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Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Archie McDiarmid, Luvians Bottleshop

Published:  06 December, 2024

Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Archie McDiarmid, manager at Luvians Bottleshop in St Andrews, as he reflects on a tough ride for the trade.

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Lobbyists demand 'pro-business Scottish Budget' as inflation continues to bite

Published:  02 December, 2024

Key stakeholders in Scotland’s hospitality and retail sectors have warned of dire consequences unless the government delivers “urgent reform” in the forthcoming Budget.

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Margo

Published:  07 October, 2024

Bookings are now open at Margo restaurant – a new concept from Scottish restaurant group Scoop and headed up by Glasgow native Robin Aitken. Due to open this month in Glasgow, the new drinking and dining outpost is intended to be an evolution of Scoop’s first restaurant Ox and Finch, which has just celebrated its 10th birthday. Situated in the city centre, Margo will maintain a flavour-led approach with a focus on Scottish meat and seafood, while the drinks list will be led by cocktails designed specifically to complement Aitken’s food. Margo will also offer Scoop’s most comprehensive wine list to date, with classic fine wines sitting alongside natural and biodynamic bottles from small, independent producers.

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30% MUP rise in Scotland throws up challenges for retailers

Published:  03 October, 2024

The overall efficacy and knock-on effect to businesses from minimum unit pricing (MUP) is in the crosshairs once again following the news that the floor price for alcohol will rise from 50p per unit to 65p in Scotland, further adding cost and margin pressures for retailers.

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Scottish businesses call for lower VAT

Published:  27 August, 2024

"Less spend, fewer visits and less time spent in venues" is the current reality for the Scottish hospitality sector as businesses face a double whammy of consumer reluctance and rising costs.

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New president takes the helm at the SWA

Published:  14 June, 2024

Tom Slaven, retail director of Glasgow-based United Wholesale Grocers, has been elected to the role of president of the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), taking over from Julie Dunn.

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The Eden Mill Experience

Published:  14 February, 2024

Independent distiller Eden Mill opens its first brand-owned venue this month in Edinburgh, offering two interactive mixology experiences.

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Scotland calls out government for pubs closing at twice the rate of England

Published:  05 December, 2023

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have issued a joint appeal to support their sector after it emerged that English businesses will receive a 75% reduction in rates bills for the financial year 2024-25.

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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’.

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Indie Q&A: Andrew Lundy, Vino

Published:  18 July, 2023

Vino’s boss is a familiar face well beyond the Edinburgh scene, but his passion remains rooted in retailing great wine to locals. Andrew Catchpole dropped by.

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Scottish DRS delayed until 2025

Published:  07 June, 2023

The Scottish Government has officially announced a delay to the launch of its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) until October 2025, following weeks of speculation as to the future of the initiative and a UK-government enforced exemption of glass.

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Scots call time on ‘self-inflicted’ advertising proposals

Published:  10 March, 2023

The Scottish retail and hospitality sectors have added mounting calls to government to reassess its proposed ban on alcohol advertising, as the consultation reaches its close.

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Cashflow support fails to soothe Scottish DRS concerns

Published:  22 February, 2023

Circularity Scotland has announced that £22 million of cashflow support will be made available to Scottish producers preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

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Soapbox: Is alcohol in Scotland an endangered species?

Published:  14 February, 2023

Luvians manager Archie McDiarmid fears for the future of the alcohol industry in Scotland if government proposals go ahead

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Scotland’s tidal wave of challenges

Published:  10 February, 2023

From the Deposit Return Scheme to a new consultation paper on restricting alcohol advertising, the Scottish drinks industry faces a barrage of problems. James Bayley reports.

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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.

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New DRS launch date reconfirms glass exclusion for England and NI

Published:  20 January, 2023

The newest launch date for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England and Northern Ireland has re-confirmed that businesses will not be required to participate in a new system for glass recycling. However, confusion still abounds around the roll-out of four different national DRS schemes and how they will work in practice.

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Cross-party report issues dire warning about Deposit Return Scheme

Published:  29 June, 2022

An inquiry led by the cross-party beer and pubs group in the Scottish Parliament has warned that a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) cannot be successfully implemented without drastic changes to the scope and remit of the proposed initiative.

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Pernod Ricard’s ‘Responsib'All Day’ returns for tenth addition

Published:  22 June, 2022

Pernod Ricard has partnered with local communities in London and Scotland for the tenth edition of its Responsib’All Day – an initiative set up with the aim of helping to protect and restore biodiversity around the UK.

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Devolved regions to receive emergency on-trade funding, while concern grows in England

Published:  20 December, 2021

Scotland and Wales are to receive additional funding from Westminster to help struggling businesses cope with new Covid restrictions, as England awaits news on further restrictive measures. 

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