CLH News

St Austell Brewery Reviews Operational Structure Amid Rising Costs A well-established brewery and pub operator in the South West has announced a consultation process that could see a reduction in staff numbers as it navigates rising employment costs. St Austell Brewery, which has been at the heart of the region’s brewing and hospitality industry for 174 years, employs over 2,000 people across its operations. The company has confirmed it is reviewing its operational structure in response to significant financial pressures brought on by increasing employment costs. Chief Executive Kevin Georgel highlighted the challenges facing the brewing and hospitality sector, citing the impact of rising National Insurance contributions, which were confirmed in the recent Budget. The additional costs, which are set to take effect from April, will place further financial strain on businesses already working hard to recover from the difficulties of recent years. “The brewing and hospitality industry has faced an exceptionally tough period, and while we have successfully navigated many of these challenges, the latest rise in employment costs adds further pressure,” said Mr Georgel. “The additional burden amounts to around £3 million per year, and it is simply not viable to pass all of these increased costs on to our customers.” With 160 pubs across the South West, as well as brewing operations in St Austell and Warmley near Bath, the company is now exploring ways to adapt to these financial pressures. # While the consultation process may lead to a reduction of up to 40 roles, Mr Georgel emphasised that teams working in managed pubs would not be affected. “This is not a decision we take lightly,” he added. “However, we must take these difficult but necessary steps to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of our business.” The hospitality industry continues to navigate a complex economic landscape, and businesses like St Austell Brewery are working hard to balance financial sustainability with their commitment to staff and customers. Read More:

Bank Of England Holds Interest Rate At 4.5% The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.5%, but has warned economic and global trade uncertainty has "intensified". Its decision to hold rates was widely expected, however, governor Andrew Bailey said the Bank still believed rates were "on a gradually declining path". Economists are predicting two more rate cuts by the end of the year, with many suggesting the next could come as early as May. Mr Bailey reiterated it was the Bank's job "to make sure that inflation stays low and stable". Inflation, which measures the rate at which prices rise, currently remains above the Bank's 2% target, at 3%. Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: “It’s disappointing that the Bank of England has chosen to hold interest rates yet again. The precarious state of the economy is no secret, with the most recent GDP figures indicating the fragile state it’s in. It's therefore vital to kickstart growth and hospitality has a unique potential to drive growth in communities across the nation, if it is properly backed.” “Businesses across our sector generate more than £140 billion in revenue each year, and provide work for more than 3.5 million people, but are shackled by soaring costs that are inhibiting growth. This will only get worse in April, when the sector will be hit by £3.4 billion every year in additional costs.” "Cuts to interest rates, as well as a delay to the impending lowering of the National Insurance Contributions threshold, is the bare minimum hospitality businesses need in order for them to continue to provide viable spaces for us to live, work and invest in.” Read More:

The Tawny Owl Takes Off With New Management And Exciting Upgrades The Tawny Owl in Swindon has new managers at the helm, as husband-and-wife team Deanna and Danny Paul have officially taken over at the popular Arkell’s pub. The couple are already familiar faces, having worked in a variety of roles at The Kingsdown Inn and The Tawny Owl, including serving as assistant managers under former manager Nic. Their appointment makes The Tawny Owl a true family affair, with their daughter Chelsea also part of the team. Together, they’re looking forward to welcoming guests old and new while showcasing the exciting improvements recently made to the pub. The pub has been given a fresh new look with a repainted exterior, a refurbished car park, upgraded outdoor lighting and signage, and brand-new furniture inside and out.  Most notably, Arkell’s has invested over £60,000 in a brand-new children’s play area, making the pub even more family-friendly for the Swindon community.  Deanna and Danny are eager to build on the pub’s reputation as a welcoming local hub. For Danny, running a pub has been a lifelong dream, and now that their children are grown, he and Deanna feel this is the right time to take this next step together. During their time as assistant managers they’ve built strong relationships with the local community, making their transition into management a natural fit. “We’re absolutely delighted to be taking on The Tawny Owl,” said Deanna. “This pub is such a special place, and with all the fantastic improvements, it’s a great time to invite everyone in to experience what The Tawny has to offer.” George Arkell, Managing Director of Arkell’s Brewery, shared his enthusiasm for the new management: “We love to see growth within our teams, so we are thrilled that after nine years, Deanna has now been promoted to manager of The Tawny Owl . And what a great time to be taking over, as we’ve just completed our biggest children’s play area yet!” Read More:

