Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The Open House offers intimate summer dining with The Arber Garden

Published: 12 April, 2022

The Arber Garden

Gin and still wine lose momentum in post pandemic new normal

Published: 04 April, 2022

After enjoying a period of meteoric growth, the UK's favourite white spirit has hit a stumbling block, with a drop in hospitality market share in 2021.

The trade reacts to the government’s VAT increase

Published: 24 March, 2022

Today, the government has officially returned the VAT rate for the hospitality and tourism industry to 20% (24 March).

Ridgeview embraces wine tourism with new hospitality project

Published: 21 March, 2022

One of the UK's most iconic sparkling wine producers has announced plans to develop a tourism centre, offering visitors an immersive wine experience from vine to glass.

Burger & Lobster unveils refugee recruitment drive

Published: 21 March, 2022

Leading restaurant group Burger & Lobster has announced plans to develop a new online portal for Ukrainian refugees seeking hospitality work in the UK.

Hospitality can help the cost of living crisis, new report finds

Published: 16 March, 2022

A report compiled by UKHospitality and CGA highlights the vulnerable state of the UK’s pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. It also demonstrates how hospitality can help solve the cost of living crisis.

Street food specialists launches Kerb Counter

Published: 16 March, 2022

Kerb Counter

Mr Lyan returns to Shoreditch

Published: 14 March, 2022

Seed Library

Hospitality sales above pre-pandemic levels, but cost of living looms large

Published: 14 March, 2022

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups raised sales above pre-pandemic levels in February, thanks mainly to the removal of Covid-19 restrictions. Still, high inflation continues to make real-terms growth challenging.

How the rising cost of living will impact consumer attitudes to drinking

Published: 11 March, 2022

As the cost of living increases, consumers are looking to reduce spending, and recreational drinking could bear the brunt.

Hospitality cries for help

Published: 07 March, 2022

James Bayley dives into ‘quintuple shock’ looming on the horizon in April, as businesses call for more ongoing support to boost recovery.

London hospitality struggling the most post-covid

Published: 01 March, 2022

Hospitality sectors in major British cities including Bristol and Manchester are recovering their vibrancy as Covid restrictions wind down, according to new research.

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.

The Drinks Trust opens applications for vocational hardship programme

Published: 22 February, 2022

The Drinks Trust has announced that applications for its new vocational programme are now officially open to applicants. For the first time in its 135-year history, the Trust has introduced an initiative to alleviate long term hardship and train and educate the next generation of drinks and hospitality industry professionals.

Latest labour market stats underline urgent need for hospitality recruitment

Published: 16 February, 2022

Using the latest ONS labour market statistics published today, UKHospitality has produced data showing that current vacancies in hospitality are more than 100% higher than the corresponding pre-Covid period.

Hospitality sector embarks upon landmark recruitment campaign

Published: 10 February, 2022

Grass-roots organisation Hospitality Rising has been appointed strategic leader of the industry’s biggest ever recruitment campaign, working in collaboration with the Hospitality & Tourism Sector Skills Board (HTSB).

Leeds and Glasgow hospitality sectors resurgent despite pandemic disruption

Published: 09 February, 2022

New research from CGA Strategy has uncovered a stark division between hospitality businesses in London and regional cities across the UK, with the latter thriving in the context of a difficult trading period, while London continues to struggle.

Hospitality industry braced for soaring inflation

Published: 07 February, 2022

As the cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills continue to affect households across the UK, many in the hospitality sector are predicting double-digit price rises, inevitably to be passed on to consumers.

Diageo unveils plans to construct Guinness microbrewery and culture hub in London

Published: 31 January, 2022

Multinational drinks firm Diageo is to invest £73 million in building a Guinness at Old Brewer’s Yard attraction, incorporating a new microbrewery and culture hub in Covent Garden.

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.