Luke Johnson – rent regime is ‘deeply unfair, huge threat to sector prosperity’: Sector investor Luke Johnson, who has investments in ten companies in the sector, has described the current rent regime as a ‘fix’ that acts to ens … view

CGA’s Peach Market Growth Monitor – pace of restaurant openings slows: Restaurant openings continue to make up for the fall in licensed premises caused by pub closures across Britain – but the pace of expansion is easing, according … view

CGA Peach 2016 Business Leaders Survey – optimism but caution for sector: Leaders in the eating and drinking out sector are optimistic about growth in 2016 – but there are concerns about intense competition, consumer spending and prop … view

Revolution Bars Group eyeing five more sites by 2017, reveals some venues turning over £7m a year: Revolution Bars Group is aiming to add another five sites to its portfolio by 2017 as it continues its expansion. The company will open tw … view

Simon Kossoff – Carluccio’s has potential for more than 200 UK sites and even more in the US: Carluccio’s chairman and co-founder Simon Kossoff has said there is potential to grow the brand to more than 200 sites in the UK and even … view

Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker – drinkers ignore Dry January as drink spend rises: Dry January and other New Year’s resolutions had less of an effect on leisure spending this year, as drinking out was up 6% compared with January 20 … view

NPD Group forecasts foodservice growth in 2016 and 2017: Global information company The NPD Group has forecast greater growth in the British out-of-home market than it originally predicted. It is now anticipating the market will grow visi … view

Beds and Bars boss – we will relocate to Europe if we leave the EU, calls on BBPA to tackle unfair business rates: Pan-European hostel and bar operator Beds and Bars boss Keith Knowles has told Propel his company will relocate its headq … view

CGA and ALMR partner to produce industry reports: CGA and the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) have unveiled a new partnership to produce a pioneering series of industry-leading intelligence reports. The ‘Future Shock� … view

Multi-site operators brand BBPA beer duty cut calls ‘morally flawed’ in open letter to Chancellor: Leaders of eight multi-site operators have sent an open letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer branding the British Beer and Pub Ass … view

Enterprise Inns reports rise in young people joining pub trade: Enterprise Inns has stated more young people are entering the pub trade because they want a sociable career and the opportunity to run their own business. The UK’s largest … view

Andrew Guy resumes chief executive role at Ed’s Easy Diner: Ed’s Easy Diner has reported chief executive Ivan Schofield has decided to leave the company to pursue career opportunities elsewhere in the wake of the ending of the company … view

Star Pubs to invest £75,000 in chef consultancy as part of drive to expand food sales to 50% of all sales by 2020: Star Pubs & Bars is to invest £75,000 in independent chef consultancy advice to help 100 of its licensees – it follows … view

BrewDog to offer 20% of US division in US crowdfunding push: BrewDog is to launch a crowdfunding campaign in the US in May, offering US investors 20% of the equity in its US division. It stated: “Our innovative platform for growth puts … view

Douglas Jack – UK restaurants have made a strong start to 2016: Numis Securities leisure analyst Douglas Jack has argued UK restaurants have made a strong start to 2016. In a note published this morning, he wrote: “We firmly believe t … view

Pub and restaurant like-for-likes up 1.9% in January, London ‘essentially flat’: Britain’s pub and restaurant groups have reported a solid start to 2016, with collective like-for-like sales in January up 1.9% on the same month last … view

£500,000 crowdfunding campaign launched to create ‘world’s best cocktail bar’ in London with ‘guest’ staff: A £500,000 fund-raising campaign has been launched on crowdfunding platform Seedrs to create the “world’s best coc … view

Administrator decides to drop Sarumdale interest rate swap claim against Barclays: Begbies Traynor, the administrator of pub company Sarumdale, whose directors claimed the company was the subject of interest rate swap mis-selling by Barcl … view

Domino’s franchisees buy Costa Coffee franchisee: Purple World, which operates ten Costa Coffee outlets across Cumbria and Lancashire, has been bought by private investors with existing businesses in food retail brands such as Domino’ … view

New concept Boyds Grill & Wine Bar to launch in Trafalgar Square: New concept Boyds Grill & Wine Bar will launch in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday, 24 February. The venue in Northumberland Avenue will feature a marble-clad, Victorian inter … view

Laine Pub Company named as partner for £3.8m heritage pub project: Multi-million pound restoration plans for an historic, semi-derelict pub in south London are now a step closer after The Laine Pub Company, led by Gavin George and backed … view

Loungers reports results, changes like-for-like reporting: Cafe bar brand Loungers has reported sales hit £48.02m, in the year to 26 April 2015, with like-for-like sales up 3.9%. However, the company has moved to report like-for-like sal … view

Enterprise reports strong start to year: Enterprise Inns has reported, in an AGM update, a ‘strong start ‘to the financial year with like-for-like net income in the leased and tenanted estate growing by 1.6% for the 19 weeks to 6 Febr … view

Café Rouge set to return to site growth, plans five restaurants a year, rebranding programme to be completed by 2017: Café Rouge, the brand owned by Casual Dining Group, is set to return to site growth in 2016 and plans to add five rest … view

