Sky – minor sports are also a major draw: Sky has released figures showing the popularity of sport other than football, rugby and cricket in pubs, with nearly 1.2 million people having watched live darts on TV in a pub or bar in the past 12 months, more than 900,000 people having watched golf live in a pub or club in the same period, and Formula 1 regularly attracting more than half a million out-of-home viewers for races – and 834,000 for last year’s Monaco Grand Prix. The broadcaster offers free Wi-Fi to licensees who take a Sky Sports subscription, and is encouraging them to promote their Wi-Fi to sports fans by encouraging them to use it in the pub to share photos and videos and discuss the action via social media.

Company News:

Sports Bar & Grill to open 9,000 sq ft 54-screen Canary Wharf site on 23 April: Sports Bar & Grill is to open its sixth and biggest London site, at the Crossrail Terminal in Canary Wharf, on 23 April, managing director David Evans has revealed. The 9,000 sq ft venue will have 54 55-inch screens, and will be divided into six zones, so that six different events can be shown at once. Evans said: "Our USP, where we've been able to succeed where a lot of sports bars have failed is that we get an acoustic engineer in. We've got six sound zones at the new Canary Wharf bar, and we have the ability to show six separate things simultaneously. You take one step one way, you'll hear the Liverpool commentary, you take two steps the other way, you'll here the Chelsea commentary. How they do it, I don't know, but it's quite unique. We're putting in 4K [ultra-high definition television] as well, so that as and when 4K is going to be shown, we will have the facilities and the monitors to show 4K. It's four times clearer than HD and quite spectacular. Quiz nights don't work so well for us - our venues are too large. What does work very well is the post-match analysis. All the technology that is used now in post-match analysis on TV keeps people in after the match, they like listening to what happens after the games." The company has also been pushing its food offer, Evans said: "We're a restaurant as well as a bar – we do a lot of sampling, at half-time and full-time, we'll take a trays with Welsh Rarebit and French toast round, it gives us the opportunity to sell other parts of our business to our customers. Everybody likes something to eat after four or five pints – that works very well for us." Evans said that football, rugby and cricket were not the only draws at Sports Bar's venues: "Formula 1 is big-time with us, American sport is huge – we're delighted with the MLS [Major League Soccer] – boxing is very popular and Sunday night golf is very therapeutic! Our sales year-on-year at every one of our sites have increased as the number of sports we show has grown." He also revealed that the chain gets large numbers of foreign customers when it shows big overseas matches: " This weekend we've got El Classico – we're booked out for that, we will be full of Spanish people watching Barcelona versus Real Madrid. Sport covers all nationalities."
 
JD Wetherspoon eyes Downham Market opening: JD Wetherspoon has exchanged on the purchase of the White Hart in Downham Market, Norfolk (population: 9,994) and has submitted a planning application to improve the building. The company's spokesman, Eddie Gershon, said: “Wetherspoon has enjoyed great success in the region and is keen to open in Downham Market. We will await the outcome of the planning decision.” Oak Taverns, the former owner of the White Hart in Bridge Street, confirmed the planning application has been submitted and any works will be subject to its outcome of that application. “In the meantime, it will be ‘business as usual’,” a spokesman said. The application to West Norfolk Council outlines details of internal alterations, a single storey extension at the back of the building, and improvements to kitchen facilities.

YO! Sushi yogurt supplier launches crowdfunding push: Lick, which supplies frozen fat-free natural yogurt to YO! Sushi and Whole Foods, has begun a crowdfunding push on Crowdcube, and is looking to raise £200,000 in return for 6.25% of its equity. The Brighton-based company, which opened its first frozen yogurt shop in North Laine, Brighton in 2008, was founded by Owain Williams and Ky Wright. The company has forecast sales of £1,357,000 in the year to January 2016, producing ebitda of £93,000. Sales are expected to hit £5,374,000 by January 2018, producing ebitda of £960,000. Cash raised will be used to increase distribution and international expansion.

