03/11/2026 09:23:00
The Crazy Bear Hotel brand's two sites have been sold out of administration, less than a week after they ceased trading. Administrators were appointed to the hotels in Beaconsfield and Stadhampton on Tuesday, with events cancelled and multiple jobs lost across both sites. Kiri Holland and Danny Dartnaill of BDO LLP were appointed joint administrators of CB Opportunities 3 Ltd and CB Opportunities 4 Ltd, two holding companies associated with the hotels. Confirming the sale, Holland commented: "Despite considerable efforts to secure the future of the hotels, the business was impacted by challenging market conditions and a quieter than expected summer trading period." The identity of the new owner has not been disclosed, but Holland says they plan to undertake a programme of refurbishments at the properties. The collapse of the Crazy Bear brand followed a series of recent investments, Boutique Hotelier reports.
Nick Mackenzie is to step down as chief executive officer of Greene King at the end of February 2027. During his time at the pub group Mackenzie has overseen Greene King's take-private deal following its acquisition by CK Assets in 2019 and laid the foundations of the business' 2030 strategy. He joined the British brewer in May 2019 from Merlin Entertainments, where he was in post for 17 years. Clair Preston-Beer, chief digital and commercial officer at Greene King, has been announced as his successor, and will become the pub group's first female CEO in its 227-year history, The Caterer reports.
Kent-based brewer and pub operator Shepherd Neame has announced plans for a multi-million-pound investment into a new sit, writes the Morning Advertiser. The smaller brewery will be at the company's town centre venue in Faversham with the investment, which the business described as 'major', taking place over the next three years. The plans aim to improve efficiency, sustainability and quality while supporting future innovation and development. This comes as Shepherd Neame, which operates 280 pubs, revealed it will focus on its own beer brands and exit large third-party contract brewing.
Family-owned Conexus Pub Group has said it is accelerating its growth strategy, after increasing its estate from 29 pubs in June 2026 to 32 this month, Pub & Bar reports. The latest additions to the portfolio are Brendan The Navigator in Highgate, The Queen's Head in Clerkenwell and Maddens in East Finchley. The business, which is headed up by Terry O'Sullivan, alongside his three daughters Charlotte, Olivia and Chloe, has told Pub & Bar there will be further sites opening before the end of the year. Conexus operates a diverse collection of pubs, ranging from traditional community locals and Irish pubs to late-night venues and premium village pubs. Each venue is intended to retain its own identity, character and connection with its local community.
Vagabond has opened the doors to its newest site in Brighton, The Caterer reports. The opening is the wine bar's third new venue this year, and the group's second site outside London after Birmingham which opened in 2021. The 2,980 sq ft site on Duke Street was formerly a Browns Brasserie. It now hosts Vagabond's tap and pour machines, allowing guests to explore a selection of more than 100 wines from around the world, including a number of English wines produced at Vagabond's Urban Winery in Canada Water. Since being bought by Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group, Vagabond has extended its portfolio from nine locations to 15 in the past 18 months alone and is now targeting more towns and cities across the UK.
Upham Inns will reopen The Red Lion at Water End, near Hemel Hempstead, in November following a £500,000 investment. It is the first full refurbishment since Upham Inns acquired 14 sites from Oakman Inns in July 2025, writes Pub & Bar.