Young’s pub group has successfully acquired the Ship Inn in Noss Mayo, situated in southwest Devon. Despite speculations about Gordon Ramsay expressing interest in obtaining the freehold site, Young’s secured the purchase.

The waterside pub, positioned along the tidal Yealm Estuary, was listed by Colliers in August with offers expected around £3.7m. Rumors circulated about Ramsay contemplating a bid, fueled by sightings of him inspecting the venue.

The establishment comprises a 160-cover ground floor pub and dining room, a private pier, a garden, and a waterfront terrace accommodating 200 covers. Additionally, there is a 20-cover private dining room.

Operated by the Bullock family for the past 16 years, Young’s is dedicated to preserving the pub’s values and original features. Simon Dodd, Young’s CEO, expressed delight in gaining the Bullock family’s trust, emphasizing the Ship Inn’s unique location and stellar reputation as a perfect fit for Young’s strategy to celebrate authentic British pubs.

Ed Jefferson from Colliers Hotels Agency, who assisted in the transaction, conveyed satisfaction in achieving the desired outcome for Lisa and Charles Bullock. He praised the Ship Inn’s excellent location and strong brand, cultivated under the Bullocks’ stewardship and supported by the local community, aligning seamlessly with Young’s ethos.

The Ship Inn will become Young’s fifth establishment in Devon, joining sister pubs Boathouse and the Seagate in North Devon, the Grove in Exmouth, and the City Gate and Double Locks in Exeter.

Premium world beer, Kingfisher has announced the launch of an alcohol-free variant. Kingfisher Zero will be available in pubs and bars nationally from 22nd November.

With 85% of pubs now serving alcohol free beer and as many as 50% of adults having purchased from the no or low category in the past year, it’s clear a growing number of consumers are looking for high-quality alcohol-free drinks, whether in pubs, bars or restaurants. But quality and authenticity are also important and Kingfisher Zero will be brewed from only natural ingredients to replicate the refreshing taste of Kingfisher Premium.

As India’s number one beer, Kingfisher has found huge success in the Indian restaurants due to its quality and authentic Indian heritage. However, in recent years as the trend for premium session beers has really taken off, and Kingfisher have been seeding the brand outside of this occasion and it is now served in pubs and bars across the country. Kingfisher Premium is the official beer of Southampton FC, has been sold at festivals including Bestival, Isle of Wight and Taste of London and enjoys huge success in the off trade, within both the grocery and convenience channels.

Andy Sunnucks, Senior Brand Manager for Kingfisher, comments, “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Kingfisher Zero, a long-requested addition to our portfolio. After successfully repositioning the brand last year, we want Kingfisher to continue to lead the Indian beer category and have a credible offering to meet the current growth in alcohol free occasions. It was also important to us that we’re not just ticking a box and that the new liquid is not only of good enough quality to replicate the original, but also stands on its own as a quality drink.”