Concern for British high street as sector set for four-fold tax rise in April October 16, 2024 The double effect of inflation-linked tax bumps, as well as the end of business rate relief for consumer-facing firms, will lead to a four-fold tax increase for high street businesses next April, industry bodies have warned. Industry leaders across the board have been increasingly vocal about the need for reform to business rate taxes, and have [...]
Brewdog: James Watt ‘frustrated’ as brewer loses almost £60m October 16, 2024 Brewdog remains in the red despite a sharp uplift in its sales during its latest financial year, founder James Watt has revealed. In a post on social media, the former CEO said the Aberdeenshire-based business increased its revenue by 14 per cent to £366m in 2023. He added that it cut its operating loss to [...]
Marston’s ditches brewing and switches to ‘pure play hospitality’ October 16, 2024 Pub group Marston’s has officially ditched brewing and announced a new strategy, which will see it focus entirely on pubs. In a vote of confidence for the UK’s hospitality sector, it will “embark on a new chapter” as a pure-play hospitality business, its chief executive Justin Platt said. “We are outlining a differentiated strategy for [...]
Hospitality needs a magic spark of confidence to boom, brewery boss says October 10, 2024 The boss of Britain’s oldest brewer, Faversham-based Shepherd Neame, has suggested that the hospitality industry is nearly ready for a return to a boom period, but only is we serve up a spark of confidence. Neame suggested that if fundamentals remain strong and mortgages continue to fall, consumer spending on hospitality would follow a similar [...]
From Pizza Express to Channel 4: Who is Luke Johnson, Revolution Bars Group’s new chair? September 9, 2024 After a lengthy restructuring process that included £12.5m in emergency funding, Revolution Bars has appointed Luke Johnson as its new chair. The former Pizza Express and Channel 4 chairman provided £3m of the financing and owns a 20 per cent stake in the company. He will replace outgoing chair Keith Edelman, whose nine years in the role [...]
Revolution Bars brings in industry veteran Luke Johnson to replace long-standing chairman September 9, 2024 Revolution Bars has announced the appointment of well-known investor Luke Johnson as non-executive chairman of the struggling business. Johnson will replace Keith Edelman, who has served as chairman for the last nine years. Earlier this month, the pub and bar chain completed a comprehensive restructuring plan designed to steer the business back to profitability, which [...]
Wetherspoons pubs to make huge price cuts in VAT protest September 5, 2024 Pub giant JD Wetherspoon will make a huge cut to its prices next week in a bid to highlight what it describes as the benefit of a permanent VAT reduction in the hospitality industry. The London-listed giant, which has sites across the country, will be reducing the price of its food and drink by 7.5 [...]
Heineken’s biggest-ever price rises fail to stop slash in UK profit August 27, 2024 Heineken’s biggest-ever price rises in the UK failed to stop its profit being slashed during its latest financial year as it battled “economic volatility”. The Edinburgh-based division raised its prices in 2023 as it faced “significant inflationary pressure on input costs”, reducing consumer spending, higher labour costs and rising energy bills. According to newly-filed results, [...]
Brewing giant slumped to loss ahead of Marston’s selling up to Carlsberg August 27, 2024 The brewing joint venture worth almost £800m between Marston’s and Carlsberg slumped to a loss in the year before the pub giant sold its stake, it has been revealed. Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company made a pre-tax loss of £25.2m in 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House, having posted a pre-tax profit of £7.1m [...]
London pub group handed lifeline after administration and closure woes August 6, 2024 A London pub company that partly collapsed into administration earlier this year and closed a number of sites has agreed a £61m deal.