Gastro-pub operator Cubitt House unveil opening date for restaurant offshoot: The Central London gastro-pub operator Cubitt House has announced the opening date for the first venue by its new restaurant offshoot, Open House. The 200-cover restaurant, called Percy & Founders, will be on Mortimer Street, in Fitzrovia, Central London, within the new Fitzroy Place development, on the site of the former Middlesex Hospital, currently the largest site under construction in the City of Westminster. The venue will have an all-day menu of what Cubitt House described as "simple, seasonal British and modern European fare" with six starters, six mains, salads, sides and "classics to share". There will also be a menu for bar snacks, puddings and Sunday roasts. It opens on Thursday 26 March with a 50%-off offer and an official opening date of Thursday 2 April. The executive chef is Diego Cardoso, formerly of Murano. Cubitt House operates gastro-pubs in Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Pimlico and Marylebone in Central London, including the Grazing Goat, the Thomas Cubitt and the Orange.
 
Las Iguanas earns Champion Investors in People status: Las Iguanas has moved one step beyond Gold Investors in People status and been recognised as an Investors in People (IIP) Champion, the highest level of accreditation by IIP. The accolade follows its recent listing in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies. As an Investors in People Champion, Las Iguanas is recognised as a role model for the IIP community and the wider business population. The company is recognised as offering insight, expertise and credibility in the realm of people management and is considered a thought leader in the field of HR and leadership. Las Iguanas' HR manager, Angela Da Silva, said: “We now reflect the top 1% of the Investors in People community and see people as the engine of our ongoing success.”
 
Shaker Group opens second venue: Shaker Group has launched its second site, Gas Street Social, in Birmingham’s Mailbox complex. It comes after the opening of Shaker&Company in London three years ago. The 4,300 sq ft venue is in the Mailbox’s major redevelopment project, and has been launched with support from the Regional Growth Fund. Gas Street Social is an upmarket restaurant and cocktail bar "inspired by the cultural and industrial context of Birmingham’s rich history" Shaker Group said. It specialises in "simple, seasonal and shareable modern European cuisine". Adam Freeth, the managing director of Shaker Group, said: “We are delighted to be among such great company here at the Mailbox, and as a Birmingham-based company, we’re excited to have opened a venue on home soil. We’ve developed a unique food and beverage offer that focuses on sharing and socialising, which we believe will be a great addition to the Mailbox and Birmingham’s world-class culinary scene.”
 
Roxy Beaujolais places Bountiful Cow on the market: Businesswoman Roxy Beaujolais has placed the leasehold interest of her Bountiful Cow pub in Holborn, Central London on the market through the property agent Fleurets. The property is on the corner of Dane Street, close to Red Lion Square and London’s legal district, within a few minutes' walk of Holborn Tube station. The Bountiful Cow is known for steaks and over-sized burgers. The venue is subject to a 20-year free-of-tie Wellington Pub Company lease that started in 2011. Turnover was £624,000 excluding VAT in the most recent year and the asking price is £395,000, with a passing rent of £41,500 a year. The Bountiful Cow is across the street from the main offices of law firm Mishcon de Reya. Beaujolais also operates the Seven Stars pub on Carey Street, behind the Royal Courts of Justice in Central London.
 
Jongleurs switches to Novus venue in Leeds after Intertain closure: The comedy club Jongleurs has found a new location in Leeds after Intertain moved to close its Maluko bar and nightclub – it bowed out on Saturday evening (14 March). The comedy club will be operating from the Novus-owned Tiger Tiger on Albion Street, Leeds, with the first event on Friday (20 March), leaving no break in the shows.
 
Multi-siter to launch Liverpool restaurant and cocktail bar: The Southport-based multi-site operator Paul Adams is to launch the Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar in Liverpool city centre. The venue, in Exchange Flags will employ 37 people, and is now recruiting ahead of an opening in a few weeks. Tibu Pinedo, restaurant manager at Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar, said: "We're looking for fresh hospitality talent who have the experience and personality to bring both our venue and food and drink offering to life." The new 6,000 sq ft venue will have modern British and international dishes on its menu.