Tesco takes full ownership of Harris + Hoole despite £43.5m total losses: Tesco has taken full ownership of the loss-making Harris + Hoole coffee shop business, despite total losses of £43.5m since incorporation. The company has bought … view

AB InBev receives binding offer for Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime: AB InBev has received a binding offer from Japan-based Asahi Group Holdings to acquire Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime Brewery. Asahi’s offer values the Peroni, Grolsch, and … view

Sugar Hut brand set to expand across the UK: The Only Way is Essex star Mick Norcross is to expand his Sugar Hut brand across the UK after appointing a new chief executive. The Sugar Hut site in Brentwood, Essex has enjoyed a high profile … view

Camerons Brewery reports return to pre-tax profit: North east brewer and retailer Camerons Brewery has reported a return to pre-tax profit. The company saw a pre-tax profit of £1,523,278 for the year ending 3 May 2015, compared with a lo … view

Britvic hires two non-executive directors, Bob Ivell to step down: Britvic has announced the appointment of Euan Sutherland and Sue Clark as independent non-executive directors of the company with effect from 29 February 2016. Sutherland … view

‘Crisis talks’ to take place in London today to explore ways of ensuring long-term future for Britain’s curry houses: More than 600 curry house owners and industry representatives are to hold “crisis talks” in London today (Tues … view

Jamie Rollo – Costa Coffee has 50% Ebit upside potential: Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Jamie Rollo has argued that Coast Coffee has 50% Ebit upside potential. Rollo, who increased his price target to 5600p from 5100p, said: “Our dee … view

Fitch – almost half of the Wellington pub estate is ‘behind’ on maintenance, represents a risk: Ratings agency Fitch has issued a note that reports almost half of the pubs in the 778-strong free-of-tie lease Wellington Pub Company e … view

BBPA – latest UK beer sales show pressing need for another cut in beer duty: Figures from the quarterly Beer Barometer survey by the British Pub & Beer Association (BBPA) have revealed beer sales in Britain fell by 1.5% in 2015. The dec … view

M&B to convert ten more pubs to Sizzling Pizza & Carvery format after 55% increase in sales at first ten: Mitchells & Butlers has opened ten Sizzling Pizza & Carvery businesses in the last six months, and plans to invest in converting a f … view

One … view

Just Eat buys four takeaway businesses: Just Eat, the digital marketplace for takeaway food delivery, has bought four businesses from Rocket Internet and Foodpanda for £94.7 million, to be funded from existing cash resources. The busines … view

Former Punch Taverns director becomes chairman of Gala Bingo: Former Punch Taverns chief operating officer Adrian Fawcett has become chairman of Gala Bingo. The bingo operator, acquired from Gala Coral by Caledonia Investments for £241m … view

Thai Leisure Group eyes ten openings in 2016, passes £30m turnover: Thai Leisure Group (TLG), the Thai restaurant operator, has announced it passed £30m turnover last year – and plans up to ten new sites this year. In 2015, four new s … view

Prezzo to offer 300 apprenticeships in the next year: Restaurant group Prezzo is aiming to take on more than 300 new apprentices in the next 12 months. The 12 month apprenticeship programme is aimed at people who wish to progress in diffe … view

CAMRA reports drop in pub closure numbers, calls on government to apply another beer tax cut: The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has welcomed a fall in the number of pub closures in the UK, but has called on the government to cut beer tax … view

Darwin & Wallace secures fifth site: London-based bar and restaurant company Darwin & Wallace, which is backed by the Imbiba Partnership, has secured its fifth site. Managing director Mel Marriott told the Imbiba Partnership Conference at … view

Neil Rankin to launch new barbecue restaurant and wine bar concept with backing from Imbiba Partnership, targets seven sites in London in next five years: Chef Neil Rankin is to launch a new barbecue restaurant and wine bar concept with b … view

Coaching Inn buys first site of six planned for 2016: Independent coaching inns operator, The Coaching Inn Group has further strengthened its expansion programme with the acquisition of the Kings Head in Richmond. The deal, secured off an … view

Tim Hall leaves Pod after disagreement over strategy: Founder of 22-strong healthy eating chain Pod, Tim Hall, has left the business after strong disagreements over the direction of the business in the last 14 months. Hall oversaw 17% lik … view

BII names Mike Clist as new managing director: The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has named Mike Clist, formerly of Fuller’s, as managing director from 1 April 2016. The BII stated: “The newly created position, which will be on … view

Levi Roots claims ‘complete digital footprint’ at new restaurant opening: Levi Roots’ new Caribbean Smokehouse in Westfield Stratford City, has opened with what is claims to be the first UK restaurant to offer a “complete digital … view

Conviviality reports strong First Half: Conviviality, the alcohol wholesaler serving consumers through the on-trade and through its franchise retail estate, has reported sales grew 38% to £252m in the 27 weeks to 1 November 2015, Ebitda … view

Luke Johnson to export Gail’s Bakery expertise to Florida site with founder Tom Molnar: Sector investor Luke Johnson and Gail’s Bakery founder Tom Molnar are planning to use their experience gained at Gail’s Bakery to open a bakery … view