10/11/2020
Paul Davies appointed chief executive of Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company following merger
The Caterer has announced that the £780m merger of brewer and pub company Marston's with beer brand Carlsberg UK has completed, creating Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, with Paul Davies appointed as chief executive. Davies joins the group from Carlsberg Poland, where he has been managing director since last year. Ralph Findlay, currently chief executive of Marston's, has been appointed non-executive chairman of the merged business.
Buy-out funds dance around nightclub operator Deltic
The Telegraph reports that buy-out funds are weighing bids for the UK's biggest nightclub operator after the pandemic has left the Deltic struggling to stave off collapse following the Government's eight-month closure of all clubs.
David Campbell appointed group chief executive of PizzaExpres
The former chief executive of Wagamama, David Campbell, has been appointed group chief executive of PizzaExpress, as the restaurant chain announced the completion of its recapitalisation, which has cut debts by £400m reports the Daily Mail. Campbell previously led the turnaround at Wagamama. He is joined on the new PizzaExpress board by Allan Leighton, the former Asda chief executive and ex-Wagamama chairman.
The Inn Collection snaps up site in Lytham St Annes
According to Boutique Hotelier, North of England operator The Inn Collection Group has added the 88 bed Lindum Hotel in the seaside town of Lytham St Annes to its pubs-with-rooms estate. The Lindum Hotel is the group's first Lancashire site, joining its Lake District, Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland collection and brings the estate to a total of 16 sites.
England's only McDonald's-free county is no more, as a branch of the fast food chain has opened
Despite some resistence among residents, Rutland County Council approved plans for the fast food chain to build a diner and drive-thru on the outskirts of Oakham in the East Midlands. According to BBC, the opening means that the famous golden arches can be seen in every county in England and McDonalds have claimed that the restaurant will create more than 65 jobs in the community.
Everards cancels £3m rents for its licensees:
Leicestershire-based Everards has cancelled rents totalling £3m for its Tenants. Managing director Stephen Gould said the business had also credited pubs for the beer that they could not sell prior to the second lockdown.
Independents more resilient than chains:
The leisure and hospitality market declined by a net 1,263 units in the first half of 2020 compared with 352 the previous year - an increase of 259%, according to research by the Local Data Company, but independent operators were found to be much more resilient than chains.
Marston's and EI Group cut rent by 90% for tied tenants
Both pub companies tied tenants and leaseholders in England will have their headline rent reduced to 10% for the period of the second lockdown up to 2nd Dec.
And Finally...
London's Connaught Bar has been voted the best bar in the world reports the Daily Mail. The World's 50 Best Bars in 2020 were revealed, with London's Connaught Bar the overall winner. Other bars featured in the list include Tayer + Elementary on London's Old Street, which was placed in fifth spot and won the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award, and Kwant, in Mayfair, which claimed sixth place and the London Essence Best New Opening prize. Overall, 9 UK bars were included in the list.