Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Tesco ups casual dining focus as profits slide

Published: 16 April, 2014

Tesco is boosting its store refurbishment programme by opening 100 new Giraffe, Decks and Harris + Hoole outlets in the next year

Douglas Blyde visits Putney's new Italian trattoria BIBO

Published: 09 April, 2014

BIBO, defined as "simply the Latin, Bibo (I drink) - Bibo ergo Sum if you will," by consultant-sommelier, Zeren Wilson, is brought to you by restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas, mind behind local stars, Sam's Brasserie and Kitchen W8, and chef Chris Beverley, "one of Theo Randall's top boys."

Liberty Wines recruits commercial director

Published: 08 April, 2014

Liberty Wines has recruited Jon Worsley as commercial director to boost the company's premium position.

Restaurant review: ?Margaux

Published: 04 April, 2014

Margaux, 152 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 0BE; barmargaux.co.uk

Why UK bars, restaurants and retailers are putting their faith in sherry in the UK

Published: 04 April, 2014

Douglas Blyde talks with 10 of the UK's most influential sherry opinion formers in the UK, including leading figures in on and off-trades, suppliers and importers, on how sherry is enjoying a new lease of life across the country

Drinkaware accuses trade of not doing enough to promote unit guidelines

Published: 04 April, 2014

Drinkaware says consumers are confused over unit guidelines and called on the industry to do more.

Morgenrot launches bee-saving wine at M&B

Published: 03 April, 2014

Manchester-based importer Morgenrot has teamed up with Mitchells & Butlers to launch Planetbee, a South African Chenin Blanc, which is donating money from each sale to safeguard the bee population.

Get your five a day with new vegetable cocktail range

Published: 02 April, 2014

Those struggling to get through their five or seven fresh vegetables a day might want to try a new range of vegetable cocktails from mixologist Thomas Weinberger of Barschule München.

Heston Blumenthal to take Fat Duck and Dinner to Melbourne

Published: 31 March, 2014

Heston Blumenthal is to close his three Michelin star restaurant, the Fat Duck, and re-open it in Melbourne, Australia as part of a six-month deal with the Crown Melbourne Resort. When it returns to the UK it will be replaced by his other UK Michelin restaurant, Dinner.

Over 200 restaurants, bars and merchants back natural wine in April for Real Wine Fair

Published: 31 March, 2014

Natural and biodynamic wines are being included on over 200 wine lists and shelves of independent merchants throughout April as part of a nationwide promotion to bring attention to the Real Wine Fair that takes place in London on April 13-14.

Wines of Brazil hopes official World Cup wine will help boost its wines sales in the UK

Published: 28 March, 2014

Wines of Brazil hopes the release of a new limited edition official licensed wine for the FIFA World Cup will bring added attention to all the country's wines in the UK and all its key export markets around the world.

Wine sales down 2% in on and off-trade, says WSTA report

Published: 27 March, 2014

Wine is still struggling in both the on and off-trade, with sales down 2% over the last year, says the latest WSTA market report.

Q&A with James Marvin, winner of BBC's Michel Roux's Service programme, three years on

Published: 26 March, 2014

The BBC programme Michel Roux's Service focused on recruiting young people to consider the hospitality industry and in particular front-of-house as a career. It first screened in 2011, and has just been repeated on BBC Two.

Busaba Eathai's first bar opens

Published: 25 March, 2014

Thai restaurant group, Busaba Eathai, has launched its first bar - a cocktail lounge - inside its Old Street site in London.

Caution urged as eating-out sector returns to growth

Published: 19 March, 2014

The restaurant sector is returning to growth, but operators are urged not to take the recovery for granted, hears Horizons annual conference.

Discover the Origin to hold two masterclasses with Gerard Basset

Published: 14 March, 2014

Discover the Origin, a campaign focused on Bourgogne Wines, Parma Ham, Douro Wines, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Port, is set to host two mastercalsses in May featuring award winning sommelier Gerard Basset.

Richard Foster: the first 20 pubs I visited with my daughter

Published: 12 March, 2014

Looking back 19 years later, this project appears to be something of an exercise in vanity with a gentle hint of depravity folded into the mix. When our first child, Jessica, was born on February 13, 1995 amidst the common feelings of euphoria and elation, there was this little devil on my shoulder who wanted to break through the overwhelming sensation of joy to hatch a dastardly plan. This particular Beelzebub was a cunning so-and-so and knew exactly how to lure me into his evil lair.

Alliance Wine aims to create 'iconic' rosé brand

Published: 11 March, 2014

Alliance Wine has high hopes that its new French rosé wine La Vie en Rose will become an iconic brand.

Over 100 buyers head to Windsor to take part in first Wine Buyers' Forum

Published: 10 March, 2014

Over 100 buyers from across all channels of the trade are heading to Windsor today to take part in the first Wine Buyers Forum where they will get the chance to have in-depth discussions with over 30 suppliers and take part in a series of targeted business workshops.