On-Trade - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hospitality sales up 6% in Q4

Published: 02 February, 2024

New data from Fourth has revealed hospitality revenue in Q4 2023 is up 6.1% year-on-year.

Parliament debate: 'Special treatment' need for hospitality over VAT

Published: 01 February, 2024

There has been resounding support for hospitality business in parliament this week as MPs reported that the sector is “screaming out that VAT is too high”.

6,000 hospitality venues closed in 2023

Published: 30 January, 2024

New data released today (30 January) has revealed more than 6,000 hospitality venues closed in 2023, bringing the total number of closures since the pandemic to nearly 23,000.

Booking App Resy suspends UK operations

Published: 29 January, 2024

Restaurant booking platform Resy, which comprises 300 venues in the UK, will suspend its operations from September this year.

Caring to sell The Ivy Collection for £1bn

Published: 29 January, 2024

Billionaire restaurateur Richard Caring has put his £1bn stake in The Ivy and its spin-off restaurants up for sale.

Hospitality employment scheme for jobseekers launches in Wales

Published: 26 January, 2024

A government-backed employment pathway for hospitality began in Cardiff this week, offering jobseekers career opportunities and a route back into work.

Scottish pubs £15k worse off than English equivalents

Published: 24 January, 2024

New analysis by UKHospitality Scotland has revealed the financial disparity between sites in England and Scotland following the Scottish government's decision not to implement business rates support this year for venues.

Harpers snap survey: Removing 250ml wouldn’t damage sales

Published: 24 January, 2024

Following a recent University of Cambridge study, which found that removing 250ml servings of wine by the glass cut consumption by almost 8%, Harpers launched a snap survey, to see how such a measure might affect the trade.

Sommelier Wine Awards entry deadline extended

Published: 23 January, 2024

Due to demand, the entry deadline for the Sommelier Wine Awards 2024 has been extended to 5pm UK time on 29 January.

Friday read: Maximum impact – the cancelled train strikes impacting bookings by 50%

Published: 19 January, 2024

The ongoing threat of strikes is causing unmitigated damage to the UK hospitality industry, with business telling Harpers they can impact trade by 50% or more, even if they don’t go ahead.

Managed groups enjoy YOY December growth

Published: 18 January, 2024

Britain’s top hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

D&M achieves record Christmas sales

Published: 17 January, 2024

Drake and Morgan, operator of 17 premium bars and restaurants in London and Manchester, has announced record festive trading with like-for-like sales up 31.7% against the same period in 2022 (4 weeks to 31 December 2023).

Berkmann to train 20,000 hospitality professionals

Published: 16 January, 2024

Leading UK wine distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has re-launched Veraison, a training programme designed to futureproof wine culture in the on-trade hospitality sector.

January tube strikes will cost hospitality businesses £50m

Published: 05 January, 2024

The London Underground will be subject to strike action on separate days between 5-12 January the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) has confirmed in yet another blow to the hospitality industry.

Action on growth and jobs critical in 2024

Published: 02 January, 2024

In a New Year message, UKHospitality (UKH) has outlined its priorities for the year ahead, with “respite from endless price rises” among those at the top of the pile.

Scottish hospitality businesses denied rates relief

Published: 20 December, 2023

Following months of campaigning, leading hospitality bodies are ‘extremely disappointed’ with yesterday’s Budget announcement in Scotland.

New drink spiking measures introduced by government

Published: 19 December, 2023

Drink spiking is set to be targeted by police and door staff in a raft of new measures unveiled by the home secretary James Cleverly as the festive party-going season gets into full swing.

Survey reveals 44% of Brits choosing not to dine out this festive season

Published: 18 December, 2023

A new study from Forbes Advisor, the price comparison and financial guidance platform, has found that two in five Brits (44%) are choosing not to dine out this festive period (1 December - 2 January), the same figure it was 12 months ago when the survey was last conducted.

Scottish hospitality businesses ‘hang in the balance’ without government support

Published: 18 December, 2023

New analysis has revealed that thousands of Scottish hospitality businesses will be left unsupported if a rates relief isn’t included in the Scottish Budget tomorrow (19 December).

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Graham Hall, Drake & Morgan

Published: 18 December, 2023

Following another eventful year for the drinks trade, Graham Hall, director at Drake & Morgan reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus the hopes and plans for the business in the year ahead.