Enterprise Inns pub steps away from Classic Carvery trial: The Star Inn in Winscombe, Somerset, where Enterprise Inns began a format trial called Classic Carvery last June, has stepped away from the trading format in favour of a wider off … view

Glendola Leisure to add two sites with others set to follow as it embarks on expansion: Waxy O’Connor’s and Rainforest Café operator Glendola Leisure has reported that property market conditions have turned favourable and it is set f … view

Admiral Taverns ‘sells’ six pubs with an innovative freehold option lease: Tenanted pub operator Admiral Taverns, led by Kevin Georgel, has ‘sold’ six pubs to Weston Castle, led by Chris Tulloch, in a deal that deploys an innovat … view

Jamie Rollo – Whitbread rumoured to be launching a budget hotel brand; Travelodge to lead fight back with ‘Rolls Royce’ of beds: Morgan Stanley analyst Jamie Rollo has reported on speculation that Premier Inn operator Whitbread is … view

Successful out- … view

Technomic – 500 largest US chains grew sales by 4.9% in 2012: The 500 largest US restaurant chains saw a 4.9% annual sales increase in 2012, a marked improvement over 3.5% the prior year. According to data released by insights firm Tech … view

Spirit closes the George in Belsize Park for conversion to first ‘premium’ pub: Managed operator Spirit has closed its George pub in Belsize Park for a month-long refurbishment to convert the pub to its first ‘premium’ site. The G … view

Be At One opens 16th site; reports 9% like-for-likes: London cocktail bar group Be At One opens its sixteenth site today, on Upper Street in Islington. This is the third opening so far this year for the company, led by three former TGI Fr … view

Ralph Findlay – there’s still upside to come from the smoking ban: Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay believes there is still an upside in terms of increased trade to come for the pub trade from the smoking ban. More than five … view

Spirit redoubling efforts to improve retail offers as like-for-like sales turn negative in most recent eight weeks: Spirit Pub Company is redoubling efforts to improve its retail efforts after the company saw like-for-like sales decline 1 … view

JD Wetherspoon launches new menu with ‘Nando’s flavours’ and first hot dog; updates on customer complaints: Managed operator JD Wetherspoon, which saw food sales increase by 13.4% in its most recent half year in the 26 weeks to 27 J … view

Mark McQuater becomes new Inventive Leisure chief executive: Mark McQuater has been appointed as the new chief executive of Revolution vodka bar operator Inventive Leisure. Founder Roy Ellis steps down after 22 years leading the company â … view

National newspapers give VAT campaign coverage boost: A host of national newspapers have given the campaign, led by Jacques Borel, to reduce the VAT rate in the sector from 20% to 5% extensive coverage in the wake of JD Wetherspoon’s re … view

Managed pubs are outperforming with a 22% share of the UK eating out market: Food sales through managed pubs are outperforming the UK’s eating out market, insights firm Horizons has reported. Managed pubs are showing the most dynamic gr … view

Property developer Anthony Lyons pays Wetherspoon £1.25m to settle fraud case: High profile property developer Anthony Lyons has paid JD Wetherspoon an out-of-court settlement of £1.25m to end a fraud case that relates to the company’ … view

Brewdog boss – the government can take some simple and obvious steps to support small businesses in the UK: Brewdog founder James Watt has written an open letter to the government calling on it to take a few simple steps to support smal … view

Best Place Inns strengthens management team and re-brands as it prepares for private equity investment: Best Place Inns, the five-strong London pub and hostel provider headed by Ben Stackhouse, has hired Greg Mangham as its operations dir … view

Lovely Pubs buys Enterprise pub for £1m evolution of Farm concept: Lovely Pubs, the Midlands operator headed by Paul Salisbury, Sue Salisbury and Paul Hales, has bought Enterprise Inns’ Queen’s Head in Stoke Pound near Bromsgrove in … view

Greene King expands new Flame Grill concept with openings before Easter: Greene King is expanding its new ‘Flame Grill’ concept, which has the tagline Pub and Flaming Grill. It combines ‘contemporary style with authentic pub atmosph … view

Punch – we still believe we can restructure in the first half of 2013: Punch Taverns has reported that discussions over its restructure proposals with stakeholders suggest “that a consensual restructuring will be launched in the first … view

Novus co-owner LGV Capital to be wound down; management could buy it out: A private equity firm with a high profile in the sector, LGV Capital, is to be wound down by its owner insurance company Legal & General, Private Equity News has re … view

Orchid to launch improved loyalty scheme for 22-strong emerging pizza/pub brand: Pizza Kitchen & Bar (PKB), the emerging Orchid Pub Company brand, is set to launch an improved reward scheme next month, giving customers a big slice of disc … view

Powder Train creditors set to lose just under £4.5m: The Royal Bank of Scotland and Jack Bowyer, whose family owned Gale’s Brewery for more than 100 years, are the creditors owed the most money in the wake of the collapse of Powder Tra … view

Fuller’s wins PLC Company of the Year; Enterprise wins Best Performing Share award: London brewer and retailer Fuller’s has won Company of the Year, sponsored by College Hill, at the prestigious PLC awards. The FT said: “The year 20 … view

AMT Coffee reports large profit increase after founder returns; subject to a VAT enquiry: Pioneering family-run coffee operator AMT Coffee, which runs concessions at major train stations in the UK plus sites in Belgium, Ireland and German … view

Bob Ivell - ‘we’re really pleased with Alex in Germany and looking to expand’: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chairman Bob Ivell has reported that the company’s 40-plus Alex brand is performing well in Germany – and the company is no … view

JD Wetherspoon plans first motorway service station opening with 24-hour licence: Managed operator JD Wetherspoon is eyeing its first ever motorway service station opening. The move comes after the government suggested further relaxing th … view

Chapman becomes chief executive of Ribble Valley Inns: Wayn … view

Bob Ivell – Miller & Carter has lots of potential; Tuk Cho is ‘work in progress’: Mitchells and Butlers chairman Bob Ivell has named Miller & Carter as the brand that he feels has the most untapped potential at the company. In an in … view

Industry sources suggest Drake & Morgan withdrawn from sale: Industry sources suggest Drake & Morgan, the London bar operator owned by Imbiba Partnership and led by Jillian MacLean, has been withdrawn from sale. The move is thought to be … view

Patisserie Valerie opens seven transport hub sites in a day; looks at opening concessions in 2013: Patisserie Valerie, which has expanded by more than 50% in the past two years, opened seven sites in a single day on Friday as part of a ma … view

Coffee shops and healthy food outlets top Ones to Watch: Coffee shops, healthy quick service outlets, artisan bakeries and Mexican burrito outlets are showing the most growth of the UK’s small and emerging high street eating out chains, … view

JD Wetherspoon seeks to hire landlord’s insurance analyst after saving £1m by comparing insurance charges: Managed operator JD Wetherspoon is looking to hire a ‘landlord’s insurance analyst’ after finding that landlord’s insura … view