Food & Drink

Addlestones cider gets a revamp

05-Dec-2013 By Robyn Black

Cloudy cider Addlestones has been redesigned to tap into the boom in craft drinks.

’Tis the season of good beer

05-Dec-2013 By Pete Brown

Last week I was talking to a friend who works as a wine critic for a national newspaper. She was excited because she was on her way to the Liberty’s Christmas Shop to buy stuff for a photo shoot for a Christmas wines feature. It’s a job she does every...

BBPA asks Chancellor for business rates and beer duty help

04-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association has written to Chancellor George Osborne urging him to extend Small Business Rate Relief in the Autumn Statement.

8,000 pubs sign up to Coke's Designated Driver campaign

04-Dec-2013 By Robyn Black

Over 8,000 pubs are set to take part in this year’s Coca-Cola Designated Driver campaign.

Video: First Christmas campaign for Thatchers Cider

04-Dec-2013 By Robyn Black

Finally putting to bed the idea that cider is just for summer, Thatchers Cider is launching its first Christmas campaign tomorrow.

ASA rules against 'Let There Be Beer' ads

04-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that the advert for the coalition of industry brewers Let There Be Beer can not be shown again.

Petra Wetzel: Glaswegian heart with a German head

03-Dec-2013 By Roger Protz

Petra Wetzel has achieved jaw-dropping success with the German-style WEST brewery in Glasgow, and there is even more to come, as Roger Protz discovers.

SHS Drinks to launch ‘WKD Brazilian’

29-Nov-2013 By Jessica Mason

SHS Drinks is set to launch ‘WKD Brazilian’, a new limited-edition drink billed as a “party in a bottle,” to join its WKD portfolio.

New brands, blended whisky and the on-trade key to Pernod Ricard strategy

28-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Pernod Ricard UK (PRUK) is to increase its sales force by 10% in a bid to focus on growth in the on-trade.

Bling on the beverages

28-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

There has been a sudden influx of somewhat blingy beverages into the on-trade recently.

Wooly hats to keep Southern Comfort warm this Christmas

28-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Southern Comfort fans will find themselves drinking from woolly hats and giant jam jars this December, as part of a Christmas campaign for the brand.

Let There Be Beer campaign escapes censure after complaints

27-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

A Let There Be Beer television campaign has escaped censure from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after viewers complained it could be mistaken for programming.

Hot to Stock 2013

26-Nov-2013 By Jessica Mason & Robyn Black

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser lifts the lid on business-boosting information for licensees with the publication of its unique guide to the fastest-growing products of 2013 and the list of the top 50 brands making serious waves in the on-trade.To download...

SABMiller scholarships to help enforce responsible drinking

26-Nov-2013 By Lewis Brown

Scholarships giving people a qualification in responsible retailing are being offered by a brewer as part of the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal on alcohol.

Your "favourite chocolate bar in a bottle” set for launch

25-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

An alcoholic confectionery range is set to be launched early next year.

Cask Marque pubs serve a better pint, survey shows

22-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Cask Marque pubs deliver a better quality pint compared to non-accredited outlets, a recent survey has shown.

Kozel refreshes design ahead of on-trade drive

21-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Miller Brands has unveiled a new look for its Czech beer Kozel, as part of the company’s larger push in the on-trade for the brand.

The Alma eviction: A community’s heart is broken

21-Nov-2013 By Pete Brown

The final weekend at the Alma on Newington Green was fairly typical. As a wet November Sunday gave in to an early dusk, the main bar filled. The large family birthday party, complete with surprisingly well-behaved toddlers, was getting ready to move on,...

Greene King opens new £750,000 innovation brewery

21-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Greene King opened the doors to its new craft brewery, the St Edmund Brewhouse, yesterday.

Young's like-for-like revenue grows

21-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Young’s, the London-based pub operator, has reported a 5.6% rise in like-for-like revenue in the 26 weeks to 30 September against “strong comparatives” in the corresponding period last year.

New look unveiled for Magners cider

20-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Magners is to get a new look later this month, to help reinforce the brand’s Irish heritage.

Craft beer ‘has gone mainstream’ in 2013

20-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Craft beer has gone mainstream this year, beer writer Pete Brown told the Pub Retail Summit last week.

Beer-tie is an 'extraordinary thing' claims leading restaurateur

20-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The beer tie is an “extraordinary thing” the co-founder of Loch Fyne Restaurants and chief executive of Blanc Brasseries Mark Derry told the Pub Retail Summit last week.

Video: New campaign for Russian Standard vodka launches at Science Museum

19-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

A lavish new global campaign for Russian Standard vodka was launched with an evening of "wonder" at London's Science Museum.

Chardonnay comes back into fashion

18-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Accolade Wines, maker of Hardys and Echo Falls, is hoping to rid the world of the ABC (anything but Chardonnay) crowd with a new campaign to revive the misunderstood varietal.

Police urge licensees to watch out for black market craft beer

18-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

West Yorkshire Police is appealing for publicans to be on the lookout for black market craft beer sold as wine, after more than £3,000 worth of world-renowned beer was stolen from a Leeds-based importer.

