businesses: The Business Minister, Jo Swinson, has announced that the government will be proceeding with plans to secure essential IT and utility supplies to distressed businesses being restructured or rescued out of formal insolvency. After consultation, amendments will be made to the Insolvency Act 1986 to prevent suppliers of IT, water, gas, electricity and communications services cutting off supply or increasing their charges on account of insolvency where insolvency practitioners are working to find a viable solution to rescue the business.
Hospitalityandcateringnews.com: 10% boost in Hotels, Restaurants & Bars spending in January
PropelInfonews.co.uk: Wasabi to open in Cambridge in the spring: Wasabi, the London-based sushi and bento chain led by Dong Hyun Kim, is to open its first outlet in Cambridge, in the former Phones 4 U store in Petty Cury, which has been empty since September, in the next two to three months.
PropelInfonews.com: Batemans recruits retail director in managed pub expansion: Batemans, the family brewer based in Lincolnshire, has recruited Linda Green as its new retail director. Her appointment comes as Batemans makes acquisitions a major priority for the business, with the aim of expanding its managed pubs estate, in particular. Batemans is looking to evolve its estate to be split equally between tenanted, managed and franchised operations, with a particular focus on sites that include a strong food, or accommodation offering, alongside cask ale, and have the capability to turn over between £8,000 and £12,000 a week. South Yorkshire, East Midlands, North Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have been identified as the favoured locations for new Batemans sites.
Wednesday
PropelInfonews.co.uk: Hospitality sector reports very strong January high street trading: Britain’s high streets produced a robust performance in the first month of the year, with the hospitality industry leading the way. Data compiled by Visa Europe has revealed that consumer spending increased by 1.3% compared with January 2014, with hotels, restaurants and bars recording the most significant rise, of 9.7%
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Third of all pub visits prompted by deals or promotions
By James Wallin, M&C ReportJames Wallin, M&C Report, 11-Feb-2015
A third of all visits to pubs are now driven by deals or promotions, according to the latest figures from NPD.
PropelInfonews.com: TCG pledges support for British Heart Foundation with £100,000 fund-raising target: The managed pub and bar operator TCG has selected the British Heart Foundation as its nominated charity for the next 18 months, setting a fundraising target of £100,000. The partnership with the British Heart Foundation was launched on “Wear it Beat it” day, 6 February, one of the charity’s biggest fundraising campaigns of the year.
Sterling Stock Auditor: We show our support of the BHF Wear it Beat on 6th Feb. With out members of Networking Peterborough we raise £136 over breakfast and shot a video
PropelInfonews.co.uk: Titchwell Manor chef to open fish and chip restaurant: Eric Snaith, chef patron at the award-winning Titchwell Manor in Norfolk, will open a standalone fish and chips restaurant, Eric’s Fish & Chips, this April. The 1,496 sq ft restaurant, at Drove Orchard outside Thornham in north Norfolk, will cater to 80 covers in a combination of dining room and outdoor terrace.
PropelInfonews.com: Boutique hotel with Indian restaurant planned for Northampton: Plans for a new 13-bed hotel and Indian restaurant in Northampton’s Cultural Quarter are due to be approved next week. Guildhall Pension Scheme is bidding to convert two vacant Edwardian buildings at 13 and 15 Guildhall Road into a hotel and restaurant with a “small-scale retail element”. Northampton Council is expected to approve plans for what will be called the Guild Hotel and Restaurant at next week’s planning committee.
PropelInfonews.com: Oakman site wins two stars for sustainability: The Beech House in St Albans, Hertfordshire, part of the award-winning Oakman Inns & Restaurants, has been awarded two stars in this year’s Sustainable Restaurant Association ratings, published today. The restaurant underwent a vigorous and independent examination by the SRA across the 14 focus areas within the association’s three pillars of sustainability, society, sourcing and environment.
Thursday
PropelInfonews.com: Punch reports 250th new licensee support launch: Punch Taverns’ new business team has now supported its 250th licensee with a new business launch. When Trish and Jonny Smith took over the Coachmakers Arms in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in October last year, they were industry newcomers. Support from Punch Taverns began with n reinvestment in their premises of more than £125,000. However, Punch said, it was the high levels of support the couple got from the new business team, led by operations director Paul Pavli, that got their business off to a flying start. Recent figures show sales are 34% higher than projected.
Morningadvertiser.co.uk: Allergen laws: Food businesses concern over staff misinformation
By James Wallin, M&C ReportJames Wallin, M&C Report, 12-Feb-2015
Operators are fearful of members of staff passing on the wrong allergen information to customers and keeping on top of daily allergen information to communicate to diners in food and beverage outlets.
PropelInfonews.com: Wetherspoon seeks outdoors bar at Kettering pub: JD Wetherspoon wants to convert the car park and outbuildings at the Earl of Dalkeith, in Dalkeith Place, Kettering, Northamptonshire into an external seating area which will have its own outside bar. The planning application element of the scheme, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers, is due to be considered by Kettering Council’s planning committee this week.
Friday
PropelInfonews.com: Bulldog hires agency as it gears up for £20m expansion: Coaching inn operator Bulldog Hotel Group has hired Leeds-based MCG to deliver a trade PR campaign as it embarks on a national expansion programme. The £10m turnover group plans to double its portfolio over the next five years and is actively seeking acquisition opportunities across the UK.
BBC News: Binge-drinking among young adults in Britain is continuing to fall, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
The proportion of this group bingeing at least once a week is now down from 29% in 2005 to 18% in 2013.
PropelInfonews.com: Rileys site in Scunthorpe to re-open: A Rileys Sports Bar in Scunthorpe is to re-under the new name of Mulligans. A rescue package that will see the eight former employees back at work has been put together by former manager Matt Crooke.