Scottish Brewers Win Historic Triple Gold At UK’s Biggest Beer Awards The results are in for the UK’s biggest independent beer competition, with three breweries taking the Overall Gold across the Cask, Keg, and Bottle/Can competitions – and for the first time ever all the Overall Champions were from Scotland. Cross Borders Brewing won the Overall Champion of the Cask Beer Awards with their India Pale Ale, Fyne Ales won Overall Champion of the Bottle/Can Beer with Mills & Hills Vintage – a barrel aged imperial stout – and Swannay won the Overall Champion of the Keg Beer Awards with their strong Orkney Porter. On hand to collect the awards on behalf of his brewery and the other Scottish Gold Medal Winners was Jamie Delap, Owner of Fyne Ales and SIBA Scotland Regional Director; “We’re absolutely delighted, there's so many fantastic beers here so to win a medal is always brilliant. So the fact that judges have enjoyed what we do, we love it. We're just so honoured. I think in Scotland we're proud, we've got lots of brewers doing some really good things and this just validates that great work going on in Scotland. So we’re delighted to win, really proud of everyone.” Commenting on his Mills & Hills Imperial Stout which took home the Gold in bottle, he said; “It's a big, proper, chewy Imperial Stout, nothing too fancy. And for me, it's my nightcap beer so I am delighted we're always going to have it in stock, because I always need that nightcap beer once in a while!” Judged by brewers and industry experts and organised by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) at their flagship BeerX UK event in Liverpool, the SIBA Independent Beer Awards 2025 awards run across a huge range of beer style categories including pale ale, IPA, stout and lager. The Awards are the National finals and in order to earn a place at the competition brewers must first win Gold at their regional competition – making these overall Champions very much the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to independent beer. Finalists from Scotland the North East, North West, Midlands, East of England, Wales & West, South East, and South West all fought it out to take home the top spots. “These awards are twelve months in the making and given to only the UK’s very best beers. Huge congratulations to all of this year’s medal winners and particularly our three Overall Champions, all hailing from Scotland for the first time in the competitions history – there must be something in the water up there!” Andy Slee, SIBA Chief Executive. Read More:

Take A Look Inside New Preston Pub Following Almost £215,000 Makeover The Ribble Lodge on Ribbleton Avenue in Preston reopened last Thursday 13th March following a major investment of nearly £215,000. The pub is part of Proper Pubs – the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns – which has more than 200 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Rebecca Lyons, Operator of the Ribble Lodge, said: “The Ribble Lodge has been transformed to include a completely refreshed bar area as well as brand new furniture, flooring, fittings and fixtures throughout to breathe a new lease of life into the pub. We’ve also revamped the both games room, which is now complete with two brand new pool tables and dart boards, and the function room which holds up to 120 people and an additional four dart boards. To celebrate the reopening, the pub hosted a live performance on Thursday night from popular local artist, Peter Hague, which was followed by a weekend packed full of entertainment. This included a performance from local singer, Callie Allen on Friday evening, a live DJ set on Saturday night and a street food van in residence for customers to enjoy on both days. In addition, the operator hopes to support several community initiatives and will start by fundraising to have a lifesaving defibrillator installed at the pub and collecting food to donate to the local foodbank. Rebecca is also hoping to work with several national and regional mental health charities, a cause close to her heart. Rebecca added: “I’ve loved my time at the Ribble Lodge so far and I’m so pleased with how the reopening went – we’ve already had such fantastic feedback from the community so I can’t wait for all that’s to come. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Proper Pubs for helping to bring my vision for this incredible pub to life and for all their support throughout this journey.” Matthew Gurney, Operations Director for Proper Pubs, said: "I’m delighted to have Rebecca and the team on board at the Ribble Lodge and it’s fantastic to see how this incredible transformation has come to life. On behalf of myself and the whole team at Proper Pubs, I’d like to thank both the operator, and everyone who has had a hand in getting the pub to where it is now, for all their hard work and I wish Rebecca the very best for the future.” Read More:

