A round-up of stories and snippets from brewing and hospitality, and the latest business news in brief
Indie Rabble have been named best new brewery at the Brewers Congress, staged at Big Penny Social, in London. “This was an award open to breweries trading for a maximum of three years, and we won!” said the brewer. “Against two brilliant new breweries in Bearwood and Colbier, both of which we have collabs planned with next year, and both of which are excellent.”
• Marston’s has announced a new partnership with electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator Believ. The partnership marks the start of a long-term collaboration between the two brands, with the first installations expected to go live later this year. The rollout will support Marston’s extensive UK estate of pubs, many of which also feature on-site accommodation, providing convenient and reliable EV charging for customers, communities and businesses.
Through its long-standing and ongoing partnership with Osprey Charging Network, Marston’s already benefits from the largest rapid and ultra-fast EV charging network in the UK pub sector, with 542 chargers across 195 sites. This additional partnership with Believ marks the next phase of that ambition.
• A strong pub performance from Shepherd Neame was offset by continued pressure in its brewing and brands divisions in the year to 27th June. Revenue was down by 1.1% to £162.6m, although underlying EBITDA rose by 0.8% to £25.6m. Statutory profit before tax was £3.6m, down from £6.3m the year before. This reflected impairment charges on 15 properties. Underlying profit before tax was up 1.8% at £7.8m.
“Brewing and brands faces continued pressure of declining volumes outside our heartland and pub estate, and rising logistics costs,” said chief executive Jonathan Neame. “We are in the midst of a review of our strategy for this part of the business.” However, he added: “Brewing remains integral to our identity and prosperity as a company.”
• Turnover increased to a record £24,785,819 at Black Country Ales in the year ending 31st December, 2025, with pre-tax profit up to £5,922,980. The company operates 55 pubs. “The group hopes to continue to slowly acquire individual public houses, as and when they become available,” say the directors in their annual report.
• Red Oak Taverns has acquired two pubs from Everards. The Black Boy, in Headington, and The Queens Head, in Billesdon, will join the Red Oak portfolio.
• Congleton-based Beartown Brewery is to open a second pub, this time in Stoke. The brewery will take over the ground floor of the restored Signal Box. It’s first pub is The Beartown Tap, in its home town.
• Punch have acquired The James Tassie, on Kilmarnock Road, in Glasgow. It will re-open for a while, then there will be a refurbishment.
• Ardent Pub Group is to open a fourth site in London early next year. The site — once the Ape and Bird pub, most recently BrewDog Seven Dials — will re-open as The Magpie.
• Community pub the Plough Inn, on Bridge Street in Denbigh, has re-opened following a combined investment of £200,000 from licensee Emma Lavery and Admiral Taverns.
• Whelan Pubs, which operates traditional Irish pubs and premium venues across London and the South East, is to open a new venue in Farringdon, London.
