Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Distillers and bar owners call on chancellor to cut alcohol duty

Published: 05 February, 2024

A group of award-winning small distillers have penned an open letter to Jeremy Hunt calling for a cut to alcohol duty in the Spring Budget.

UK bars roll out drink spiking test kits

Published: 15 December, 2023

With the festive season in full swing, police and businesses have joined forces to crack down on drink spiking across the UK.

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.

Licenced premises down by a third since 2003

Published: 30 October, 2023

The number of licenced premises in Britain has fallen below 100,000, marking a 31% decline in the two decades since 2003.

No-shows in hospitality double

Published: 18 October, 2023

The latest research from Zonal and CGA by NIQ, reveals the number of consumers not showing up for reservations in pubs, bars and restaurants has doubled since September last year.

Takeaway sales for pubs and bars extended

Published: 14 August, 2023

Pubs and bars in England and Wales will be able to continue selling takeaway drinks beyond the September deadline, meaning the on-trade will be able to continue to benefit from ‘hatch sales’ without having to apply for council permission.

Flaming June offers some respite for hospitality

Published: 26 July, 2023

A scorching June helped Britain's managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieve a ninth successive month of year-on-year sales growth, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

Cocktails in the City returns

Published: 10 July, 2023

Cocktails in the City put some of London’s best bars front and centre last week, with the return of an alfresco celebration of urban mixology.

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.

On-trade closures tally one an hour as economic crisis bites

Published: 20 October, 2022

Hospitality has lost 2,200 licenced venues in three months as crippling costs and staffing issues continue to hit business operators.

Business energy bills capped by government relief scheme

Published: 21 September, 2022

The government has announced a new energy relief scheme that will reduce energy bills for businesses by 50% of expected levels.

UKH urges government to issue on-trade rescue package

Published: 31 August, 2022

UKHospitality (UKH)chief executive Kate Nicholls has written an urgent letter to the UK government, outlining the potential disaster facing thousands of businesses in light of the energy crisis.

London bars win big at US ‘Tales’

Published: 29 July, 2022

Some of London’s top bars have made a splash at Tales of the Cocktail’s annual Spirited Awards, where they picked up five of the eight international awards – including the gong for the World’s Best Bar.

Rising cost of living sees average drinking out spend decline -9%

Published: 13 April, 2022

According to the latest data from Lumina Intelligence, consumer spending in the on-trade has declined by -9%, in the 12 weeks ending 20/03/2022.

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

Published: 28 March, 2022

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

London Cocktail Week 2022 dates and format announced

Published: 11 March, 2022

London Cocktail Week 2022 will run from 13-23 October 2022, including two weekends, following two years of extended month-long activities.

On-trade calls for hold on VAT rise

Published: 11 March, 2022

In April, the VAT on hospitality sector purchases will return to the pre-pandemic rate of 20%. The increase follows two years of reduced rates for the industry; in July 2020, rates were reduced to 5% before rising to 12.5% in October last year.

The world’s best bars to receive Michelin-style 3-star rating system

Published: 24 February, 2022

A brand new recognition system for the world’s best bars has been announced – set to become one of the bar industry’s most respected accolades of excellence.

Government announces ‘Living with Covid plan’ but must do more to help hospitality

Published: 23 February, 2022

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ‘Living with Covid plan’, which will see England end all of its remaining legal coronavirus rules on Thursday, including contact tracing.

End of Plan B restrictions brings ‘cautious optimism’ for hospitality boost

Published: 28 January, 2022

Sales of alcohol in the on-trade have continued to lag behind the levels seen in 2020, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker, yet a resurgence is forecast as Plan B restrictions come to an end this week.