Camra Pub of the Year hosts pizza pop-up: The Salutation Inn in Ham, Wiltshire, the current Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year, owned by first-timers Peter and Claire Tiley, is hosting a street food pop-up until the second week in May. The pub has shipped in Bristol street-food legend Pizza Monkey, real name Nick Higgs, and his mobile wood-fired clay oven. Pizza Monkey makes wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas using slow-rise, hand-stretched bases topped with a mix of authentic Italian ingredients and local artisan produce. Higgs will be outside the front of the Salutation Inn every Saturday until the second week in May. The pizzas will be available from noon until 6.30pm. The Salutation has a three-item food menu – ham, eggs and chips, a ploughman’s lunch and a third “special” that changes every day

Thai Leisure Group launches three new apps: The Leeds-based Thai Leisure Group, which operates 11 Thai restaurants  under the brands Chaophraya, Thaikhun and Yee Rah fascias, has launched three new smartphone apps to give customers access to speedy table reservations, as well as the ability to explore Thai language and culture. The apps, available from Android Store and the Apple App Store, allow users to access one-click booking, learn basic Thai phrases, take advantage of new loyalty programmes and explore the brand’s restaurant and private dining areas via a 360-degree tour function. Thai Leisure Group, which serves more than 26,000 customers a week, says it made the decision to develop the apps in order to build on its already strong levels of consumer engagement, with open rates on email marketing campaigns as high as 82%, almost four times higher than the 21% industry average. Lyn MacDonald, the company's marketing and public relations director, said: “Recognising and rewarding our regular customers is very important to us as a business. We launched the apps in recognition of the high online engagement we’ve seen from our loyal customers, particularly through Facebook and Twitter. This is not just to book a table, but to explore our restaurants and Thai culture and language. We made the decision to have an app produced that would help empower our customers. We already see great levels of customer engagement on social media platforms and via our email marketing campaigns. The three apps will offer loyalty programmes and content tailored to suit each brand.”

Starbucks to roll out mobile gifting and tipping in the UK: Starbucks is to roll out mobile gifting and tipping in the UK. The feature was introduced in the United States last March. An update to the Starbucks for iOS app was pushed out last Friday. The app description says that this build, version 3.2.3, brings additional stability for Apple Pay as well as other fixes “to enhance your Starbucks experience.” However, the description also reveals that tipping and gifts will soon come to Canada and the UK.

New pizza concept set to open in Manchester next week with 90-second cook time: A new pizza concept, Ply, is set to open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter next week, on 25 March. The restaurant on Stevenson Square, which is owned by the team behind the Tariff Street bar Kosmonaut, will occupy a 5,500 sq ft site It will serve antipasti and local charcuterie meats as well as an extensive pizza menu. The restaurant will also sell craft beer from its own ABC Brewery and artisan coffee, and present a changing calendar of art exhibitions. A new artist will be invited to work on its large-scale “doodle wall” every six weeks. General manager Hana Kaczor-Dawson said: “Materials and features have been sourced from all over the world, including our 'disco ball' pizza oven, which involved shipping a team over from Naples to build. It heats to 600C and will bake a selection of Neapolitan pizzas in 90 seconds flat. We’ve taken the time to fine-tune the food and drink menus, creating just the right balance of Italian know-how and local produce.”

Iconic North East of England nightclub still looking for buyer: An iconic Newcastle upon Tyne nightclub, Baja Beach Club, is still looking for a buyer despite reports of an imminent refurbishment. The club, which was famous for its snapping great white shark sign and elevated "lifeguard’s tower" DJ booth inside, closed its doors for the last time in 2008, with management blaming “increased competition in the area and the difficult local economic conditions.” The property agent Christie + Co said: “Finding a tenant has been difficult as the rent is quite onerous and the property is available on a leasehold basis. However, we have a good relationship with the owner and he might consider selling the freehold of the property, but this would be in excess of £1.5m. Baja Beach Club can be viewed on a leasehold or freehold and we would welcome any approaches. There have been interested parties but we do not have a buyer at present. Any future tenant or buyer would have to invest heavily in refurbishment as Baja is no longer an operational nightclub as it has fallen into disrepair.”

Revolution Bars Group begins trading: Revolution Bars Group began trading yesterday after being admitted to the premium listing segment of the official list of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities under the ticker "RBG".
 
Greene King apprenticeship company set for sale: The Bristol-based company Lifetime Training, which counts Greene King among its clients, is to be auctioned by the end of the year, Sky News has reported. Sovereign Capital has owned a controlling stake in Lifetime since 2011. A sale of Lifetime Training by Sovereign Capital will put one of the country's biggest vocational training companies in the retail and leisure sector on the market. The company trains 15,000 people annually.

