Food & Drink

Re-launched Brighton pub first outside London to sell 'Tank Beer'

26-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

A Brighton pub is re-opening this evening after being given a facelift, and will become the first pub outside London to offer Meantime's 'Tank Beer'.

Team behind Wallace & Gromit develops the "Vimtoad" for Vimto

25-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

A cheeky toad created by Aardman Animations (the team behind Wallace & Gromit) will spearhead the biggest campaign for Vimto to date, said the company.

Rock band Elbow on their new beer and love of pubs

25-Mar-2014 By Pete Brown

Rock band Elbow’s new ale Charge, named after their song of the same name, highlights how the magic of the pub will always remain despite a multiplicity of changes in both beer tastes and clientele. Pete Brown joins them for a pint.

Pub deliveries hit by Carlsberg computer glitch

25-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Licensees across the country have been hit by a Carlsberg UK computer glitch leaving them with delayed, incomplete, or no deliveries for more than three weeks.

Camerons marks beer duty cut with pints penny promo

25-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Camerons, the Hartlepool-based brewer and pub operator, is giving customers 1p ‘cash back’ for every pint sold to mark the penny cut in beer duty announced in the Budget.

Marston's to create 3,000 new jobs following Chancellor's beer duty cut

24-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

A 1p cut in beer duty has enabled Marston’s to create 3,000 new jobs over the next two years, the pub company has announced on the same day Chancellor George Osborne visited the brewery.

'No frills' pub concept to offer half a pint for £1

24-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

A new “no frills” pub concept is being launched offering a pint for £1.50 and a half for £1.

Strongbow calls for five-a-side teams to face Brazil's finest female footballers

24-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

It’s not just amateurs versus professionals, but men versus women in the latest Strongbow Challenge, as a British five-a-side football team go up against one of Brazil’s best professional female teams in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

Bombardier fires up St George's Day holiday campaign

24-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Bombardier is calling for St George’s Day to be made a bank holiday.

Hardy's becomes official wine partner of England Cricket

21-Mar-2014 By Mike Berry

Hardys has signed a three-year deal to be the official wine partner of England Cricket.

Fuller’s gets rights to Sierra Nevada

20-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Fuller’s premium drinks arm, Westside Drinks, has confirmed it will be the sole importer of US craft beer Sierra Nevada.

50 new beers for Wetherspoon beer festival

20-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

A plum porter, a juniper beer and a hazy wheat beer will be among some of the more exotic brews on offer at the next JD Wetherspoon beer festival.

Budget 2014: Pubcos pass on beer duty cut

20-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Pub companies are promising to pass on the beer duty cut announced in yesterday’s Budget to licensees.

Historic Vaux beers back in rude health

20-Mar-2014 By Roger Protz

Despite the closure of the Vaux brewery in 1999, a small team of former employees have been working to bring the brews back to life.

Budget 2014: Chancellor scraps alcohol duty escalator and announces 1p cut for beer

19-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

The 2014 Budget has brought some cheer for the pub industry with the scrapping of the alcohol duty escalator and a 1p cut for beer.

Piña Coladas will be key to Malibu's success this summer

18-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Pernod Ricard will be pushing the Piña Colada this summer, as part of a drive for its Malibu brand.

Arkell's strikes gold at SIBA's BeerX awards

18-Mar-2014 By James Wallin

Wiltshire brewer Alex Arkell has described the Gold award presented to his company at last week’s BeerX celebrations as “the ulitmate endorsement of our beer”.

The trade is alive and kicking

18-Mar-2014 By Pete Brown

The number of pub closures may be on the up but innovation is rife in the industry, says Pete Brown.

Value of wines and spirits to pubs set to grow

18-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

The value of wines and spirits to the UK on-trade is set to increase over the coming years as new outlets sell a greater proportion of these products, new research shows.

No ginger for new Crabbie's flavours

17-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

The Crabbie’s range is moving away from its position as just an alcoholic ginger beer brand, with the launch of two new varients that contain no ginger.

Trend watch: pub caterers embrace Scandinavian trends

17-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

PubFood reveals how pub caterers are capitalising on what’s hot

Mother's Day campaign for Appletiser

17-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Mums are in for a treat this Mother’s Day (30 March) with a new on-trade promotion from Appletiser.

Butcombe Brewery takes top prize at SIBA Business Awards

14-Mar-2014 By Jo Bruce

Butcombe Brewery has been awarded the top prize at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Business Awards.

SIBA announces National Beer Competition 2014 winners

13-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has announced three ‘supreme champions’ and 60 medal winners in its National Beer Competition 2014 at its BeerX event in Sheffield.

Robert Humphreys to step down from Parliamentary Beer Group

13-Mar-2014 By John Harrington

Robert Humphreys is to step down from his role of honorary secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group after 21 years, which he has held since the group’s formation in 1993, the Publican's Morning Advertiser has learnt.

Retro wine Mateus gets a £2m boost this year

12-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Retro wine brand, Mateus – that of the distinctive oval bottle – is being prepared for a big UK push this year.

