Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Westminster brings back alfresco scheme

Published: 25 February, 2021

Westminster City Council has announced that it will reintroduce last summer’s alfresco scheme to help the hospitality sector.

Hospitality leaders show long-term optimism

Published: 25 February, 2021

Hospitality leaders are optimistic about the long-term future of the sector and its role in the UK’s economic recovery, with many businesses seeking to grow rather than shrink, the latest CGA Business Leaders' Survey has revealed.

Wine most popular online drinks purchase

Published: 24 February, 2021

Wine has been pinpointed as the most popular e-commerce purchase during the Covid pandemic.

“Bitter disappointment” over Scotland’s recovery roadmap

Published: 24 February, 2021

The plan for a tentative reopening of Scotland’s economy including shops, bars and restaurants has been met with criticism by hospitality businesses who say an end of April start date will be too late for many.

UKH urges sector to join Budget campaign

Published: 18 February, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has called on the industry to make its voice heard to secure further VAT cut and business rates holiday.

Helping hospitality survive

Published: 18 February, 2021

If reopening doesn’t come soon, many on-trade operators face ruin unless new support measures come into play. Andrew Catchpole reports.

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.

Hospitality not 'significant area' of Covid transmission

Published: 17 February, 2021

Hospitality businesses were not "significant areas" of Covid transmission in 2020 and should be central to reopening plans in 2021, according to new research by CGA, commissioned by UK Hospitality (UKH).

Government backed loans pile on the debt for hospitality operators

Published: 16 February, 2021

Mounting debt for operators who’ve had no choice but to take on huge government-backed loans to stay afloat is creating an untenable pressure cooker situation for the trade, hospitality owners have said.

Covid propels delivered drinks market into the mainstream

Published: 16 February, 2021

Lockdown is giving the on-trade and suppliers a chance to claim share of the delivered drinks market from supermarkets, according to CGA’s latest consumer research.

Extension to rent moratorium considered as momentum for UK re-opening builds

Published: 15 February, 2021

Ministers are reportedly drawing up plans to extend the rent moratorium for commercial properties until past the March end date, further curbing landlords’ ability to evict businesses over unpaid rent.

Water brand launches in aid of The Drinks Trust

Published: 11 February, 2021

Trust Water, a premium water brand, has been launched by hospitality experts Mark Bickerton and Richard Bailey.

Government to meet with hospitality minister petitioners

Published: 10 February, 2021

Business minister Paul Scully will meet with with petitioners calling for a minister for hospitality, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.

Chapel Down to place Curious Drinks into administration

Published: 09 February, 2021

Chapel Down is to dispose of its Curious Drinks business to a NewCo, established by private equity firm Risk Capital Partners (RCP).

UKH Scotland reiterates calls for support as Sturgeon says no easing of restrictions

Published: 03 February, 2021

The hospitality industry in Scotland is again calling for financial support as First Minister for Scotland Nicola Sturgeon revealed that there would be no easing of restrictions due to the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Four in five eager to get back to going out

Published: 01 February, 2021

Consumers are badly missing hospitality experiences, with four in five, or 80%, hoping to revisit the on-trade within a few weeks of reopening, according to the latest edition of CGA’s 2021 Hospitality Consumer Forecast, which explores attitudes to the on-trade while Britain remains under lockdown.

Tech & Innovation: The rule of change

Published: 01 February, 2021

A surge of smaller, indie-focused delivery platforms and third-party apps are helping to bridge the gap between neighbourhood restaurants, bars and consumers, accelerating pre-lockdown trends, as Jo Gilbert discovers

Pandemic cost hospitality £200m a day in 2020

Published: 28 January, 2021

Turnover for the hospitality sector dropped to less than half of 2019 levels in 2020, slipping by almost £72bn, which translates to nearly £200m a day, according to the latest edition of the UK Hospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker.

Minister dashes hopes of VAT cut extension

Published: 27 January, 2021

A treasury minister has said there are “no current plans” to further extend the reduction in VAT for hospitality businesses despite estimates that rising rates could directly and permanently impact the sector and lead to the loss of up to 310,000 jobs.

Take Out to Help Out e-book from Bums on Seats

Published: 25 January, 2021

Bums on Seats has launched a free e-book resource, Take Out to Help Out, giving advice for on-trade operators as to how best to develop and market an at home dining offer.