Q&A: Romain Bourger, The Vineyard

Mangrove appoints on-trade sales director

Mangrove UK has promoted its current South sales manager Chris Pollard to on-trade sales director.

Over 150 companies back female mentoring initiative

Over 150 leading employers across the UK have signed up to a mentoring initiative to help women in senior positions reach board level of companies in the hospitality and leisure sectors.

An ever lengthening festive period bodes well for on-trade

A bumper Christmas could be on the on-trade horizon driven by the festive period now extending across three weeks compared to the ‘historic’ two, according to CGA.

On-trade optimism flies in face of uncertainties

Optimism among leaders in the on-trade has risen to its highest point for 18 months despite political and economic uncertainty. But senior executives remain wary of squeezed spending and rising costs, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth.

South Western train strike adds to London hospitality woes

Nik Darlington from importer Graft, which specialises in supplying the London on-trade, says the South Western Railway strike alongside steep business rates and overbearing rents with could tip some hospitality businesses over the edge this Christmas…

Ask A Somm: Maxim Kassir, 108 Brasserie, Marylebone

As well as working as a sommelier at the 108 Brasserie in The Marylebone Hotel, London, Maxim Kassir also oversees wine innovation for the site and its parent group The Doyle Collection. Here he shares his thoughts on low and no alcohol wine and how the on-trade can be more sustainable.

UK pub numbers on the rise again

The number of British pubs has increased for the first time in a decade, analysis from hospitality sector software start-up Stampede has revealed.

Wetherspoon to invest more than £200m across its estate

Wetherspoon has announced it is to invest more than £200 million on its pub estate over the next four years.

Avoiding the low/no Frankenwine monster

In the battle for low/no customers, Frankenstein wine may not be the answer, writes Chris Losh

Drinks sales rescue on-trade from weak November

Drinks sales in Britain’s pubs helped the on-trade stay in growth in November, latest monthly food-and-drink data from the Coffer Peach Tracker has shown.

New interactive 'Instagram-able' bar ordering app launches

A new 'Instagram-able' interactive bar ordering app bridging the digital and physical worlds has been unveiled by Cambridge Consultants.

Diageo buys Tipplesworth to drive cocktails ‘on tap’ growth

Diageo has acquired pre-mix cocktail specialist Tipplesworth for an undisclosed sum.

Low and no on-trade sales soar by nearly 50%

Sales of no- and low-alcohol drinks in the on-trade have risen nearly 50% in the last year, according to a new report from food-and-drink sector analysts CGA.

Joe Fattorini: Self-sabotage to push trading up

JOE FATTORINI

Lidl claims ‘value for money’ supermarket gong

Lidl has been awarded the Wotwine supermarket wine retailer gong based on delivering best value for money for consumers, making it the fourth year in a row for the discounter to claim the title.

The Balvenie launches digital campaign with London pop-up

The Balvenie premium whisky brand has launched its ‘Digital Drams’ online campaign at a new pop-up bar inside London’s King’s Cross station.

D&D London to launch ‘wine insights’ initiative

D&D London is poised to launch an initiative offering guests insights into wine and winemakers, and the chance to try “the finest wine at truly accessible prices”.

The Alchemist gears up to open London flagship site

Cocktail bar and restaurant The Alchemist is gearing up to launch its biggest venue yet in London. 

WSTA and UKHospitality welcome Tory pub support but say it ‘needs to go further’

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) and UKHospitality have welcomed the pledge announced today by the Conservative Party to support the UK’s pubs.