Guy Woodward: Why wine investment is the scourge of the wine world

If there’s one wine headline guaranteed to have me reaching for the eye-roll emoji (to be honest, there are several, though never in this fine publication, obvs), it’s the ‘Fine wine index soars as investors toast bullish market’ type of thing.

Scotland on-trade facing ‘tidal wave’ of challenges, says SLTA

Scotland’s pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels face an unprecedented cocktail of challenges, according to the most recent Scottish Licenced Trade Association (SLTA) survey.

Inflation pilfers December gains for hospitality

Britain’s leading managed pub, bar and restaurant groups enjoyed their best December trading in three years, the latest data from CGA has revealed. However, thanks to double digit inflation, sales remain well below pre-Covid levels in real terms, demonstrating the double pronged impact of the cost-of-living crisis and Covid recovery on UK businesses.

La Place ‘wave of expansion’ riden by Australia and Spain

Australia and Spain are at the forefront of an increasing number of ‘rest of the world’ wines that are fuelling new growth on the negociant-driven La Place de Bordeaux marketplace.

Societe Jacques Bollinger invests further in Bordeaux Index

Societe Jacques Bollinger (SJB), the Family Group behind a portfolio of wines and spirits, including Bollinger Champagne, has increased its minority stake in Bordeaux Index.

St Patrick's Day, weather and sport lift drinks sales to a 2022 high

Last week’s out-of-home drinks sales were 7% up on pre-pandemic levels, CGA’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker reveals.

Online drinks sales growth cools, but remains far above pre-pandemic levels

Online sales of alcoholic drinks fell -18.5% YoY in the UK in February 2022, though nudged up 9.4% against those in the typically slow first month of January.

Hospitality industry braced for soaring inflation

As the cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills continue to affect households across the UK, many in the hospitality sector are predicting double-digit price rises, inevitably to be passed on to consumers.

Arc Inspirations secures financial backing for expansion

Leading bar and restaurant operator Arc Inspirations has signed an agreement with HSBC to borrow £5m, allowing the company to fulfil its plans for expansion and growth.

Consumer caution hits Christmas drinks sales

On-trade drinks sales fell by a quarter in the run-up to Christmas as wary consumers avoided pubs, bars and restaurants ahead of socialising on the big day, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Hospitality underwhelmed by Chancellor's £1bn rescue package

Businesses are split in their response to the Treasury's £1 billion support package, with enthusiasm from some quarters, while others have claimed that the amount “borders on insulting”.

Revolution sees strong trading from pent up demand

Pent up demand has seen Revolution Bars, the 67-strong bar group, report strong trading well ahead of expectations.

Premium spirits: Paying the price of lockdown

Only two in five hospitality business leaders say they’re trading at profit, though confidence is on the rise

Only two in five hospitality businesses are now either trading or are expected to trade at a profit by the end of June, a new survey from CGA and Fourth has revealed.

April delivers ‘solid’ outdoor trading for on-trade groups able to open

Managed pub and restaurant groups able to deliver outdoor service managed to deliver 74% of normal sales in April compared with the same period in 2019, but overall sales were 60% down with a majority still closed.

One in four venues reopen for first week of outdoor service

Just under a quarter of England’s licensed premises have opened for trade in hospitality’s first week back for outdoor-only service, with pubs in particular capitalising on wider access to beer gardens, patios and other outdoor areas.

SME Brexit Support Fund opens for applications

The £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, announced last month, is now open for applications. 

Liv-ex places orders for Millar and Carter

Liv-ex is bolstering its team with the hiring of two editors from rival wine trade titles.

Bordeaux Index predicts ‘resurgence’ for Bordeaux following record Q4 trading

Bordeaux Index has reported record volume trading volumes for Q4 2020, with Bordeaux and Burgundy to the fore, in what the fine wine trading platform described as “step change gains” compared with Q4 2019.

High street restrictions could have dire consequences for small business this Christmas

Local shops and businesses are on a ‘cliff edge’, with one in 10 facing permanent closure without a successful Christmas trading period.