Heston Blumenthal calls for VAT cut to ‘save British pubs’ September 2, 2025 Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has called on the government and licensees to take urgent action to halt the closure of thousands of UK pubs. The chef, who owns owner of the Michelin-starred gastropub The Hinds Head, is campaigning for a reduction to the UK’s VAT rate, which is one of the highest in Europe. He [...]
Greene King landlords plea for Rachel Reeves to cut bills September 1, 2025 More than 600 Greene King landlords have called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to lower taxes for pubs ahead of the Autumn Budget as the sector grapples with ever-rising costs. The hospitality industry has been vocal about the cost pressures it has been facing since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, with businesses facing surging energy, [...]
Hospitality bears brunt of job losses since October budget as costs rocket August 25, 2025 Over half of all job losses in the UK since last October’s budget have been in hospitality as the sector struggles under the weight of rising costs, according to new data. Of the 164,641 job losses in the UK since the Budget last October, almost 89,000 have been lost in hospitality. The scale of job losses [...]
Brewdog ad banned for promoting beer as ‘solution for loneliness’ August 6, 2025 A Brewdog advert has been banned by the advertising watchdog for suggesting that one of its beers could be a remedy for boredom, loneliness and frustration. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that a poster to promote the Scottish brewer’s Wingman IPA beer implied it could be a solution to overcoming several daily problems – [...]
Lionesses final: Tax windfall expected from beer sales July 25, 2025 The Women’s Euro final this Sunday could bring a £5m boost to the UK economy, with an extra 1m pints expected to be poured as fans cheer on the Lionesses — but British pubgoers will pay over 10 times more in beer duty than their Spanish counterparts. New figures from the British Beer and Pub [...]
Marston’s: New pub strategy helps sales July 22, 2025 Pub giant Marston’s has said its switch from brewing to ‘pure-play hospitality’ is progressing ahead of schedule and showing encouraging results. Like-for-like sales for the 15 weeks to 12 July 2025 rose 2.9 per cent, in line with expectations, Marston’s told markets this morning. Excluding the impact of last year Euro 2024 Championships, like-for-like sales [...]
Lionesses and late licences set to deliver £135m boost to UK economy July 22, 2025 Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am tonight for the Lionesses’ Women’s Euros semi-final with Italy as the UK economy gets set for a boost of more than £135m. The Home Office announced plans in May to extend licensing hours if England reached the last four of the tournament and they were approved [...]
Mitchells and Butlers on road to FTSE 100 if streak continues, City broker says July 21, 2025 City broker Peel Hunt has suggested Mitchells & Butlers, owner of hospitality chains All Bar One and Nicholson’s, could make its way into the FTSE 100 if it continues to outperform the market. Mitchells & Butlers has beaten the wider hospitality sector every year since 2017, growing at 3.9 per cent in the first quarter [...]
Wimbledon, Euros and Test cricket set to boost pubs and supermarkets July 12, 2025 Pubs and supermarkets are bracing for a bumper weekend thanks to the heatwave and a deluge of live sport on TV including Wimbledon finals, Test cricket and the Lionesses. A British and Irish Lions tour match, England and Wales rugby internationals, other Women’s Euros fixtures, Tour de France cycling and a trilogy fight between Katie [...]
One pub to close every day in 2025, new data reveals July 10, 2025 Small pubs are being forced to close in the face of unsustainable costs pressures, according to new data. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, amounting to more than 5,600 job losses. The industry body pointed to the heavy pressure of [...]