Wetherspoon Half-Year Revenues Tops £1bn-But Margins Dented As Costs Rise Pub group J D Wetherspoon has reported a fall in profits in its half-year results despite an uplift in sales, with chairman Tim Martin warning that rising labour costs and tax disparities are set to hit the pub industry hard. Sales over the past six months at the pub company topped £1bn, the first time this has happened in the company's history. Total sales for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2025 were £1,030m, an increase of 3.9% compared to FY24. In its last full-year financial results (for the 52 weeks ended 28 July 2024), Wetherspoon posted a revenue of £2,035m, breaking the £2bn threshold. For the half-year number released on 21 March 2025, like-for-like sales increased by 4.8%, bar sales increased by 4.3%, food by 5.4% and slot/fruit machines by 12.4%. Operating profit, before separately disclosed items, was £64.8m (2024: £67.7m). The operating margin, before separately disclosed items, was 6.3% (2024: 6.83%), which Wetherspoon says is mainly due to labour and utility costs which, in total, were £30.6m higher. Despite the notable revenue figures, Wetherspoon is preparing for a contentious hike in operating  costs next month, as National Insurance Contributions, business rates and the national minimum wage increase take effect. "Increases in national insurance and labour rates will result in company cost increases of approximately £60m per annum, which amounts to approximately £1,500 per pub, per week," says Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin. "“Since labour costs are around 35% of the pub industry’s sales, compared to around 11% for supermarkets, increases of this nature inevitably have a disproportionate impact on pubs, exacerbating the already-wide price differential for customers between the on- and off-trade." During the previous six months, Wetherspoon opened two pubs (the Grand Assembly in Marlow and the pictured Lion and The Unicorn in Waterloo Station, London) and sold six, with 796 pubs open at the period end. Profit before tax and separately disclosed items, was £32.9m (2024: £36m). The pub disposals generated a cash inflow of £3.9m. "The combination of much higher VAT rates for pubs than supermarkets, combined with increased labour costs will weigh heavily on the pub industry," adds Martin. "The company currently anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, subject to our future sales performance. Charlie Huggins, manager of the ‘Quality Shares Portfolio’ at Wealth Club, commented: “Wetherspoons has delivered a solid like-for-like sales performance in the period and trading in the last seven weeks has been robust. However, its profit margins have fallen due to higher utility and labour costs, meaning profits are slightly down.” “The extent of cost increases is going to get much worse from 1 April. Labour costs will rise by £60 million which is frankly crippling and will likely eat further into profit margins going forwards. The cost …

Elevate Your Hospitality Venue with Dining Chairs UK: Affordable, Stylish, and Durable Contract Furniture As the UK’s hospitality sector continues to evolve, the demand for high-quality, durable, and aesthetically pleasing contract furniture has never been greater. At Dining Chairs UK, we are proud to be a trusted supplier to the hospitality industry and licensed on-trade, providing cost-effective furniture solutions for commercial venues across the country. Your One-Stop Shop for Hospitality Contract Furniture Whether you operate a bustling restaurant, a stylish hotel lounge, or a traditional pub, the right furniture plays a crucial role in defining your space. We specialise in providing a comprehensive range of hospitality furniture, including chairs, bar stools, table tops, table bases, and outdoor furnishings—ensuring you have access to premium-quality products at competitive prices. Tailored Solutions to Bring Your Vision to Life We understand that every venue is unique. That’s why we offer tailored solutions to match your brand’s identity and aesthetic vision. Our expert team works closely with business owners, designers, and hospitality professionals to source and specify furniture that seamlessly blends style, durability, and functionality. Hassle-Free Furniture Sourcing with Unbeatable Value At Dining Chairs UK, we believe in making commercial furniture buying as simple and stress-free as possible. Our vast selection of in-stock items means you can furnish your establishment quickly, without long lead times. Plus, with our competitive pricing and quick delivery options, achieving the perfect look for your business has never been easier. We’re so confident in our pricing that if you find the same product at a lower price elsewhere, we won’t just match it—we’ll strive to beat any like-for-like quote. This commitment to affordability ensures that your business gets the best value without compromising on quality. Supporting the Hospitality Industry with Reliability and Expertise With years of experience supplying contract furniture to the hospitality sector, we understand the unique demands of high-traffic commercial environments. Our furniture is built to withstand daily wear and tear while maintaining its visual appeal, ensuring a lasting investment for your business. From classic designs to contemporary styles, our collection caters to a diverse range of hospitality settings, helping you create an inviting atmosphere that keeps customers coming back. For more information, visit www.diningchairsuk.com or call us to discuss how we can support your next project. Read More:

