A round-up of stories and snippets from brewing and hospitality, and the latest business news in brief
Butcombe Group is strengthening its position in the growing weddings and occasions market with the opening of The Dovecote Barn at The Methuen Arms, Corsham, a dedicated wedding and events venue which can accommodate parties of up to 100 people.
Opening this month, the investment reflects the group’s continued focus on creating premium hospitality destinations and dedicated event spaces. It follows a strong first half-year of sales for the pub group and brewer, during which wedding revenue increased by 37% year on year.
• Good Chemistry Brewing has re-opened The Old Restoration pub, in Cheltenham. “We’ve been delivering beer to Cheltenham for many years,” says the brewer, “building brilliant relationships with publicans across the city, and we’re incredibly proud to be joining such a great beer scene.” It’s Cheltenham’s oldest pub, dating back to 1661.
• Turnover at Hall & Woodhouse rose 6.7% to £131,078 in the year to 31st January. Profit before tax was £8.9m, up from £4.1m the year before, but this did include an insurance payout following a fire. The company will continue to invest in its estate and brands.
• Turnover at Hydes increased by 1% to a record £41.2m in the year to 29th March. Managed house turnover, excluding transfer/disposals, increased by £0.1m to £37.9m. Like-for-like profits in the tenanted pubs, at £0.6m, decreased by £25k, primarily due to higher property costs.
Overall, own-brewed cask and keg volumes decreased by 10.9%. Volumes decreased by 6.8% in the pub estate, partly due to disposals in the year. Volumes of the new lager Helles outperformed Dock 4 in the prior year. There was a decrease of 16.7% in the free trade and wholesale area, which was the biggest contributor to the fall in own brewed volumes.
• The ownership group of Wrexham AFC has exchanged on the purchase of The Turf pub from Admiral Taverns. The acquisition allows for the preservation of the history and traditions of the historic public house that has been linked to the Racecourse Ground and Wrexham AFC since its foundation in 1864.
The acquisition will help protect the historic pub by incorporating the club, the Racecourse Ground, and The Turf under a single ownership, while allowing for further investment into the fan experience in and around matchdays. This will include opportunities to enhance the current fan zone and other fan-related activities in the area next to The Turf on the Mold Road.
• The Advertising Standards Authority has banned two BrewDog Facebook ads offering “bottomless beer” for £19.95 over a period of 90 minutes. Both ads were found to be socially irresponsible and to imply, condone, or encourage excessive consumption.
• Independent hospitality operator Hoste has confirmed an agreement with the King’s Cross Tribeca development to launch The Tribeca Storehouse. Arriving late summer 2027, it will provide a public house, chop house, and club house experience.
Tribeca King’s Cross is a 1 million sq ft purpose-built life sciences and innovation campus, aimed to reshape the waterfront between Regent’s Canal and St Pancras Way. It stands on the once bustling commercial artery connecting London to the industrial powerhouse of the north.
• A new campaign is using illustrated coasters in pubs, cafés, and restaurants to encourage more open conversations about money, and to tackle the stigma surrounding debt. The ‘Say It Over a Drink’ campaign has been launched by debt management firm Lowell. It uses the illustrated coasters to help people open up about debt and financial struggles in the places where conversations happen most naturally: over a coffee, a pint, or dinner with friends.
“A coaster might seem like an unusual place to tackle debt, but that’s exactly why it works,” said John Pears, UK chief executive at Lowell. “It meets people in moments when they’re already talking, catching up, and connecting. We hope these simple prompts help make it easier for someone to open up, because asking for help often starts with a conversation.”
• Liverpool-based Pub Invest Group has launched Tavern Social at historic New Zealand House. It will build on the company’s Tavern Co template, set up by American Keith Gurney. It will focus on bruch-style food during the daytime.
• Pub company Conexux has acquired the lease of the Queen’s Head in Clerkenwell, London. Conexus comprises a collection of independent pub businesses, mostly in the capital.
