FULLER’S NEWS
Fuller’s held their charity Bridge Walk in early May. The beneficiaries this time were Special Olympics Great Britain who provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities for all people with intellectual (learning) disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales.
Over 80 members of staff from all areas of the company took part, along with a number of Special Olympics athletes, walking the 26 miles from Fuller’s offices at Pier House, near Kew Bridge, to the Sail Loft in Greenwich. This involved crossing over the Thames 19 times, using 18 bridges and once under, via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. They raised over £25,000. For more information about Special Olympics GB go to www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk.
Fuller’s are also, once again, bringing some culture into our lives. Shakespeare in the Garden returns for its 11th season from 20 June to 17 September. The theatre company Open Bar will be giving 93 performances of the Comedy of Errors and the Taming of the Shrew at 59 selected pubs. For more information and to buy tickets, go to fullers.co.uk/Shakespeare.
Opera in the Garden is also returning. The Rogue Opera Company will be performing a selection of highlights with 23 performances at 23 pubs from 14 June to 28 July. For details and tickets, go to www.fullers.co.uk/event- finder/opera-in-the-garden.
WETHERSPOON’S NEWS
According to their latest financial report, JDW are trading at less than 5% below their 2019 levels. They are expecting to break even over their current financial year, which ends on 31 July.
I have mentioned previously that JDW were planning to open a new outlet in a Grade II-listed former bank at 222 Strand (WC2R 1BA). This plan appears to have been abandoned. No reason is known and any further information would be appreciated. Possibly as an alternative, JDW are reported to be interested in taking over the former TGI Fridays outlet in Bedford Street, Covent Garden (WC2E 9HZ). Some local opposition is reported. They have also acquired the freehold of one of their existing pubs, the Beehive in Brixton (SW9 7DG) and the lease of the Waterfront on the river at St George Wharf at Vauxhall.
CITY PUB GROUP
CPG, who now have 41 pubs, report a strong financial position with their results for the financial year ended 26 December 2021 showing an improvement on 2019. They are looking to add around a further 25 pubs to their portfolio by the end of 2023, including a new premium concept called Damson and Wilde. Chairman Clive Watson told the Morning Advertiser, “Following the reversal over the festive season, trading is now beginning to build in momentum and we look forward to an uninterrupted summer’s trading. We are emerging from the pandemic in the strongest financial position we have ever been in and therefore have signalled our intention to recommence dividends in the autumn.” CPG have however disposed of six pubs, five of them to Portobello Starboard (see below).
PORTOBELLO EXPAND
As mentioned above, Portobello Starboard Ltd, the pub owning and operating division of the Portobello group, has acquired six more pubs, this time from the City Pub Group. Only one is in London, the Travellers Friend in Woodford Green (IG8 0PN). Portobello Starboard are backed by private equity firm Zetland Capital and have recently secured £40 million of additional funding from OakNorth Bank to finance further growth. Watch this space.
PROSPECT PUBS & BARS
This small chain have opened their sixth pub and their first in London. This is the Cambria in Camberwell (SE5 9AR) which had been closed for three years. See the WhatPub Update for more details. Prospect is owned by Mark Draper and Dan Shotton, previously of Redcomb Pubs which they sold to Young’s in 2019.
SHEPHERD NEAME NEWS
Sheps have produced a limited edition beer to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Celebration English Ale (4.8% ABV), which features local East Kent Goldings and Kentish Challenger hops, will be available on draught at a selection of pubs across their estate over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend. Sheps hold Royal Warrants for their Spitfire beer and Grants Morella Cherry Brandy. The company is also planting 70 trees at pubs across its estate as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project.
As from April just gone, Sheps have become the official beer supplier to the University Boat Races. Their beers were available at the ‘fan parks’ in Furnival Gardens, Hammersmith, and Bishops Park in Fulham. Much nearer to home, Sheps have become the principal long term backer of the very popular Faversham Hop Festival. The event faced cancellation until new sponsors stepped in and it is now scheduled to go ahead on the weekend of 3 to 4 September.
NEW BEERS FROM GREENE KING
In March, GK launched four new beers marking its entry into the craft beer market. The beers will be available in both GK tied houses and the free trade. Two of them, Flint Eye, a 4.5% ABV dry hopped lager, and Level Head, a 4% ABV session IPA, will be part of GK’s core range. Western Zeph, a 5.4% ABV West Coast IPA, and Subterranea, a 6.2% ABV oatmeal stout, are limited edition brews.
NEW BRAND FROM STONEGATE
Stonegate are setting up a new premium pubs operation called the Chapter Collection. These will be food-led, primarily city centre venues. The pubs will be converted from their existing portfolio and the first is the Clerk & Well in Clerkenwell Road (EC1R 5DU), which has recently been refurbished accordingly. Its website does not mention cask beer. Cocktails and gin however are prominent.
SAD LOSS
Not a London brewery, I know, but they had many fans. Very sadly, the Kelham Island Brewery in Sheffield has announced that it is to close permanently after 32 years. Their best known beer, Pale Rider, was CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain back in 2004. Their pub, the Fat Cat, will however remain open. (The nearby Kelham Island Tavern has no connection with the brewery.) There is a worrying trend in long-established medium sized independent breweries closing.