29/09/2026 09:54:00
Prime minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a new scheme that will see £210m in fresh funding invested into transforming derelict buildings across UK high streets, The Caterer reports. The scheme will use funds earmarked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for high street support and regeneration, transforming spaces into community hubs, health centres, shared workspaces and cafés. Under the newly-unveiled plans, the £125m derelict building fund will be available to transformed disused and dilapidated buildings, with a further £85m earmarked for communities to take over neglected spaces such as pubs, clubs and shops. There will also be £65m allocated to rescuing businesses and buildings at risk of closure, alongside £20m allocated for helping communities set up co-operatives to let out empty units.
Amber Taverns is set to continue its expansion drive and is eyeing its first site within the M25 after opening 16 pubs in its 2026 financial year (FY26), writes the Morning Advertiser. The Blackpool-based pubco reported record turnover and profits in its results for the 52 weeks ended 1 February 2026 and is the first full year period of trading since it was acquired by Epiris in October 2024, during which the business has focus on growing in the south-east of England. New sites are due to open in Cosham, Thornaby (Teesside), Colchester, Dumbarton, Hastings, Eastleigh and Bromley over the comings months with the Bromley pub marking Amber's first site inside the M25.
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has posted a 2.1% increase in like-for-like sales for the 51 weeks ended 19 September 2026. The operator of brands including All Bar One, Miller & Carter, Nicholson's, Toby Carvery and Harvester says the results represent "a robust performance in a challenging external environment". Sales across the group returned to growth in its fourth quarter, delivering an increase of 1.4%, helped by external factors such as the weather normalising. In the year to date, M&B completed 222 conversions and remodels. Additionally, it acquired 11 new sites, two leasehold sites in Germany and nine freeholds in the UK, in addition to the purchase of four freehold interests in existing sites, writes Pub & Bar.
Individual Restaurants, the restaurant group behind Piccolino, Restaurant Bar & Grill, Riva Blu and Forbici, has launched a pub division, Pub & Bar confirms. Known as Publican Estate, this arm of the restaurant business is set to open its first pub The Last Exchange in Broadgate's Exchange Square, Liverpool Street this October. Located at 11 Exchange Square, the 7,000 sq ft and 238 cover (174 internal and 64 external) pub will offer a food menu overseen by group food and beverage director Lee Bull, who has 25 years of experience across Soho House, SUSHISAMBA and HIX.
Village Hotel Club has acquired three new sites as the brand ramps up its growth strategy across the UK, Boutique Hotelier reports. The hotel and wellness group has taken over properties in Leicester, Cheshunt and Milton Keynes to take its total portfolio to 38. At each site, Village will complete a total brand transformation, introducing Village Health & Wellness Club's fitness and leisure experience, alongside an on-site Starbucks, Pub & Grill with Darts Social and big-screen sports, and co-working and meeting spaces. The agreements follow the successful redevelopment and launch of Village Hotel Club Reading, which opened in December 2025. All newly-acquired locations are expected to open by the end of 2027, with Leicester due to open in summer 2027 following the opening of Village Hotel Club Sheffield in Q1 2027.
A former tourist information centre that was transformed into a pub has been crowned the best in the country. The Tamworth Tap in Staffordshire took home the overall title as well as Best Beer Pub at this year's Great British Pub Awards, reports the Morning Advertiser.