12/07/2022
Pubco Marston's is examining the possibility of selling a number of "non-core pubs" from its estate. The Wolverhampton-based business currently operates about 1,500 pubs and has around 12,000 employees, advises Morning Advertiser. A spokesperson for Marston's said: "As you would expect, we review our estate from time to time as part of normal course of business. We are potentially looking to dispose of a small package of non-core pubs which no longer satisfy our pub stranger."
Pub operator Oakman Group says that the group has lost 2-3% of growth as a result of having to restrict trading because of a shortage of staff. Total sales at the group were £65.1m for the financial year 2021/22 (ending 3rd July) with like-for-like sales vs 2020/21 up 79% reports Big Hospitality.
BrewDog will open a 27,500 sq. ft. craft beer bar in central London, which will be the Scottish brewer and operator's biggest ever site, reports Pub & Bar. Opening on 18 August in Waterloo Station, the venue will encompass two floors. The bar and restaurant will also feature dedicated co-working spaces and pods, a Grind café, a cocktail hideaway, duckpin bowling alleys, meeting rooms, a not-for-profit floristry and an ice cream van.
Clement Ogbonnaya, the landlord of London's Prince of Peckham pub, has announced plans to expand under his newly launched pub group, the Village People, advises The Caterer. With a goal of opening five new locations over five years, the group intends to acquire old and disused pubs, and regenerate them into "stylish, welcoming and inclusive multi-functional community hubs".
The appeal for the redevelopment of grade I-listed Custom House on the Thamesfront, London was dismissed owing to the "harmful heritage impacts" outweighing the heritage benefits. Cannon Capital proposed to renovate the building to create a 200-room hotel reports Property Week. Last year, the City of London rejected the planning application on the grounds of public access to the scheme, concerns around noise and the property's heritage and impact on nearby views.
Britain's on premise drinks sales remain just short of the pre pandemic levels of 2019, CGA's latest Drinks Recovery Tracker shows. Average sales by value in managed venues in the seven days to Saturday 2nd July were 3% down on the same week in 2019. Because year-on-year inflation now stands at 9%, sales are even further behind 2019's in real terms, reports Big Hospitality.
Media giant Time Out has moved a step closer to opening a 20,000 sq. ft. plus food market in a Grade II listed, disused office block in London's Spitalfields, advises EG News.