Monday 8/8/16
Morningadvertiser.co.uk – Licensee slapped with £74,000 fine for breaching Sky copyright
By Nikkie Sutton, 05-Aug-2016
The licensee of a Birmingham pub has been ordered to pay more than £70,000 to Sky after she was found to be broadcasting sports from the TV giant illegally. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Leicestershire-based pub operators to open second site: Leicestershire-based pub operators Stephen and Tracy Fitzpatrick are to open their second site. The couple, who own the The Joiners Arms, in Bruntingthorpe, are currently renovating The George at Great Oxendon, near Market Harborough, ahead of reopening in October. The 16th century building will also be home to a restaurant with eight boutique hotel bedrooms. Stephen Fitzpatrick told The Business Desk: “We are now in the final throes of The George’s renovation, which for the whole team is very exciting. Our state of the art kitchen is currently being fitted and we are putting together the menus ready for the doors to open in the autumn. We’ve worked closely with architects TMDP to completely transform The George into a stylish pub, restaurant and hotel. It’s ‘all systems go’ to create, what we hope will be a jewel in the crown of Leicestershire. Together with our dedicated staff we aim to replicate the success of The Joiners Arms and provide our guests with an experience they will want to repeat time and again.”
Tuesday 9/8/16
Bighospitality.co.uk – Suzy Lamplugh Trust issues safety advice to hospitality staff
By Hannah Thompson, 08-Aug-2016
Stay aware of colleagues’ behaviour, use a staff ‘buddy system’, and limit the personal information given to guests – that’s the main workplace safety advice for hospitality businesses, according to The Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Read More
Morningadvertiser.co.uk – CAMRA slams alcohol guidelines and calls for “common sense” approach
By Nikkie Sutton, 09-Aug-2016
Following a survey in which more than half of respondents agreed that moderate alcohol consumption could be part of a healthy lifestyle, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on the Department of Health for a new consultation into the alcohol guidelines. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – TLC Inns in talks over £5m investment for next stage of growth, fifth Grand Central to open in Chelmsford on Thursday: TLC Inns co-founder Steve Haslam has told Propel he is in talks to secure more than £5m from investors as the company prepares for the next stage of growth. Haslam said if discussions were successful, the funds would be invested over the next three years to allow the Essex-based operator to expand from the current nine sites to 20. The talks are taking place as the company, which also runs four premium pubs, prepares to launch its fifth Grand Central site on Thursday (11 August), in Chelmsford. Haslam, who leads the company with wife Jo, said: “We are currently in talks with investors and the funds will allow us to effectively double the size of the business in the next three years. The funding we are looking at is north of £5m. It will depend on the types of site but we want to grow both brands.” Haslam said the company was in the “inquiry stages” over two or three new sites in Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire. TLC Inns has spent £750,000 with the support of Barclays renovating a grade II-listed building opposite Chelmsford railway station that will be home to its fifth Grand Central venue. The 240-cover, 6,500 square foot restaurant in Duke Street has created 54 jobs. Haslam said: “It was an empty and dilapidated building for many years but now we’ve got a wonderful site right in the heart of Chelmsford.” TLC Inns’ other Grand Central sites are in Basildon, Ely, Colchester and Ipswich. In March, the company geared up for expansion by appointing four key head office members of staff, including food director Danny Lawrence, formerly of Big Easy, who will design the menu for the Chelmsford site. Haslam previously said it was looking to double the size of the Grand Central brand, and could eventually operate up to 60 sites.
TheCaterer.com – Restaurants and pubs see double-digit growth but consumer spending slows: Restaurants and pubs saw double-digit growth with the arrival of the warmer summer weather in July; however, overall consumer spending slowed during the month. Barclaycard’s latest monthly spending data shows that while pubs and restaurants saw growth of 12.2% and 12.7% respectively, July consumer spending rose by 2.6%, down from the 3.6% increase achieved during May and June, due to economic and political uncertainty. The data reveals that many consumers adopted a business as usual approach to outgoings in the month following the Brexit vote, despite the dip in economic growth. However, caution is evident with nearly half (49%) of consumers saying they were not confident in their ability to spend more on non-essential items – the highest figure since February. More than half (54%) of consumers expressed confidence in their household finances – significantly lower than the 71% average recorded in 2015 – although 63% said they had carried on spending as they did before the Brexit vote. One in three consumers (35%) also said they were less likely to spend on a major purchase than they were this time last year. Paul Lockstone, managing director at Barclaycard, said softer spend growth in July was “perhaps to be expected”, but added that consumers were “still prepared to spend where it matters – enjoying quality time with friends and family”. He said: “Our confidence research tells us consumers are cautious about their future spending plans, however. These are the first full month’s figures since the EU referendum, so it’s too early to say if this is the start of a long-term trend, but it seems likely consumers will be watching the external environment carefully ahead of any major spending decisions.”
