19/12/2023 09:49:00
Proper Pubs, the community wet-led division of Admiral Taverns, has opened the doors to its 200th pub. The division, which launched in August 2021, has invested over £10m into its estate, opening 32 pubs since its creation, with 17 coming in the last two months alone, advises Pub & Bar. "This poignant milestone marks a very proud moment for our team," says Mark Brooke, director of Proper Pubs. "We have experienced continuous growth in 2023, which is testament to the hard work from everyone, including all our dedicated operators. We truly have the best people in our pubs who are always finding new ways to support their communities. The magic of Proper Pubs is that we are community obsessed. The team are constantly raising money for local charities and organising amazing events. This isn't only one of our core values, but is central in all our plans, and underpins our ambition to be the number one community pub operator in the UK."
Hospitality groups achieved year-on-year sales growth of 4.0% in November, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. Restaurant, pub, and bar groups have now achieved 14 months of like-for-like sales growth in a row. November's figure marks an increase from October's figure of 3.2% and is close to the current rate of inflation in the UK, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The Tracker -- produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK -- indicates an equally solid month for pubs, where like-for-like sales were 5.0% ahead of November 2022; and restaurants, where growth reached 4.9%. However, sales in bars were 6.9% down year-on-year to continue a dismal 2023 for the channel, advises Caterer Licensee Hotelier News. For the first time in 2023, total sales growth in the Tracker was slower in London than the rest of the country. Groups' sales within the M25 in November were 3.5% up on last year, slightly behind the increase of 4.2% elsewhere.
Multiple operator McManus Pub Company has sold four Northamptonshire-based pubs to Valiant Pub Co. The properties acquired by Valiant are the Lord Bryon, the Fox & Hounds, the Golden Horse and the Foundrymans Arms, advises Morning Advertiser. The decision to sell the pubs was not one that was taken lightly, according to McManus Pub Company managing director Gary McManus. He added, "It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to a group of pubs that have been with us for many years. We would like to thank all our guests that have dined, drank and supported us through the years."
Des Gunewardena, former CEO of restaurant group D&D London, will embark on his first project since his departure from the multi-site restaurant group at the end of 2022. The Restaurant reports that Gunewardena will open a new flagship restaurant, bar and event space at The Royal Exchange in The City of London having signed an agreement with The Ardent Companies UK. The 6,500 sq. ft. site will occupy the north, south and east mezzanines of the main central courtyard, together with a newly-created outdoor terrace at the front of the building. Details of food, drink and design concepts are to be announced closer to the venue's planned opening in May 2024.
Club and restaurant Laylow will be relocating from London's Notting Hill to London's West End. Taz Fustok opened Laylow in 2017 in Golborne Road, which has since hosted celebrities such as Rihanna and David Beckham. The Caterer reports that in September, chef Rowley Leigh marked his return to the London restaurant scene with the launch of his Chez Rowley residency in Laylow. Leigh previously ran the acclaimed Kensington Place in Notting Hill and Le Café Anglais in Bayswater. He will mark a 'final supper' at Laylow on 21 December with a feasting menu.
The Department for Business and Trade has published a draft code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips, advises Morning Advertiser. It comes after the introduction of the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which states all tips must be paid to staff - with no deductions. The new code of practice will come into effect on 1 July 2024, and states that employers should use a clear and objective set of factors to determine the allocation and distribution of tips. The choice of factors should be fair and reasonable given the circumstances and the nature of the individual businesses.
As pubs and bars prepare for a busy festive season, BrewDog has announced that its bars will be partying like it's 1999 on New Year's Eve, rolling back drink prices to what they would have cost over 20 years ago, reports Pub & Bar.