Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ramsay moves into spirits with gin range

Published: 28 July, 2021

Gordon Ramsay has joined forces with Eden Mill to launch a gin range, marking the Michelin chef’s first step into the UK spirits market.

Scotland urged to drop social distancing measures

Published: 14 July, 2021

The Scottish licensed trade has welcomed yesterday’s announcement for the further loosening of Covid restrictions, but warns that the expected date of 19 July for all of Scotland to move into Level 0 with a more substantial winding down from 9 August still presents challenges and concerns.

Scottish trade associations warn of further hardship

Published: 23 June, 2021

Scottish trade associations have expressed disappointment and concern on the delay in easing restrictions, which they claim could cause more business failures and hardship for the sector.

Glasgow restrictions eased as Scottish opening paused

Published: 02 June, 2021

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland are facing a transition phase as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed a cautious easing of restrictions with Glasgow to move to level 2.

SLTA: 'We’re a long way from fully reopening'

Published: 12 May, 2021

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has welcomed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's confirmation that the Scottish on-trade will be able to serve alcohol indoors until 10.30pm from 17 May, but warned the road ahead is long.

Hospitality in Wales and Scotland reopen with 8pm indoor curfew for Scotland

Published: 26 April, 2021

Hospitality businesses can now open in Wales and Scotland for the first time since December, with Scotland’s ‘indoors but without alcohol’ policy putting it ahead of England’s outdoor-only phase of its current roadmap.

SLTA: ‘Opening on 26 April unviable for most’

Published: 14 April, 2021

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA has reiterated its disappointment that Scotland’s bars, restaurants and cafés will still not be able to serve alcohol indoors until the licensed hospitality industry begins to reopens more freely next month.

Scottish drinks industry calls for balanced approach to alcohol policy

Published: 29 March, 2021

The Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership (SAIP), an alliance of Scotland’s distillers, brewers, hospitality and retail businesses, has called for Scottish Parliamentary candidates to commit to a balanced approach to alcohol policy.

Scottish trade bodies provide government with route out of lockdown

Published: 15 March, 2021

Key Scottish trade bodies have joined forces to collectively provide the government with a route out of lockdown.

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.

UKH calls for recovery roadmap and pledges to assist vaccine roll-out

Published: 05 January, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has called for a road map to recovery and has committed to assisting the vaccine roll-out.

Scotland to enter national lockdown

Published: 04 January, 2021

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that restrictions similar to the lockdown of March last year will be implemented in Scotland from midnight tonight (4 January), meaning bars, restaurants and pubs across the country will be forced to close.

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.

UKH: ‘£40m Scottish pot not enough’

Published: 16 October, 2020

UK Hospitality (UKH) has warned that the £40m pot of financial support provided by the Scottish government is not enough to keep the hospitality industry alive.

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.

Scotland's secret whisky heritage to be uncovered

Published: 27 August, 2020

National Trust Scotland has partnered with Glenlivet to uncover the lost history of Scotland’s illicit stills.

UK distillery numbers hit record high

Published: 02 March, 2020

The British gin boom is far from over, if the latest distillery numbers from HMRC are any guide.

Council gives green light for Moffat’s first legal Scotch whisky distillery

Published: 30 January, 2020

Dumfries & Galloway Council has approved plans for a single malt whisky distillery to be built in Moffat, marking the town’s first legal Scotch distillery.

Concerns DRS scheme could cause havoc with labelling laws

Published: 06 December, 2019

The new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers could cause chaos for products bound for differing parts of the UK, an industry body has warned.