Latest news with #Youngs
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'I'm worried pub at heart of community will close'
A landlord who has poured "heart, time and money" into a south London pub says it is under threat of closure and is looking for investors to help save it. Clement Ogbonnaya, who has run the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill since it opened in May 2023, says Young's, which owns the freehold, "gave us a deadline to buy it back or risk losing it forever". The pub, named in homage to his mother, wife and two daughters, replaced the White Hart pub, which needed a new roof, was infested with rats and had rotting floors. He said: "We've got rid of that ugly tooth on the high street and created a communal space as a hub, a meeting place, a place to celebrate, a place to mourn, a place to share ideas." A Young's spokesperson said: "We remain in exclusive negotiations with Clement regarding the freehold of the pub and have not had any conversations with any other potential bidders regarding the site." The Queen of the South is also used as a community space by organisations including Age UK and UK Youth, a charity which supports young people. "The pub we poured heart, time, and money into, is now under threat," Mr Ogbonnaya said in a public appeal on Instagram. "I believe in what this place represents. And I'm not backing down. You survive alone or you thrive together. We choose to thrive." He called for potential investors to come forward to "save our queen". The London pub where prices jump £2 after 10pm Taylor Swift fans 'overwhelming' London pub On a mission to draw all of London's 3,500 pubs Mr Ogbonnaya told BBC London he stood "to lose everything I've invested in". He added: "I wanted to create a Soho House for the ends. We like to say we represent the other. "It would be a massive shame for this pub to become a Lidl or something else. We're finally finding our feet. The Queen of the South needs to exist." Mr Ogbonnaya says he has been "humbled" by the community's response to the threat of closure. 'Continue to thrive' A Young's spokesperson said: "We recognise the significance of the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill as an important part of the local community and have been engaging with Clement Ogbonnaya to reach an agreement that will ensure its continued operation under the current management. "At Young's, ensuring pubs remain vibrant parts of their local communities is an important part of our ethos. "Following our acquisition of City Pub Group in 2024, it was always our intention that this pub remain independent to best serve its community, and we sincerely hope that a solution can be reached that will enable the pub to continue to thrive." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Queen of the South pub landlord in Tulse Hill fears closure
A landlord who has poured "heart, time and money" into a south London pub says it is under threat of closure and is looking for investors to help save Ogbonnaya, who has run the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill since it opened in May 2023, says Young's, which owns the freehold, "gave us a deadline to buy it back or risk losing it forever".The pub, named in homage to his mother, wife and two daughters, replaced the White Hart pub, which needed a new roof, was infested with rats and had rotting said: "We've got rid of that ugly tooth on the high street and created a communal space as a hub, a meeting place, a place to celebrate, a place to mourn, a place to share ideas."A Young's spokesperson said: "We remain in exclusive negotiations with Clement regarding the freehold of the pub and have not had any conversations with any other potential bidders regarding the site." The Queen of the South is also used as a community space by organisations including Age UK and UK Youth, a charity which supports young people."The pub we poured heart, time, and money into, is now under threat," Mr Ogbonnaya said in a public appeal on Instagram."I believe in what this place represents. And I'm not backing down. You survive alone or you thrive together. We choose to thrive."He called for potential investors to come forward to "save our queen". Mr Ogbonnaya told BBC London he stood "to lose everything I've invested in".He added: "I wanted to create a Soho House for the ends. We like to say we represent the other."It would be a massive shame for this pub to become a Lidl or something else. We're finally finding our feet. The Queen of the South needs to exist."Mr Ogbonnaya says he has been "humbled" by the community's response to the threat of closure. 'Continue to thrive' A Young's spokesperson said: "We recognise the significance of the Queen of the South pub in Tulse Hill as an important part of the local community and have been engaging with Clement Ogbonnaya to reach an agreement that will ensure its continued operation under the current management."At Young's, ensuring pubs remain vibrant parts of their local communities is an important part of our ethos. "Following our acquisition of City Pub Group in 2024, it was always our intention that this pub remain independent to best serve its community, and we sincerely hope that a solution can be reached that will enable the pub to continue to thrive."