Wednesday 10/8/16
Boutiquehotelsnews.com– Taking advantage of the Pokémon GO craze for your hotel: Phil Mackie of staySky Hotels & Resorts looks at how hotels can benefit from the Pokémon GO sensation. In case you haven’t heard, Pokémon GO has become a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone from young children to savvy and nostalgic CEOs are playing the game, and there has been plenty of press, both good and bad. But how does this affect you, as a hotelier in 2016? Can you afford to ignore one of the most downloaded Apps in recent years? I leave that choice up to you. I will mention that Yelp has gone so far as to add a column in their business listings for in game locations near your favourite businesses, if that tells you anything… Read More
Morningadvertiser.co.uk – Binghams Vanilla Stout crowned Champion Beer of Britain
By Nicholas Robinson+, 10-Aug-2016
Binghams Vanilla Stout is the first speciality beer to win Supreme Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival’s (GBBF) Champion Beer of Britain Awards. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – JD Wetherspoon to open delayed £3m hotel upgrade at Grimsby site in November after ceiling issues resolved: JD Wetherspoon will open its delayed £3m hotel upgrade of the Yarborough Hotel in Grimsby in November after work was halted earlier this year because of problems with its Victorian ballroom ceiling. The company is converting the first, second, and third floors above the Bethlehem Street venue into 36 bedrooms. It was forced to stop work in January after discovering issues with the ceiling and since the 19th century building is listed, any alterations had to be approved by Historic England (formerly English Heritage). Those issues have now been resolved and construction has restarted. However, the site will close at the start of October while the final works are carried out before reopening on Thursday, 3 November. Spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Grimsby Telegraph: “We are delighted that work has resumed on the new hotel at the Yarborough Hotel in Grimsby. Various issues involving ourselves, Historic England and the local council have been resolved. We have been committed to opening the hotel alongside our pub and believe that it will be a great asset, not only to Wetherspoon, but to Grimsby itself.” The 36 bedrooms were originally due to open by the end of February.
Thursday 11/8/16
Morningadvertiser.co.uk – Supermarkets, taxes and pubcos blamed for ‘unnacceptable’ pub closures
By Oli Gross, 11-Aug-2016
Pubs are being forced out of business by cheap supermarket prices, high beer taxes and high rents and wholesale beer prices charged by pubcos, according to a new report. Read More
Propelinfonews.com – Fledgling Leicestershire-based pub company to open first site this month, in Hinckley: Fledgling Leicestershire-based pub company Broood is to open its first site this month, in Hinckley. The company, which was founded in April by Steve and Jenny Thatcher, has taken over the lease of The Prince of Wales in Coventry Road. Broood specialises in spicy Portuguese chicken, real ales from “all corners of the UK” and coffee. The pub, which is owned by Animal Pub Company, is currently being refurbished and will be renamed Broood at the Prince of Wales ahead of reopening on Monday, 22 August. Steve Thatcher told the Hinckley Times: “We’re very excited to be in Hinckley, we have been wanting to open a pub for about four years now. We hope to offer something different, with our unique selling point being that we will stock beers from small breweries from across the country – some of which may never have left the town in which they were brewed. Our menu will focus on peri peri chicken served in the style you may expect to see on holiday to Albufeira. Our chefs have been to Portugal to learn the secrets of cooking and marinating chicken. We will also serve a range of coffee, lattes and teas, as well as homemade cake.”
Propleinfonews.com – Loungers opens site in Corby: Cafe bar brand Loungers has opened a site in Corby, Northamptonshire. The company has invested £500,000 transforming a former nightclub in Corporation Street into the Paletto Lounge, creating 20 jobs. It described the venue as a “retro home from home” for its customers with dramatic artwork, oversized vintage sofas and statement light fittings. The menu features tapas, burgers, Tin Pan Louie’s beef chilli, packed flatbreads and mac and cheese as well as items from the specials board. Operations manager Craig Williams told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: “Corby is the perfect location for our Lounge concept. There’s already a thriving and vibrant community and we’re really looking forward to playing our part. Residents will be served by the very best – our new team is passionate about hospitality.” Loungers, which also operates the Cosy Club brand, currently has 84 sites. Earlier this year, the company revealed it had a fully formed pipeline of openings for 2016.
Friday 12/8/16
Bighospitality.co.uk – Hospitality warned of consequences of not paying National Minimum Wage
By Hannah Thompson, 12-Aug-2016
Hospitality businesses have been warned of the name-and-shame consequences of not adhering to the Minimum Wage in the wake of new National Living Wage rates. Read More
Morningadvertiser.co.uk – Mixed fortunes for licensees seeking MRO
By Oli Gross, 12-Aug-2016
Tenants with unresolved rent reviews from before the pubs code was implemented are having mixed fortunes in their attempts to take up the market rent-only option (MRO). Read More
Propelinfonews.com – M&B to convert Toby site in Northampton to Miller & Carter restaurant: Mitchells & Butlers will convert its Toby Carvery site in Northampton to its Miller & Carter steakhouse brand. The company will close the restaurant in Talavera Way this month before reopening its as Miller & Carter at the end of September, creating 80 jobs. As well as new outdoor seating, the refurbished restaurant will also feature booth seating and modern artwork. Simone Assenza, general manager at Miller & Carter Northampton, told the Northants Herald & Post: “Bringing the first Miller & Carter to Northampton is extremely exciting for the brand and we’re really pleased to be able to grow the team further.” Miller & Carter has more than 40 sites in the UK.