Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Blossom Street Social files prohibition appeal

Published: 21 January, 2021

Manchester hybrid Blossom Street Social is fighting a recent Prohibition Notice which has since led to the closure of the shop/bar enterprise.

Soapbox: Southern bias leaves a bitter taste

Published: 17 November, 2020

After enduring three months of local restrictions with little help, Sara Saunby, owner of Manchester hybrid Salut, says Whitehall’s belated decision to help the North is too little, too late

Three Tier local lockdown system devastating for on-trade

Published: 21 October, 2020

Pubs, bars and restaurants under the “very high” Tier 3 local lockdown level have already seen a daily sales drop of 60% or more, according to new data from CGA.

South Yorkshire follows Manchester into Tier 3

Published: 21 October, 2020

South Yorkshire has officially joined Manchester in the highest bracket of Covid measures, meaning bars and restaurants not serving seated meals will close.

Second wave lockdown spreads from Manchester to Aberdeen

Published: 05 August, 2020

Aberdeen has become the latest city to suffer from a second spike in coronavirus cases, leading pubs and bars to close.

TWE partners with Deliveroo to launch Wolf Blass sampling campaign

Published: 04 June, 2020

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has joined forces with Deliveroo to launch a Wolf Blass sampling campaign.

Mid-week on-trade spend in major Northern cities booms

Published: 12 March, 2020

Northern cities have started to shed their ‘weekend party image’ with ‘seven day socialising’ taking hold, according to new research.

SITT hits stride in London and Manchester

Published: 10 September, 2019

This autumn’s Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) in London and Manchester were among the busiest and most focused events yet, with both off- and on-trade buyers feasting their senses at 45 supplier tables, plus a busy schedule of masterclasses.

Greencroft on target to become largest UK bottling operation

Published: 14 January, 2019

Major investment by Lanchester Wine Cellars in its bottling subsidiary Greencroft is to see production boosted from 100 million litres in 2018 to a capacity of between 3-400 million litres by early 2020.

Manchester Gin to launch city centre distillery

Published: 03 January, 2019

Manchester Gin has announced it is to launch a city centre distillery this summer.

Hanging Ditch founder sets out to challenge ‘normal wine merchant model’ with new venture

Published: 01 November, 2018

Hanging Ditch founder Ben Stephenson has revealed the plans for his latest venture - a wine retail, entertainment and social space that works from morning to night.

Woods woos budding wine buffs with wine school

Published: 16 August, 2018

Simon Woods, wine writer and author of ‘I Don’t Know Much About Wine But I Know What I Like’, has bought the Manchester Wine School with a view to bringing his down-to-earth educational approach to an ever-wider number of fellow Mancunians.

Red Squirrel hits the road for portfolio tasting

Published: 15 August, 2018

Red Squirrel is heading out of London for its annual tasting for the first time, with plans to bring its focus on small artisanal producers to Bristol and Manchester.

Two restaurants closing a week, but UK dining scene shows reverse North-South divide

Published: 28 June, 2018

The number of licenced restaurant in the UK has fallen by -1.3% in the twelve months to March 2018, with the total number dining outlets also falling by 0.4%, according to the recent Market Growth Monitor report from CGA.

Northern restaurant and bar scene powers ahead of London

Published: 15 March, 2018

The restaurant and bar scenes in Liverpool, Manchester & Leeds have been revealed as growing at rates more than double those of London.

SITT masterclasses to deliver business focussed insights for indie and on-trade buyers

Published: 21 February, 2018

Spring SITT Manchster and London 2018 tastings on 26 and 28 February are to host a series of business-led masterclasses ranging from northern drinking trends to buying clever by way of collaboration.

SITT Manchester and London shine spotlight on Grenache, Hungary and Chile

Published: 16 February, 2018

With the SITT Manchester and London tastings just over a week away, we can bring you a taster of some of the great masterclasses and hosts lined up for visitors on the day.

NWTC sets out plans for Manchester

Published: 16 August, 2017

One of Manchester’s most prominent outdoor eating and drinking hotspots has secured a long-term agreement to allow them to set down roots and expand.

Hangingditch marks 10 years with Wine Gang wine fair

Published: 16 June, 2017

Hangingditch, the innovative Manchester merchant headed up by Ben Stephenson, is marking its tenth anniversary with a two day tasting event this autumn in Manchester Cathedral.

LWF’s Ross Carter: The exit interview

Published: 25 May, 2017

Three days of the London Wine Fair (LWF) is quickly drifting into a blur of meetings, conversations, debates and of course, tastings of some truly fabulous wines.