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Young's lifted by summer sunshine as pub group's sales surpass Euro 2024
Young's is 'confident about the year ahead' after warm weather lifted the pub chain to solid sales growth since the spring. The Wandsworth-based company, whose pubs are focused on London and southeast England, revealed turnover increased by 6.6 per cent in the 14 weeks ending 8 July, and by 7 per cent on a like-for-like basis. It said 'long periods' of warm and sunny weather during the spring and summer had provided a boost, especially for its gardens and riverside pubs. Young's added that the performance was 'even more pleasing' as the comparative period last year coincided with the European football championships, when the UK pub sector enjoyed a much-needed uplift in trade. In its very strong annual results released last month, the firm credited the Euros and bumper Christmas trading for its like-for-like sales growing by 5.7 per cent. Total revenue jumped by around a quarter to £485.8million thanks to the £162million takeover of City Pub Group in March last year. This helped adjusted pre-tax profits at Young's rise by 4.5 per cent to £51.6million, although statutory profits fell by £2.6million to £18.1million, largely due to restructuring costs related to the City Pub Group acquisition. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young's, said: 'We are delighted to be reporting excellent trading over the first quarter of the new financial year, particularly against such a strong comparator. 'Young's pubs are thriving, and our strategy of employing the very best teams, and maintaining a premium, well-invested and differentiated estate, continues to deliver industry-leading results. 'Our business is performing well, and we are confident about the year ahead.' Despite the company's optimistic outlook, Britain's pub sector is experiencing a very challenging period owing to cost-of-living pressures and measures announced in last Autumn's budget. In early April, employers' National Insurance contributions went up from 13.8 per cent on annual wages above £9,100 to 15 per cent on salaries exceeding £5,000. In addition, the National Living Wage increased by 6.7 per cent to £12.21 per hour and business rates relief was cut from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, up to a cap of £110,000 per firm. Many hospitality companies and trade bodies have warned that Chancellor Rachel Reeves' policies risk greater job losses and venue closures. More than 400 pubs closed for good across England and Wales in 2024, according to figures from property consultancy firm Altus Group. Analysts at Peel Hunt said: 'Young's is utilising its own staffing agency (the Ram Agency) and cost savings to limit price increases, while maintaining opening hours and service levels. 'We believe this strategy supports volumes and helps grow market share as others cut back. We expect further synergies— especially in food, wine, and operations—from the City Pub Group acquisition.' Young's shares were 0.4 per cent down at 951p on Wednesday afternoon, but have still risen by approximately 9 per cent this year.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
All the pubs where you can get free pints now, including Friday night beer discount
FRIDAY is finally here and many of us will be ringing in the weekend with a trip to the pub with our mates. But with payday still out of reach for many, you may be worried about how you can afford a trip to your local. 1 However, fear not as there are plenty of promotional offers at pubs up and down the country that can help you get your first pint for free. Major chains such as Young's are giving away free tipples this weekend and it is pretty easy to get your hands on. We round up the best offers below. Butcombe Brewery - 20% off drinks Butcombe Brewery loyalty members can enjoy 20% off alcoholic drinks on a Friday. It is free to sign up and can be done by downloading the Butcombe app onto your smart device. That means a £6.10 glass of pinot grigio will cost £4.88 while the offer is running. But only a select number of pubs run the offer, which you can check out here: The Kings Arms Melksham: Market Place, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6EX. The Mill: Liphook Road, Shottermill, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3QE. The Pavilion: 41 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6NB. The Rising Sun: 91 West Town Road, Backwell, Somerset, BS48 3BH. The Ring O Bells: Compton Martin, Somerset, BS40 6JE. The Quarrymans Arms: Box Hill, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 8HN. The Horse & Groom: The Street, Charlton, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9DL. The Northey Arms: Box, Wiltshire, SN13 8AE. The Royal Oak East Lavant: Pook Lane, East Lavant, West Sussex, PO18 0AX. The Fulham Arms: 135-137 Stephendale Road, Fulham, London, SW6 2PR. The Lamb Inn: The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2AP. The Fish Inn: The Bridges, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2AA. But even if your local is not on the list it may be worth signing up for its rewards programme, as other offers remain. That includes receiving three courses for two after 3pm on Sundays and £20 of free drinks when you spend £40 or more on food during your birthday month. Customers can also earn loyalty points when they spend money in pubs. The best loyalty schemes revealed & how to get freebies Punters collect two points for every £1 spent on drinks and accommodation. And five points for every £1 spent on food. When you reach 500 points and Butcombe credit £5 to your account. Free cocktails at Young's Nothing gives you that Friday feeling quite like sipping on a cocktail in a pub garden. Young's is giving customers the chance to enjoy a Rhubarb Rose Spritz on the house this weekend. To get your hands on the fruity and floral concoction you need to download the free Young's On Tap app. This is the official app for the group, which lets customers order drinks to their table and split bills with friends. Once you have done that you will then receive a code which you can redeem to order your drink . You can find your nearest Young's pub by visting, Free Rekorderlig cider at Nicholson's pubs Nicholson's has over 78 pubs across the UK and is owned by Mitchell's & Butlers. If you download the Nicholson's Pubs app you can get a Rekorderlig cider on the house. The code to redeem your drink should show up in the wallet section of the app. Like Young's the app lets customers order drinks to the table and also earn rewards. If you manage eight visits within a year you will unlocked a complimentary drink at visit four. Customers also get £5 off £15 spent at visit 6 and also a mighty final reward of 20% to use on every purchase that is valid for three months. Free drink at O'Neill's If you create an O'Neill's reward account you can claim a free welcome drink this summer. The pub group's loyalty programme also gives members the chance to collect stamps that can be exchanged for exclusive rewards. They will also get priority access to limited edition offers and deals. Free drink at random location using Dusk Dusk is an app which gives users a free drink everyday. In the past these have included things like a free pint of Guinness or a Gin and Tonic. This app cannot be used at any pub you want, so you will have to travel to the bar Dusk has chosen that day to redeem your free drink. However, the bar will always be within your local town or city. It is free to download and you need to link a bank card to avail of the offer. However, linking the card will not result in a charge on your bank account. How to save money buying alcohol Alcohol can be pricey if you're planning a party or hosting an event but there are ways to cut costs. It's always important to drink responsibly, here, Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements share some tips on getting booze for the best price. Stocking up can mean big savings on drinks, especially if you want to buy wine or fizz. The big supermarkets regularly offer discounts of 25% when you buy six or more bottles of wine. The promotions typically run in the lead up to occasions such as Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter. If you know you are going to need booze later in the year, it can be worth acting when you see offers. Before buying your preferred drink make sure you shop around to find the best price – you can use a comparison site such as or Don't forget that loyalty cards can unlock better savings so make sure you factor that in too. If you like your plonk, wine clubs can also be a good way to save money and try new varieties. You'll usually have to pay a membership fee in return for cheaper price so work out if you will be buying enough to make the one off cost worthwhile.
