All articles by Finn Scott-Delany
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OpinionCould Winston Churchill’s wartime public canteens be making a return?
Lord Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs economist and one of Andy Burnham’s key economic advisors, has backed a University College London reportrecommending creating around 9,500 government-backed community food centres
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Interviews‘We’re Not Chasing Trends’: Benugo’s Ben Warner on coffee, supporting cultural institutions and sustainable growth
From pioneering takeaway coffee to building a £200m hospitality business across museums, parks and travel hubs, Benugo’s co-founder explains why quality, sustainability and partnerships remain at the heart of the brand’s success
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NewsPeter Borg-Neal joins Hydes as chairman
Borg-Neal brings more than 40 years of high-level experience in multi-site hospitality and consumer-facing sectors, including Whitbread, Allied Domecq and latterly Oakman Inns
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Analysis & InsightPub leaders: ‘Naïve to think new PM will give us everything we want’
Pub leaders welcomed Andy Burnham positive tone towards the sector, but also cautioned that hopes around tax cuts should be tempered by the realities of public finances
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Analysis & InsightWorld Cup ‘way beyond expectations’ for pub leaders
According to MCA’s leader roundtable discussion, the pub sector is so far enjoying the spoils of the FIFA World Cup 2026, depsite navigating a heatwave, late kick-offs and an unpredictable England side
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NewsBrunning & Price delivers strong LFLs as growth outpaces market
The country pub operator said its strong performance was supported by investment in outdoor food and drink service pods and favourable weather in 2025 driving footfall and drinks sales
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OpinionAndy Burnham: ‘His record in Manchester is a very good one’
Now that the outgoing Greater Manchester mayor has seen off a lacklustre by-election challenge from Reform, attention turns to what his premiership might look like for the hospitality sector
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OpinionSummer VAT relief: ‘It’s not a lot really’
For a government that is desperately in need of some positive press, Rachel Reeves’ VAT relief for children’s meals and attractions is an attempt to seize control of the overwhelmingly negative narrative around the administration, and show it cares about the cost-of-living pressures on families
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OpinionPickled passengers shouldn’t be allowed to take flight
Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin argues his airport pubs are are responsible and that drink restrictions are unworkable - but he may need to share some accountability for rising incidences of on-flight drunkenness
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OpinionTrailblazing Beefeater faces the chop
With owner Whitbread long ago losing interest in branded restaurants in favour of more proftiable hotels, it was surprising Beefeater and Brewers Fayre lasted as long as they did, their dependency on Premier Inn maintaining the brands on terminal life support
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OpinionMoment of Caring for missed M&A opportunity
Serial investor Luke Johnson, who sold The Ivy, J Sheekey and Le Caprice to Richard Caring in 2005 in a £31.5m deal, admitted he didn’t see the possibility of turning The Ivy into a chain
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OpinionHeaven and the fault lines of the licensing system
An iconcic LGBTQ+ nightclub was nearly shut down due to a concocted campaign of AI-generated complaints, a case which demonstrates the vulnerable position of night-time businesses, and how shaky evidence can trigger a licensing review
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OpinionPeter Coulson: 6 August 1943 - 27 March 2026
A specialist licensing lawyer, journalist and publisher, Coulson founded what was then M&C Report with Peter Martin, the pair lending their initials to the title, which went on to become MCA after merging with Allegra Foodservice
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NewsLas Iguanas launches property restructuring plan
Brand owner Big Table is consulting with landlords over a restucture of the Latin American concept’s leasehold business, as wet-led casual dining continues to be a ‘very challenged’ part of the market, CEO Alan Morgan tells MCA
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OpinionLyndon Lea’s cosy Epstein connections are ‘no concern’ for Lion Capital
The private equity firm behind Gordon Ramsay’s expansion drive has told MCA it sees no conflict with co-founder Lyndon Lea’s close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and its stated position on slavery and human trafficking
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OpinionA celebration of the industry’s best
Whether a winner or runner-up, last night’s festivities at the MCA Hospitality Awards are very much deserved after so much hard work
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InterviewsMcDonald’s UK: ‘Fresh eyes on the business has informed how we want to grow’
Chief restaurant officer Patrick Gerber, part of a refreshed senior team leading the UK & Ireland territory, said chicken, beverages, value for money and customer experience were some of the key strategic priorities for the business, which recently posted one of its strongest quarters of recent years
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OpinionDreaming of global growth
From New York, to the Republic of Ireland, to the Middle East, ambitious British brands are looking outwards to international opportunties, MCA’s Food to Go conference heard
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OpinionThe hospitality hater urging investment in edgy tech start-ups
The Chancellor’s advisor Alexandra Depledge runs a loss-marking start-up, which is backed by the same private equity firm which has invested in Mowgli and Federal Cafe
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NewsStonegate advisors set out leasehold restructuring proposals
The pub and bar company appointed FRP Advisory last month, with documents seen by MCA outlining proposals for a ‘cross-class cram down’ on dissenting creditors, meaning it can press ahead with the restructure without the approval of all landlords