Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

London seated diner numbers fall short of pre-pandemic levels

Published: 05 October, 2022

According to data from OpenTable, the global restaurant booking system, dining numbers in London are falling short of pre-pandemic levels.

Business energy bills capped by government relief scheme

Published: 21 September, 2022

The government has announced a new energy relief scheme that will reduce energy bills for businesses by 50% of expected levels.

Hospitality insolvencies jump 59%

Published: 20 September, 2022

The latest insolvency figures show just how hard the hospitality industry has been affected by the cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy bills, with pubs, bars and restaurants some of the worst hit among UK businesses.

The Drinks Trust announces campaign to help hospitality workers facing fuel poverty

Published: 20 September, 2022

Next month, the Drinks Trust will launch the Emergency Energy Poverty Fund, a dedicated grant-giving campaign to help vulnerable hospitality workers heat and power their homes.

Cautious optimism for energy freeze as trade braces for bitter winter

Published: 09 September, 2022

The six-month energy cap unveiled by the Prime Minister yesterday has been met with a smattering of optimism among businesses. Though predictably, the resounding consensus from many corners of the trade is that the measure does not nearly go far enough in limiting the impact of exorbitant energy costs.

UKH urges government to issue on-trade rescue package

Published: 31 August, 2022

UKHospitality (UKH)chief executive Kate Nicholls has written an urgent letter to the UK government, outlining the potential disaster facing thousands of businesses in light of the energy crisis.

The Drinks Trust partners with Equal Measures to promote diversity

Published: 23 August, 2022

The Drinks Trust has partnered with the Equal Measures initiative to support marginalised and underrepresented people within the cocktail and spirits industry.

Consumers and on-trade at a stand-off over costs

Published: 22 August, 2022

As inflation takes hold of consumers and businesses alike, the hospitality industry remains in a deadlock, with businesses planning for more challenging times ahead.

Friday Read: The post-pandemic hangover for hospitality

Published: 12 August, 2022

Nick Gillett, MD at specialist spirits company Mangrove UK, talks challenges and opportunities for the still beleaguered on-trade.

Pavement licences introduced during Covid will be made permanent next year

Published: 25 July, 2022

Temporary changes brought in to help the hospitality industry during Covid will be extended until Spring 2023 before being made permanent.

Calls for action on business rates as inflation reaches 40-year high

Published: 20 July, 2022

Mounting pressure is being placed on the government to ease the ‘financial fragility’ of the hospitality sector during its upcoming review of business rates, as businesses continue to suffer rising supply chain costs and runaway inflation.

Government extends off-sales licence after backlash

Published: 18 July, 2022

The government has announced that it will extend the alcohol off-sales easement, introduced during the pandemic, to September 2023, following a campaign led by UKHospitality and other sector bodies.

7,000 pubs forced to close in last 10 years

Published: 04 July, 2022

According to real estate consultancy Altus Group, the number of pubs in England and Wales is now at its lowest point on record, down by more than 7,000 in the last decade.

National Hospitality Day returns for second edition

Published: 29 June, 2022

A landmark event pioneered in 2021 will return to the UK this year, uniting a diverse cross-section of businesses in the hospitality sector.

Britain’s cities back in growth as spend and inflation rise

Published: 27 June, 2022

Out-of-home food and drink sales are in growth in all of Britain’s 10 biggest city centres, with higher spend-per-visit driving growth rather than footfall.

‘Critical’ staff shortages costs hospitality £21bn in trade

Published: 23 June, 2022

Staff shortages in the hospitality industry are reaching critical levels and causing nearly half (45%) of operators to cut trading hours or capacity in order to cope, a new survey has said.

UK eating-out market set to value £95.2 billion in 2022 +4% versus 2019

Published: 22 June, 2022

According to the new Lumina Intelligence Eating Out Market Report, the UK on-trade is set to value £95.2 billion in 2022, +4% versus its 2019 value, meaning that inflation is outpacing market growth.

Managed groups' like-for-like sales flat in May as cost crisis deepens

Published: 17 June, 2022

Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in May were just 0.1% ahead of the pre-Covid-19 levels of 2019, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

'Chronic' staff crisis continues as vacancy gap widens

Published: 14 June, 2022

New figures have shown how the hospitality sector’s staffing crisis is worsening under growing stagnancy in the job market, as the gap between new job creation and people willing to enter the workforce is widening.

Top 25 Sommeliers to celebrate best in the business

Published: 05 May, 2022

Harpers is delighted to announce the launch of its Top 25 Sommeliers, designed to recognise and celebrate the leading lights in the on-trade drinks world.