Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Budget: Hospitality relief at raft of support

Published: 10 March, 2021

Industry leaders welcome much of the Chancellor’s aid package but are disappointed it falls short in some vital areas, writes Lisa Riley.

New £30m support for Welsh hospitality and leisure

Published: 03 March, 2021

The Welsh government has unveiled a £30m support package for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Delayed on-trade reopening redoubles calls for support

Published: 23 February, 2021

The government’s roadmap for re-opening has brought little cheer for hospitality, with already financially-stricken restaurants, bars and pubs languishing towards the back of the queue.

Calls for UK trade to help crippled SA by freeing up tank space

Published: 25 January, 2021

Richard Bampfield MW has issued a call to the UK trade to support the beleaguered South African wine industry as producers continue to suffer crippling government restriction and oversupply issues.

Nicholls marks one year Covid ‘anniversary’ – “We didn’t know it would be a tsunami”

Published: 21 January, 2021

UK Hospitality chief Kate Nicholls has renewed calls for additional government support a year on from her first strategy meetings with ministers at the beginning of the pandemic.

Game on 2021: Hospitality needs to come out fighting fit

Published: 14 January, 2021

The new edition of Harpers, out today, will reach readers hot on the heels of a parliamentary debate on the need for the creation of a minister for hospitality role in UK government. Resulting from the success of the Seat at the Table petition launched by hotelier Robin Hutson, of The Pig group and (formerly) Hotel du Vin fame, the proposal gained “an overwhelmingly positive response from all corners”, as reported by Harpers.

Drinks Trust survey highlights need for upskilling and greater diversity inclusion

Published: 08 December, 2020

The drinks industry still has a way to go to being a more supportive place for those facing employment, mental health and inclusion issues, the Drinks Trust’s annual survey has found.

The survey, which aims to inform the objectives and support offered by the charity each year, found that 66% of respondents believe that diversity has remained the same in the industry in 2020, with only 29% receiving any kind of training on diversity and inclusion. A further 23% revealed they had faced discrimination due to race, gender, sexuality or disability in the workplace.

Drinks Trust unveils new mentoring scheme

Published: 02 December, 2020

The Drinks Trust has today unveiled its The Drinks Community Mentoring Programme, a key part of its recently announced The Drinks Community initiative.

PM promises u-turn on support for hospitality trade

Published: 30 November, 2020

Boris Johnson is set to offer more support to pubs and restaurants, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.

Shaken Not Broken fund urges support against £717m lost Christmas bookings

Published: 25 November, 2020

With a £717m estimated loss in Christmas party bookings due to Covid-19, Campari UK and The Drinks Trust are calling on businesses to donate 5% of their annual party fund to support on-trade staff.

MMD ultra marathon fundraiser to raise support for California fires

Published: 24 November, 2020

Maisons Marques et Domaines (MMD) is embarking on a collaborative Ultra Marathon in order to raise funds in support of the US wineries affected by this year’s devastating wildfires.

Soapbox: Southern bias leaves a bitter taste

Published: 17 November, 2020

After enduring three months of local restrictions with little help, Sara Saunby, owner of Manchester hybrid Salut, says Whitehall’s belated decision to help the North is too little, too late

Furlough scheme extended to March

Published: 05 November, 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the government’s Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, will be extended until the end of March 2021, with government once again paying 80% of wages up to £2,500 to see businesses through a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Diageo pivots Learning for Life to pandemic support

Published: 04 November, 2020

Diageo has repurposed its Learning for Life training programme to help support the on-trade through the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Second national lockdown a "calamity" for hospitality without more govt support

Published: 02 November, 2020

There are deep concerns across the hospitality sector about the impact of the government’s latest lockdown measures for England which were announced on Saturday evening by the prime minister.

CVA saves five Iberica restaurants

Published: 26 October, 2020

Spanish tapas restaurant and bar group Iberica has successfully emerged from the threat of insolvency, saving around 135 jobs and five out of seven outlets.

South Yorkshire follows Manchester into Tier 3

Published: 21 October, 2020

South Yorkshire has officially joined Manchester in the highest bracket of Covid measures, meaning bars and restaurants not serving seated meals will close.

Govt delays vote on 10pm curfew as opposition mounts

Published: 07 October, 2020

The government has delayed a vote in the House of Commons on the 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants.

Chivas chief slams Scots govt for whisky sector lockdown failure

Published: 03 September, 2020

The Scottish government failed to support the Scottish whisky industry at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jean-Christophe Coutures, the chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers, has said.

Restaurants look to extend success of Eat Out to Help Out

Published: 27 August, 2020

The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which ends on 31 August, is to be extended by some pubs and restaurants – but without support from the government.