Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Statutory Pubs Code to be introduced in Scotland

Published: 12 April, 2024

The Scottish government has announced legislation to improve the rights of tied pub tenants.

Hospitality industry hit by 63% cost surge

Published: 11 March, 2024

Research conducted by the price comparison website money.co.uk has found that the hospitality industry has been the most affected by cost increases.

Trade and national press divided on duty

Published: 07 March, 2024

Taking a glass-half-full approach, much of the right-wing press applauded Jeremy Hunt’s extension of the alcohol duty freeze till February 2025, described as a ‘victory for drinkers’ up and down the country by one tabloid.

No rates relief for Scottish hospitality

Published: 28 February, 2024

The Scottish Budget for 2024-25 was passed unchanged at Holyrood yesterday (27 February), with hospitality businesses north of the border hanging in the balance.

Trade divided on MUP increase

Published: 09 February, 2024

The minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol in Scotland will rise from 50p to 65p, Holyrood has announced.

Scottish hospitality businesses ‘hang in the balance’ without government support

Published: 18 December, 2023

New analysis has revealed that thousands of Scottish hospitality businesses will be left unsupported if a rates relief isn’t included in the Scottish Budget tomorrow (19 December).

Welsh hospitality calls for business rates relief

Published: 14 December, 2023

UKHospitality Wales has called on the Welsh government to boost beleaguered pubs, hotels and restaurants in Wales and provide vital business rates relief in next week’s Budget.

SLTA ‘bitterly disappointed’ over Glasgow LEZ legal challenge

Published: 06 November, 2023

The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said it is “bitterly disappointed” that a long-established Glasgow family business has lost its court battle against the city’s low emission zone (LEZ).

Scotland’s call to government as hospitality faces ‘continued barrage of challenges’

Published: 03 October, 2023

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is pleading for more support to help protect the hospitality sector, as venues report the crippling impact of staff vacancies and ‘a continued wave of cost increases’.

Small businesses disadvantaged as DRS saga continues

Published: 03 March, 2023

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) continues to express serious concerns over the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) ahead of the August launch date with many questions about its operation still unanswered and small businesses still disadvantaged.

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

Published: 31 January, 2023

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

Business energy support to reduce from March government announces

Published: 11 January, 2023

The goverment has announced a new energy support for businesses that will take effect from 1 April 2023, although at a lower rate than the present scheme.

Cautious optimism for energy freeze as trade braces for bitter winter

Published: 09 September, 2022

The six-month energy cap unveiled by the Prime Minister yesterday has been met with a smattering of optimism among businesses. Though predictably, the resounding consensus from many corners of the trade is that the measure does not nearly go far enough in limiting the impact of exorbitant energy costs.

Business support lags behind in cost-of-living crisis

Published: 27 May, 2022

A £15bn package aimed at helping households deal with inflation and the rising cost of energy bills comes just one day after the Sue Gray report was published – a move that has prompted critics to question the rationale and timing of the sudden windfall for British consumers. Also, they ask, where is the support for business?

Hospitality sector welcomes relaxation of work from home rules in Scotland

Published: 26 January, 2022

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday (January 25) that office workers would be allowed to return to their desks from 31 January, a move that has been enthusiastically welcomed by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association.

Hospitality sector urges Scottish government to rescind indoor dining restrictions

Published: 12 January, 2022

Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that the limitations and restrictions on indoor dining would continue until at least 24 January has been widely condemned by interest groups in Scotland.

Hospitality underwhelmed by Chancellor's £1bn rescue package

Published: 22 December, 2021

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”.

Scotland's winter budget offers relief to struggling businesses

Published: 10 December, 2021

SNP finance secretary Kate Forbes outlined the 2021/22 budget in the Scottish parliament yesterday (9 December), with some good news for ailing retailers and hospitality venues.

Scotland delays implementation of Deposit Return Scheme

Published: 18 November, 2021

A perfect storm of Covid-19, Brexit and a struggling hospitality sector has delayed the introduction of Scotland's inaugural DRS scheme, according to Scottish Minister Lorna Slater.

SLTA issues call for ‘level playing field’ in pubs and supermarkets duty

Published: 27 October, 2021

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is calling on the Government to overhaul the alcohol excise duty system and introduce new measures that would create a differential between alcohol sold in pubs and supermarkets.