Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ready-made cocktails take off

Published: 06 September, 2021

Pre-batched cocktails hit the spot when it comes to consistency, reducing waste and prep time, according to their advocates, as Lisa Riley reports.

Customers return to on-trade quicker than last summer

Published: 23 August, 2021

A total of 56% of consumers visited a hospitality venue in the first 10 days following July’s Freedom Day, according to a new UK Hospitality (UKH) survey, supported by data from CGA, released today.

Restaurants and bars emerge as the big winners of Freedom Day

Published: 17 August, 2021

Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups lifted sales back close to pre-Covid-19 levels in July, new data has revealed, with restaurants and bars benefitting the most from the easing of restrictions.

'Experience-first' reopening: How hospitality came back with a bang

Published: 17 August, 2021

Since July’s fuller reopening of the on-trade, UK venues are determined to come back with a bang in order to coax punters away from well-stocked home bars. Jo Gilbert takes flight into the new world of ‘experience first’ hospitality

Over 75% of licensed sites traded by the end of May

Published: 21 June, 2021

A total of 76.2% of Britain’s licensed sites were trading by the end of May, with the number more than doubling from April’s 32.9% thanks to the return of inside service, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor research from CGA and AlixPartners.

A third of licensed premises reopened in April

Published: 17 May, 2021

After only a third of licensed premises traded in GB's first phase of reopening, today (17 May) marks the opportunity for many more to finally reopen, with most of the two-thirds (67.1%) of operators that have not yet traded having the option to do so as the on-trade is allowed to reopen indoors.

Solid first week for on-trade groups

Published: 27 April, 2021

Pubs, bars and restaurant groups have made a robust start to post-lockdown trading in England, the latest figures from the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has shown.

UK craft brewery openings hit record levels

Published: 15 March, 2021

Flying in the face of on-trade closures during the pandemic, the number of craft breweries operating in the UK has reached levels not seen since 1930s.

UKH urges govt to review roadmap following legal challenge

Published: 15 March, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has urged the government to review the roadmap again following the instigation of legal action by Pizza Express investor Hugh Osmond and night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord.

Technology key focus for investment and innovation

Published: 08 March, 2021

Technology is set to be a key focus for investment and innovation as hospitality opens up again, according to the latest CGA’s Business Leaders’ Survey.

Helping hospitality survive

Published: 18 February, 2021

If reopening doesn’t come soon, many on-trade operators face ruin unless new support measures come into play. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Rates relief to be extended in Scotland

Published: 17 February, 2021

Hospitality, leisure and retail businesses in Scotland will pay no rates during 2021-2022 as part of a new relief package proposed by the Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes on 16 February.

Four in five eager to get back to going out

Published: 01 February, 2021

Consumers are badly missing hospitality experiences, with four in five, or 80%, hoping to revisit the on-trade within a few weeks of reopening, according to the latest edition of CGA’s 2021 Hospitality Consumer Forecast, which explores attitudes to the on-trade while Britain remains under lockdown.

Half measures for on-trade groups post lockdown

Published: 14 December, 2020

Around half of Britain’s managed pubs, restaurants and bars were open and trading last week as lockdown ended and the new tier levels came into force in England, but sales were significantly down even in those sites able to open.

Welsh on-trade faces 6pm curfew and ban on selling alcohol

Published: 30 November, 2020

Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales are facing a 6pm curfew and complete ban on selling alcohol from 4 December, first minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Return to tougher Tier system brings limited cheer for hospitality

Published: 24 November, 2020

The news yesterday (23 November) that England will return to a three-tier system post lockdown has highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by pubs, bars and restaurants.

SLTA: ‘Level 4 signals permanent closure for many’

Published: 18 November, 2020

Moving parts of west central Scotland into Level 4 “effectively signals permanent closure for many pubs and restaurants”, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has warned.

Chancellor considering further relief measures for hospitality

Published: 12 November, 2020

Rishi Sunak has said that there will be further support designed to get people “out and about” post-lockdown, in response to questioning over whether there will be a return to the Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme.

Nearly a third of licensed premises shut prior to lockdown

Published: 10 November, 2020

Trading restrictions led to almost a third of Britain’s licensed premises shutting their doors in October ahead of England’s second lockdown on 5 November, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.