Published: 08 December, 2023
Taking its name from the bustling area in Singapore renowned for its street food and flavours, The Bugis has recently reopened inside its new home – The Bailey’s Hotel. Still in Kensington, the latest iteration of the Asian-inspired favourite features a top cocktail menu and bar inspired by Lord Bailey’s journey in the Far East. The food menu, meanwhile, features a new approach focused on small sharing plates, with traditionally passed-down Chinese, Malay and Indian family recipes at its core.
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Published: 08 December, 2023
Following another eventful year for the drinks trade, Owen Morgan, director of Spain-focused 44 Group, reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus hopes and plans for the year ahead, in our annual Q&A series.
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Published: 07 December, 2023
Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group backed by Bowmark Capital has announced record bookings for Christmas 2023, sounding a note of optimism in an otherwise challenging environment.
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Published: 05 December, 2023
As he rolls out a new series of wine dinners with group head chef and brother Jack across their restaurants, Charlie Stein, director, Rick Stein Group, talks Andrew Catchpole through his approach to wine and food pairing.
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Published: 24 November, 2023
As 2023 draws to a close, independent UK supplier, Kingsland Drinks, has revealed its insights on key areas to watch out for in 2024, looking at incoming drinks trends in wine, spirits and RTDs.
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Published: 21 November, 2023
Aulis’s Charles Carron Brown irons out the mistakes commonly made in approaching a somm, helping to bag the wine a diner wants, rather than the one the somm wants them to drink.
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Published: 15 November, 2023
Finch, a neighbourhood wine bar from the team behind Grays and Feather, is now open in the heart of Brixton Village. Putting the emphasis on theatrical flair, Finch has found its home in a pocket-sized 178sq ft venue, while taking ‘cabinet of curiosities’ as its theme. Featuring just 12 covers, Finch is the second bar from the wine focused company, following the opening of Plume in Covent Garden in 2018.
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Published: 13 November, 2023
The end of this month marks the return of TV chef Jamie Oliver with his newest venture: a restaurant, dubbed Jamie Oliver Catherine St. A ‘love letter to Britain’s food culture’, the Covent Garden restaurant has been imagined around the idea of reflecting Oliver’s culinary roots, from his parents’ pub to his early days at The River Cafe and Neal Street Restaurant, through to his first endeavour, Fifteen. Head chef Chris Shaill will be helming the kitchen following a previous stint working beside Oliver for eight years at Barbecoa. The wine list is being curated by Filipe Bhering, previously of Annabel’s and KOL, and will feature New and Old World offerings, plus cocktails putting a modern spin on the classics.
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Published: 10 November, 2023
Bartending trio Chris Tanner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson and Jack Wallis have put their heads and their mixology skills together to become ‘the Dram brothers’ – the brains behind a multi-faceted venue which launches in the heart of London’s Soho this month. The venue will feature two bars, a whisky shop, an outdoor terrace and a private pool room with a ready-to-drink cocktail vending machine. Aiming to modernise the drinking experience, the playful concept will also follow through to a top-tier spirits and cocktails offer, set over three floors within a 17th century Grade II listed building.
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Published: 01 November, 2023
Majestic’s B2B division, Majestic Commercial, is continuing to build momentum in the UK on-trade by welcoming Craggy Range back to the company’s arsenal after a seven-year absence, by becoming its exclusive on-trade agent.
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Published: 24 October, 2023
Jo Gilbert visited the White Hart pub & restaurant in East Sussex to find out how the venue is looking to become a hub for English wine.
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Published: 18 October, 2023
This autumn, cheese enthusiast Mathew Carver is partnering with friend and long-term supplier Andy Swinscoe, founder of The Courtyard Dairy, to create a new wine, cheese and pizza bar in North Yorkshire. His first restaurant outside of the capital, Rind is part of Carver’s now mature empire of cheese-focused venues in London: The Cheese Bar,
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Published: 12 October, 2023
This month Sexy Fish is opening its third global outpost, in Manchester, with the launch now officially teed up for 12 October. Part of Caprice Holdings, which owns Bacchanalia and Annabel’s, Sexy Fish has become a fixture on the more flamboyant end of Mayfair’s dining scene, with a wine and Champagne list from the world’s top vintages and leading estates taking centre stage. Like its London outpost, Sexy Fish Manchester will be situated in the heart of the city, where a wide selection of top-end Japanese whiskies will also complement the Omakase tasting menus and late-night dining vibe.
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Published: 15 September, 2023
LWC Drinks and Hills Prospect, both regulars on Harpers 50 Best Wholesalers list, have described how their new partnership will strengthen their overall customer proposition and leverage their individual skills, as LWC looks to increase its foothold in the crucial area of London and the South East.
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Published: 15 September, 2023
Late-night bar Nessa is now open on the corner of Brewer, Warwick and Glasshouse streets, promising to be Soho’s newest destination for classic drinks and inventive cocktails. Bar manager Floriano Cubeddu (previously of The Goring Hotel, The Ned and Mortimer House) has put together a menu that champions British producers and seasonal ingredients. Cocktails are classic with a playful twist and showcase a range of UK-based brands, with serves including the bittersweet Ol’ China Plate, which mixes East London rye whisky, Sacred dry vermouth and Sipello with Campari. Low & no serves make a strong appearance, too, alongside an extensive list of sparkling and still wines and spirits, again highlighting British producers.
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Published: 13 September, 2023
Pioneering chef Rowley Leigh, (Le Café Anglais and Kensington Place), is returning to west London to launch a residency at Notting Hill’s club and restaurant Laylow. Opening this September, Leigh’s Laylow promises to be a bistro with nostalgic dishes and ‘classic technique’, with inspiration drawn from family holidays to Europe. Italian fare will predominantly lead the menu, while the drinks list is being designed to complement the flavour of Rowley’s hearty dishes. A mixture of spirits classics and ‘rarely seen bootlegs’ will be available, Leigh promises, including a specialist range of tequilas and mezcals.
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Published: 11 September, 2023
Top Chef Tom Kerridge is back with another venture: The Butcher’s Tap & Grill on Tryon Street, Chelsea, which will be launching towards the end of the year.
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Published: 21 August, 2023
Midway through 2023, Harpers is taking stock of yet another turbulent year for the drinks trade, with plenty of highs and lows, so far. We continue our series with Bella Babbit, wine director, NoMad London, to find out how the year as gone so far, and what the remainder may bring.
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Published: 17 August, 2023
Vinoteca has filed for protection from its creditors, leaving a big question mark over the future for the business.
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Published: 10 August, 2023
Bibendum Wine, the premium wine specialist, has appointed Valeria Rodriguez as head of its Fine Wine division.
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