Valad Europe buys Festival Leisure Park in Blackpool, plans more food and beverage outlets: The property investor Valad Europe has acquired the Festival Leisure Park in Blackpool for £12.4m on behalf of the Valad European Diversified Fund. The Blackpool site is home to venues operated by McDonald's, Spirit Pub Company, Odeon Cinemas and Frankie and Benny's and was bought from Scottish Windows Investment Partnership. Simon Marriott, Valad Europe's head of UK real estate, said: “We are already looking at introducing new food and beverage outlets at Festival Leisure Park and are exploring reversionary rent potential and lease re-gearing opportunities at the other two assets." Festival Leisure Park was one of three assets acquired, for a total of £23.7m.

Batemans win three awards in Wetherspoon's 2015 beer festival: Batemans, the family brewer based in Lincolnshire, has received three awards at this year’s JD Wetherspoon beer festival for two unique brews; Lincolnshire Red, a premium bitter and Shongweni Durban Pale Ale, a South African strong ale. Lincolnshire Red is described as a ruby-red beer with notes of blackcurrant, lime and citrus fruitiness and  a tart, refreshing finish. This beer, brewed exclusively for the festival and with an ABV of 5%, was the winner of the Premium Bitter class. Shongweni Durban Pale Ale received a silver medal in the Strong Ales class, and a Bronze medal in the separate International Beers class. The 5.7% ABV beer was created in partnership with the South African Shongweni Brewery, with Brian Stewart and Donn Robson visiting Batemans in February to work on the beer together. Stuart Bateman, managing director of Batemans, said: “The JD Wetherspoon beer festival is one of the highlights of the industry calendar, and we’re ecstatic that these two delicious and flavoursome beers have both received awards. We particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to partner with another brewery to make something truly special.”

Garden centre opens 300-seat restaurant: The Carr Farm Garden Centre at Meols on the Wirral has opened a new 300-seat restaurant as part of a £3m redevelopment. Managing director Dave Jones said: "The development is an exciting project that will enhance the business and allow us to develop more retail space. The new restaurant is a fantastic addition for visitors, who may be here for an afternoon of shopping." The Carr Farm site has been owned by the Jones family since the 1930s and was originally run as a small dairy farm. Carr Farm Garden Centre was established in 1982, at which point the dairy operation ceased and the family concentrated on the farm shop and garden centre operations. In addition to garden furniture and supplies, Carr Farm Garden Centre sells clothing, home furnishings, pet supplies and accessories, gifts and seasonal items. Its three-year redevelopment project, financed through the government-backed Funding for Lending scheme, is expected to see a host of new shops and concession stands established on the site, and create up to 75 jobs.

Plans for restaurants and takeaway in Workington pulled over fears for rare butterfly: Plans for two restaurants and a drive-through takeaway in Workington, Cumbria have been pulled less than a month after being lodged by the KFC franchisee QFM Group. The planning application, for a double-storey restaurant, a drive-through restaurant and a 29-space car park to operate between 7am and 11pm, was withdrawn because of concerns over a rare butterfly which lives in the nearby railway line area. An ecological survey will now be carried out and a fresh application lodged in the future. Geoff Eaton, of Architects Ltd, told the News & Star newspaper: “The correct time to do this is after late March, early April and so the resubmission must wait until this has been done. We have also been asked to provide a sequential test to confirm that this is a viable site for redevelopment.” Steve Doyle, of Butterfly Conservation Cumbria, had objected to the application on the grounds that the land involved, on the corner of Lakes Road and Bessemer Way, was also the breeding habitat of the rare small blue butterfly known as the Allerdale butterfly.
 
Brewhouse and Kitchen Bristol brews special beer in honour of Darth Vader actor: The new Brewhouse and Kitchen in Cotham Hill, Bristol has brewed a special beer in honour of David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the Star Wars films, who officially opened the venue. Prowse grew up in Bristol and still has close ties to the city. Papa Darth oatmeal stout is being brewed alongside another beer honouring a local man who became a Hollywood actor: GrantLeach strong bitter is named for Cary Grant, who was born in Bristol as Archibald Leach. The Bristol Brewhouse and Kitchen is the fifth to be opened by founders Kris Gumbrell and Simon Bunn since 2011, with two more in the pipeline. The Cotham Hill site was acquired last year from the Black Pub Company.