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Ben Youngs and Dan Cole ‘fairytale' can be Leicester's inspiration
Scrum-half Youngs, 35, and prop Cole, 38, will call time on their illustrious careers following Saturday's mouthwatering final at Allianz Stadium Twickenham. Harlequins player Care – a long-term England team-mate of the pair – expects Michael Cheika's Tigers to harness the 'emotional energy' of the imminent retirements in an attempt to spring an upset. One more to go… 🏆@BathRugby and @LeicesterTigers will face-off at @allianz_stad next week in the #GallagherPremFinal 👊 This will be massive 💥#GallagherPrem — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 7, 2025 'I do love a fairytale; I do believe sometimes things happen for a reason,' Care, who will be at Twickenham as a pundit for TNT Sports, told the PA news agency. 'Maybe there's something in the air that it was destined for Ben Youngs and Dan Cole to finish with another medal. 'Having said that, sport can be a very harsh beast and they're not going to just get given it. 'I'm sure Leicester will be piling into that emotional energy of sending these guys off on a high; the amount of love they've given to that club, both one-club men – it'd be pretty special to see that happen. 'But sport can be quite cruel sometimes and Bath won't care about sentiments. They'll just want to get that trophy, which obviously evaded them last year.' 🗣️ "I feel so lucky, I'm so glad I did another year!" Ben Youngs will be signing off with a #GallagherPrem Final at Twickenham next Saturday. — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 7, 2025 Table-topping Bath, who were runners-up to Northampton in last season's final and are chasing a first title since 1996, finished 11 points ahead of second-placed Leicester in the regular season. Youngs – England's most-capped men's player, with 127 appearances – is seeking his sixth Premiership title while Cole, who represented his country 118 times, is bidding for a fifth. 'I think if you spoke to them at the start of the season, they'd have thought there would be no chance (of winning the Premiership),' said Quins scrum-half Care, another England centurion who is heading into retirement. 'But I think Michael Cheika has come in and instilled this unbelievable belief in them that they can beat anyone and why not them this year?' Head coach Cheika will also bid goodbye to Tigers this summer, to be replaced by Geoff Parling, in addition to Argentina hooker Julian Montoya, former England back Mike Brown and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard. Bath – coached by Johann van Graan – have already beaten 11-time Premiership champions Leicester twice this campaign: 20-15 in September at Mattioli Woods Welford Road and 43-15 in May at the Recreation Ground. While there is an intriguing match-up at number 10 between two-time World Cup winner Pollard and Bath star Finn Russell, Care feels the power of Leicester's pack will be crucial. 'Bath have been unbelievable all year, they've just found ways to overpower teams,' said the 38-year-old. 'They've just got an ability to grab momentum and really put their foot on your throats and get the wins. 'You could talk about the 10s: Pollard versus Russell, which is going to be huge. But for me the packs is going to be massive. Will @LeicesterTigers add to their 11 Premiership Rugby titles this Saturday? 1988 🏆1995 🏆1999 🏆2000 🏆2001 🏆2002 🏆2007 🏆2009 🏆2010 🏆2013 🏆2022 🏆2025?#GallagherPremFinal — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 10, 2025 'If Leicester can stop Bath at source, go back to the old faithful, scrum well, then Leicester have got a few players that could cause them some problems. 'If they don't then it could be a tough day at the office. Anything can happen but I do have Bath as favourites.' :: Watch the Premiership Rugby final live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ from 1.30pm on Saturday.