SIBA names new chairman and unveils revised structure

12-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Exe Valley Brewery co-founder Guy Sheppard has succeeded Keith Bott as the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) new chairman, it was announced at the organisation’s AGM in Sheffield today.

News of the Brews: get the lowdown on the best new beers

11-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Californian craft brewer North Coast brings several of its beers to the UK for the first time, including its Thelonius ale and Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. Plus, Castle Rock releases Traffic Street Specials, Joules Brewery launches a spring special and...

Most Britons want cut or freeze in beer duty, says new YouGov poll for BBPA

11-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The majority of the British public supports a cut or freeze in beer duty and say they delay visiting  a pub until pay day because they cannot afford it – that’s according to a new YouGov poll commissioned by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Healeys unveils new cider for St Austell Brewery pubs

11-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Cornish cider company Healeys has launched a new crafted pouring cider to be distributed by St Austell Brewery.

Industry figures call for beer duty freeze in open letter to Osborne

10-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Senior industry figures have written an open letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne MP, calling for a freeze in beer duty in next week’s Budget and further measures to support the pub trade.

Aspall to redesign and add to range

10-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

Aspall, the Suffolk Cyder maker, has promised a fresh look for its range and a raft of new product development for 2014.

Beer Innovation Summit: Big plans for Let There Beer campaign after 'mixed' first year

06-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

After admitting the first year of Let There Be Beer, the cross industry campaign to revive the beer category, had been “mixed,” brewers unveiled big plans for 2014.

AB InBev launches rum-flavoured beer Cubanisto

05-Mar-2014 By Jessica Mason

A rum-flavoured beer, named Cubanisto, will be launched by AB InBev this month.

Reinvigorating the beer category

05-Mar-2014 By Mike Berry

In a World Cup year it seemed appropriate for us to be at the FA’s superb St George’s Park, just outside of Britain’s traditional brewing heartland of Burton, for the PMA’s Beer Innovation Summit last week.

Beer Academy sommeliers reach half century

05-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

The Beer Academy has accredited three new sommeliers taking the total number to 50.

Beer duty freeze main priority for trade in Budget submissions

05-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A freeze in beer duty has emerged as the overwhelming priority for industry trade associations, ahead of this month’s Budget.

Beer Innovation Summit: Iron Maiden beer sells over 3.5 million pints

04-Mar-2014 By Jessica Mason

The Iron Maiden beer, Trooper, has sold 3.5 million pints without its brewer Robinsons spending a penny on marketing.

Exports grow as world gets taste for British beer

04-Mar-2014 By Mike Berry

Almost 21 million extra pints of British beer were exported in 2013 compared to the previous year, Government statistics show.

New look for Fish Hoek wine

04-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

South Africa wine brand Fish Hoek has been given a new look, including a “debossed” bottle – the first of its kind in the UK, according to brand owner Accolade Wines.

Beer Innovation Summit: Hybrid beers can answer consumer demand

04-Mar-2014 By Jessica Mason

The Millennial generation seek high quality brands that are sweeter, offer a sense of adventure and pander to a healthier lifestyle, according to new research from Mintel.

New blonde beer joins Pedigree portfolio

03-Mar-2014 By Robyn Black

A new blonde beer is joining the Pedigree portfolio this spring.

Heineken launches pub marketing initiative

03-Mar-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Heineken UK has launched a new initiative to help pubs market their businesses more effectively, following a successful three-month trial at the end of last year.

Bolton pub in high spirits after ghost sighting doubles trade

03-Mar-2014 By Helen Gilbert

A Bolton-based pub has enjoyed a spike in business after footage of a ghostly figure captured by its CCTV system went viral.

Happy 10th birthday £21bn alcohol cost estimate!

28-Feb-2014 By Pete Brown

The figure for the so-called 'cost of alcohol' to the UK economy is simply a will-o’-the-wisp, says Pete Brown.

RTD brand Four Loko breaks alcohol marketing rules

28-Feb-2014 By Helen Gilbert

Licensees and retailers in the UK have been advised against placing orders for stocks of Four Loko in its current packaging after it was found to break alcohol marketing rules.

Heineken launches new cider brand, dispense innovation and on-trade business initiative

27-Feb-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

Heineken UK is launching a new cider brand, a new dispense technology and a new incentive initiative for the on-trade.

Mojito beer for Desperados

27-Feb-2014 By Robyn Black

A Mojito inspired beer is the latest spirit beer, aka speer, to hit the market.

SIBA members grow volume sales and ramp up investment

26-Feb-2014 By Mike Berry

The nation’s beer lovers drank nearly 33 million more pints of local beer last year than in 2012, as independent brewers responded positively to the Chancellor’s decision to scrap the beer-duty escalator.

World of confusion over lager

25-Feb-2014 By Roger Protz

Kronenbourg's recent ad ban highlights the issue of ‘misleading’ provenance claims, argues Roger Protz.