Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Jascots to step up presence outside London

Published: 06 April, 2021

Jascots Wine has, together with its new owners Freixenet Copestick, revealed plans to expands its footprint outside its London heartland.

CGA: ‘Significant number of sites with outdoor space unlikely to trade’

Published: 29 March, 2021

Two out of five licensed premises have outdoor trading space – around 41,000 outlets – enabling them to trade outside from 12 April, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

Jobseekers pin hopes on hospitality

Published: 24 March, 2021

Jobseekers are pinning their hopes on a resurgent hospitality sector, with bar jobs and waitressing among the fastest-growing searches, according to new research by major job site Indeed.

Local authorities urged to support ‘forgotten businesses’

Published: 23 March, 2021

New guidance on the Additional Restrictions Grant has been announced by the government as the UK gears up to exit lockdown.

LWF launches Welcome Back Wednesday preview for on-trade re-opening

Published: 22 March, 2021

Organisers of the London Wine Fair (LWF) have announced that this year’s show will feature a special preview day aimed specifically at getting businesses back up and running in time for the slated reopening of the on-trade on 17 May.

Rebooting the on-trade

Published: 22 March, 2021

With reopening now in sight, Andrew Catchpole joined leading operators to discover what learnings from the past 12 months could help the recovery of their businesses.

Govt fails to provide new roadmap evidence

Published: 18 March, 2021

The government has failed to provide any new evidence as to why indoor hospitality cannot open the same day as non essential retail, according to night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord.

Seismic shifts in technology use when on-trade reopens

Published: 17 March, 2021

The hospitality sector can expect more seismic shifts in the use of technology when it reopens, according to the latest Go Technology report from CGA and Zonal.

Q&A: Charlie Gilkes, Inception Group

Published: 17 March, 2021

Charlie Gilkes is founder and director of Inception Group, the experiential hospitality group behind My Foggs, Barts, Cahoots, Bunga Bunga & Maggie’s. Hugh Jones speaks to Gilkes about recovery, Covid enforced innovation, and the importance of customer experience as the trade re-opens.

Industry-supported 'blueprint' to support hospitality reopening

Published: 17 March, 2021

Members of the trade are being invited to have their say as part of a UK Hospitality (UKH) backed inquiry which aims to shore up long-term support for the on-trade once bars and restaurants reopen.

‘Tough times ahead’ for Scottish licensed hospitality sector

Published: 17 March, 2021

Trade bodies have expressed bitter disappointment after yesterday’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that bars, restaurants and cafés will not be able to serve alcohol indoors when the licensed hospitality industry reopens next month.

Nightcap eyes major lease expansion for LLC on the back of reduced rents

Published: 16 March, 2021

Hospitality group Nightcap has unveiled ambitious plans to expand London Cocktail Club (LCC), its first and newest acquisition, as the company aims to capitalise on a favourable property market and reduced rents.

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.

Hospitality to help ‘reignite’ UK economy

Published: 15 March, 2021

Hospitality can play a critical role in rebooting the UK economy if it receives the necessary levels of support from government.

UKH urges govt to review roadmap following legal challenge

Published: 15 March, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has urged the government to review the roadmap again following the instigation of legal action by Pizza Express investor Hugh Osmond and night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord.

Tesco launches charitable somms service

Published: 15 March, 2021

Tesco has launched a charitable wine service that gives shoppers access to tailored tips from sommeliers.

Govt launches review into commercial rents as it extends moratorium

Published: 11 March, 2021

The UK government has extended the rent moratorium, which was due to expire at the end of this month, by three months.

Budget: Hospitality relief at raft of support

Published: 10 March, 2021

Industry leaders welcome much of the Chancellor’s aid package but are disappointed it falls short in some vital areas, writes Lisa Riley.

Webinar: Tackling the on-trade staffing crisis

Published: 09 March, 2021

Most would agree that quality staff are the lifeblood of customer-facing food and drink businesses. But, with the ongoing staffing crisis further exacerbated by Covid and Brexit, good team members – front and back of house – are proving harder to find as hospitality venues move towards reopening.

Technology key focus for investment and innovation

Published: 08 March, 2021

Technology is set to be a key focus for investment and innovation as hospitality opens up again, according to the latest CGA’s Business Leaders’ Survey.