Beer contest proves a Brit disappointing

15-Nov-2013 By Roger Protz

Our brewers’ performance at the Brussels Beer Challenge demonstrated why we need to open up foreign markets and boost exports, says Roger Protz.

5 food safety tips for pubs

15-Nov-2013 By Poppleston Allen

The food safety enforcement regime is something operators should be acutely aware of. It is imperative to have good systems and procedures to protect yourselves from enforcement action, which can be damaging and costly to your business. Here are 5 tips...

Marston's prepares to license Fastcask

15-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Marston’s Beer Company managing director Richard Westwood has confirmed that the company is in discussions with rival brewers to license its Fastcask technology, the Publican’s Morning Advertiser can reveal.

BBPA beer duty campaign wins top PR accolade

15-Nov-2013 By Helen Gilbert

The British Beer & Pub Association’s campaign to abolish the beer duty escalator earned a top accolade this week.

Withnail & I inspires Cumbrian brewer

14-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

A Cumbrian brewery has created four beers inspired by cult film classic Withnail & I.

New Christmas campaign for Coca-Cola

14-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Alongside the John Lewis Christmas campaign, Coca-Cola’s Santa’s truck ad is always a sure sign that the “holidays are coming.”

The Big Interview: Guy Newell, Butcombe Brewery

13-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Guy Newell tells Michelle Perrett about running casinos for the Shah in Iran, setting up a multi-million pound business, and recounts his experiences with Playboy bunnies. 

New taste and bottle for Lamb's Spiced

12-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

A new version of Lamb’ s Spiced has been launched, with a new taste and bottle, as part of the on-going strategy to reposition the Lamb’s Navy rum brand.

Lancaster Brewery owner slams PBD ‘madness’

12-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

A co-founder of C2 Investment, which owns 76% of Lancaster Brewery, has criticised the “madness” of progressive beer duty (PBD) as it reported a pre-tax loss in the year to 31 January.

St Austell's bristling new brew for Movember

08-Nov-2013 By Mike Berry

St Austell has brewed a new limited edition guest ale to celebrate Movember.

Global Brands launches a glittery Corky's

07-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Global Brands has unveiled its third sparkly drink under a month, an addition to its Corky’s shot range.

How pubs can seize the day

07-Nov-2013 By Pete Brown

Something is troubling me about my regular days in town when, between meetings, I need to find somewhere to sit and tap out emails for an hour or so. Increasingly, I’m finding that pubs are shut before 4pm or 5pm, says Pete Brown.

A celebration of grandeur

07-Nov-2013 By Roger Protz

The architecturally stunning Nicholson’s pub estate — part of Mitchells & Butlers — launched its third beer festival of the year in mid-October, showing an ever-increasing dedication to cask, reports Roger Protz.

Caledonian Brewery MD Stephen Crawley to step down

07-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Caledonian Brewery, the Heineken-owned Scottish brewer, has announced that Stephen Crawley is to stand down as managing director at the end of 2013 after 20 years at the company.

Licensees give cautious welcome to Ted Tuppen pledge over tied beer prices

07-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees have welcomed news that Enterprise may cap tied beer price rises, but have also warned that the offer could just be “smoke and mirrors”

Brewer Adnams to launch whiskies from Suffolk

06-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Brewer Adnams has released details of its first whiskies, which are scheduled to go on sale on Thursday 5 December.

Brighter new look for Thorntons Chocolate liqueur

06-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

Thorntons Chocolate liqueur has been given a new “brighter” look to make it more noticeable on back bars and to boost sales outside of the key Valentines, Mother’s Day and Christmas selling periods.

Cider: a choice between volume or value.

05-Nov-2013 By Robyn Black

It became clear at the PMA's inaugural Cider Trends Summit a few weeks ago -and if you weren't there in Bristol, why the hell not? - that far from running out of steam there is plenty of mileage left in cider yet.

Beer sales show record growth, despite decline in pubs

31-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

UK beer sales experienced the biggest quarter-on-quarter increase this century in Q3, with sales up 5.2% - although pub beer sales fell 1.2% across the three months.

Enterprise chief Ted Tuppen pledges controls on beer price rises

31-Oct-2013 By Rob Willock

Enterprise Inns is considering whether to introduce a contractual commitment to limit potential increases in tied drinks prices for its pub tenants.

Carlsberg attracts free-trade to Christmas shows

30-Oct-2013 By Jessica Mason

Carlsberg UK has attracted over 1,000 free-trade customers to its Christmas trade shows.

Punch launches new wine club

30-Oct-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Punch Taverns has launched a new wine club following feedback from partner forums.

Isn’t it time beer writers took their heads out of the sand?

29-Oct-2013 By Robert Sayles

Is it my imagination or are many beer writers a little bit detached from reality? The reason I say this is because their obvious reluctance to mention let alone write about the enormous white elephant sitting in the middle of the room is a little puzzling...

Cider Trends Summit 2013: UK cider boom will be adopted by the US

28-Oct-2013 By Jessica Mason

Cider is following in the footsteps of the craft-beer scene and pioneering a movement that is being adopted in the US, according to cider company Aspall.