Gen Z’ Can Be Menu Rejectors Unilever Food Solutions UK&I launches Future Menus Volume 3 -       FUTURE MENUS reveals how chefs and operators can attract and maximise spend with influential yet polarised Gen Z demographic -       New More in Common research shows that Gen Z can be menu rejectors   -       Unilever Food Solutions’ four key trends highlight how to future proof menus, increase footfall and drive loyalty -       Customisation is king - how to target consumers that embrace variety vs meeting demands of those who seek more control over their menu choices Unilever Food Solutions UK&I (UFS) has launched its third annual FUTURE MENUS report, highlighting four key foodservice & hospitality trends that are critical to business success. The in-depth research reveals how chefs and operators can meet the demands of consumers, with a particular focus on Gen Z; to keep their businesses relevant, drive footfall and unlock spend. FUTURE MENUS Volume 3 includes new insight commissioned from opinion poll and social research experts More in Common.  Gen Z - who eat out in the UK more than any other generation - aren’t just another demographic, but increasingly economically powerful trendsetters, craving exciting dining experiences that are personalised, globally inspired and shareable. Key findings from the FUTURE MENUS Volume 3 report show that Gen Z ‘can be menu rejectors’ and their preferences need to be front of mind for operators to win. Here’s a taster of what the Gen Z demographic accept and reject on menus: -      Gen Z are the only generation where a majority say they eat out at least once a week, with over 25% eating out multiple times a week -      One in ten only go to restaurants where they can customise dishes -       Customisation fosters loyalty - 62% of Gen Z are more likely to return to a restaurant that encourages customisation -       77% of Gen Z are more attracted to restaurants with adventurous, global cuisine -       62% say they are likely to return to a restaurant that features modern takes on food from around the world -       60% of Gen Z would be more likely to return to a restaurant where the chefs blend food from different cultures -       26% would be less likely to return to a restaurant that only serves British cuisine -       26% of Gen Z are often overwhelmed by long menus, compared to 15% of the nation The FUTURE MENUS Volume 3 trends are: - Borderless Cuisine - globalisation and migration are blending diverse food traditions as chefs honour their multicultural origins, a trend that’s driven by our increasingly migratory world - Street Food Couture - traditional street foods are being elevated to gourmet offerings with chef expertise in every food service channel, including fine dining - Gen Z is a major driver of this trend - Diner Designed - growing demand for personalised and immersive dining experiences and value-added experiences is driving this trend - Modernised…

Mayfair Furniture Mayfair Furniture will be celebrating 12 years this year of providing the UK’s fastest and affordable commercial furniture. Supplying all kinds of establishments from high end hotel chains to small local takeaways. We keep in stock a huge variety of items ready for immediate dispatch, and can fulfil a wide range of bespoke orders. We deliver to all areas of the UK, Ireland & Europe. We are not just a supplier; we understand that from time to time hospitality and leisure establishments like to give themselves a fresh new look. That's why not only do we supply contract furniture, but when it's time for your establishment to go through a refurbishment we also offer a complete clearance service. We'll organise everything from a suitable time and date, professional clearance staff to remove contract furniture whether fitted or unfitted. Along with our sister company Caterfair who provides commercial catering equipment for your kitchens we are the ideal people to speak to when you are looking to refurbish. 01733 310115 sales@mayfairfurniture.co.uk www.mayfairfurniture.co.uk Read More:

Greene King Celebrates 20 Year Partnership With Tom Kerridge Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise division of Greene King, has celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Partnership with Tom Kerridge. Tom has operated The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire since 2005, and with his team turned the pub into the first to ever receive two Michelin stars. In recognition of Tom and his team’s 20 years at The Hand & Flowers, Greene King Pub Partners Managing Director Dan Robinson alongside Operations Director Mike O’Connor and Operations Manager Barrie Aspinall presented a specially made plaque to display at the pub. A renowned gastropub, The Hand & Flowers received its first Michelin star in 2006, just a year after Tom opened it. The second Michelin star then followed in 2012. The pub has long established itself as a top dining destination under Tom and his team, combining exceptional food with the warm hospitality of a pub. In addition to The Hand & Flowers, Tom Kerridge also operates the Butcher’s Tap & Grill in Marlow in partnership with Greene King. A boutique pub with a high-end butchery counter that services both the pub menu and meat for customers to take away, it was the blue-print for Tom Kerridge’s ‘Butcher’s Tap & Grill’ concept that has since expanded into a second site in Chelsea. Tom Kerridge, operator of The Hand & Flowers, said: "Reaching 20 years at The Hand & Flowers is an incredible milestone, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing team, so I want to say a massive thank you to them. “I’m also hugely grateful for my partnership with Greene King Pub Partners - having their support over the years has been invaluable. Here’s to many more great years ahead!” Dan Robinson, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, said: “We’re proud of our partnership with Tom and his team, so it is with great pleasure we present this plaque to commemorate their 20 years at The Hand & Flowers. “Tom and his team have created a truly special experience at The Hand & Flowers, and we look forward to many more years of success in partnership together.” Read More: