Food & Drink

Bull’s Blood wine poised for a comeback

29-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Red Retro Wines, a specialist on-trade wine importer, is set to bring back ’70s favourite Bull’s Blood.

Campaign against alcohol unfairly and falsely denigrates beer

28-Jan-2013 By Pete Brown

As overall alcohol consumption and binge drinking behaviour continue their long-term decline, the campaign against drink is getting increasingly creative in its attempt to convince us that Britain is drinking itself to death.

St Austell Brewery purchases The Real Beer Company for undisclosed sum

25-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

St Austell Brewery has purchased of The Real Beer Company for an undisclosed sum.

Luminar lifts its drinks offer with low calorie cocktails

25-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Nightclub operator Luminar is adding a range of low-calorie cocktails to its drinks offer.

Elland Brewery 1872 Porter wins CAMRA Winter Beer of Britain

25-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

West Yorkshire-based Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has been crowned Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2013 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Hobgoblin names and shames MPs not in support of beer duty cuts

25-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Wychwood Brewery’s Hobgoblin has renewed its campaign to scrap the beer duty escalator by naming and shaming the MPs who are not in support of the initiative.

Beer sales in pubs drop again

24-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Sales of beer in pubs are down 4.8% according to the latest ‘Beer Barometer’ from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Top 10 tips on food safety in pubs

22-Jan-2013 By Pat Perry

Food poisoning incidents can be very serious for pubs and have disastrous consequences, resulting in loss of trade or even closure. Here are 10 top tips for ensuring food safety in pubs.

Waterman's Arms wins Brains’ Leased and Tenanted Pub of the Year 2012

22-Jan-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The Watermans Arms in Pembroke has been announced the winner of Brains’ Leased and Tenanted Pub of the Year 2012.

Cask Marque awareness grows among pub-goers

21-Jan-2013 By Mike Berry

More than half of cask ale drinkers now recognise the Cask Marque plaque, with six in 10 relating it to beer quality, findings from a new consumer survey reveal.

Thorntons Chocolate Liqueur Valentine's Day drive

21-Jan-2013

Global Brands is hoping licensees will fall in love with its Thorntons Chocolate Liqueur this Valentine’s Day, as it kicks off a year-long marketing campaign for the brand.

The Princess Royal gets tour of Belhaven Brewery

21-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal enjoyed a tour of Greene-King Owned Scottish brewery Belhaven last week.

WKD owner to launch rum and bourbon flavoured beers

18-Jan-2013 By Jessica Harvey

WKD owner SHS Drinks has launched two new spirit-flavoured beers aimed at 18 to 25-year-olds.

Two new whiskies in time for Burns Night

17-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Two new whiskies have been launched just in time for Burns’ Night next week (25 January).

Fuller's tenant forced to order in £13k of beer upfront

17-Jan-2013 By Helen Gilbert

A Surrey-based pub tenant has blasted his pub operator for the way he was treated after he was forced to order in £13,000 of beer in one go because no one could confirm Christmas delivery times with him.

Invest time in cask beer and reap the benefits

16-Jan-2013 By James Staughton

Make 2013 the year of cask beer. With an ever-growing number of cask-beer drinkers, and its unique nature making it one of the only drinking experiences that can’t be replicated at home, 2013 is the perfect year for licensees to invest time in cask.

Heineken to lower alcohol in John Smith's - and raise the price by 2.5p a pint

15-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Heineken has confirmed it will be dropping the alcohol content of its John Smith’s Extra Smooth beer from 3.8% to 3.6% ABV from next month.

Serve cask ale correctly or risk losing customers

15-Jan-2013 By Pete Brown

I had a brilliant Christmas and New Year, thanks for asking. As you might expect, a great deal of it was spent in the pub. This year I had the choice of more different beers in more decent pubs than I’ve ever had before.

Woodford Reserve whisky joins Esquire magazine in search of “Great American Cocktail"

14-Jan-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Woodford Reserve is teaming up with Esquire magazine to drive brand awareness in the search of the “Great American Cocktail.”

Three Tuns Brewery eyes new pubs as it expands brewery

14-Jan-2013 By M&C Report

Three Tuns Brewery, reportedly the UK’s oldest brewer, is looking to secure about four more pubs within the next 18 months as it announces a c£500k brewery expansion, M&C Report has learnt.

Carlsberg partners with CPL in £250k training deal for pubs

11-Jan-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Carlsberg UK has linked up with training provider CPL to deliver £250,000 worth of training to pubs.

AFWS seeks Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013

11-Jan-2013 By Jessica Harvey

Now in its 34th year, The Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) once again seeks to find the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2013.

Hi-Spirits ordered to remove "irresponsible" pictures from Facebook page

10-Jan-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Hi-Spirits has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for posting "irresponsible" photos on its Facebook page.

Licensees face further beer price increases in 2013

10-Jan-2013 By Adam Pescod

Major brewers have revealed their wholesale beer price increases for 2013, with licensees facing rises of up to 5p per pint in some instances.

Parliament pubco debate: Beer Group chair concerned that Govt is legislating only some companies

09-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group has accused the Government of not thinking through its approach to regulate the pubco-tenant relationship.

Joule's Brewery secures £1m funding for new pubs

04-Jan-2013 By mark Wingett, M&C Report

Joule’s Brewery, the Shropshire brewer and pub operator, has secured an additional £1m in funding to add another five to six pubs in the next year and double the storage area at its brewery.

International Brewing Awards extends deadline to 18 January

04-Jan-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The International Brewing Awards has extended its closing date to 18 January, giving brewers and cider makers extra time to enter the competition.

Greene King kicks off Six Nations campaign

02-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Rugby fans are being offered the chance to show off their rugby skills during England’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham, as part of a pub campaign for Greene King IPA.

Carlsberg UK appoints James Lousada as sales director

19-Dec-2012

Carlsberg UK has announced the appointment of James Lousada as sales director.

Greene King brings back a festive favourite

19-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

Greene King is hoping its seasonal ale, Rocking Rudolf, will light up the bar this Christmas.

Fair Pint founder Mark Dodds' former pub Sun and Doves is re-let

19-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

The former pub of Fair Pint founder Mark Dodds has been let by Antic Ltd, the London-based multiple pub operator.

On-trade beer volumes fall while RTD sales grow

18-Dec-2012 By John Harrington

On-trade beer volumes fell 5% in the year to 6 October, while RTD sales have received an unexpected lift as ciders, perries and premium spirits continue to drive growth in pubs and bars.

Caledonia Best named Official Beer of Scottish Rugby

18-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Caledonia Best, the Scottish ale from Tennent Caledonian, has been unveiled as the Official Beer of Scottish Rugby.

Meantime launches 11-beer range “the Brewer’s Dozen" for selected outlets

17-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

Meantime Brewing Company, the Greenwich-based craft brewers, are to launch a new range of eleven beers, “the Brewer’s Dozen,” so called because the brewer keeps the twelfth for himself.

The eagle has landed... almost

14-Dec-2012 By Roger Protz

Truman’s famous black eagle symbol will soon be swooping over east London once more as a new brewery nears completion, writes Roger Protz.

Um Bongo gets a bit of Heston Blumenthal’s magic

13-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

The company behind 1980s kid’s favourite, Um Bongo, is preparing to revive the juice drink following its starring role in Heston Blumenthal’s Channel 4 show, Heston’s Fantastical Food, on Tuesday night (11 December).

Frobishers helps out at comedy awards

13-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

Top comedians, including Sarah Millican and Steve Coogan, are set for a fruity time at this year’s British Comedy Awards.

CAMRA beer duty rally: MPs and speakers give their views on the beer duty escalator

12-Dec-2012 By The PMA Team

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) mass lobby saw a range of speakers rally against the beer duty escalator.

CAMRA beer duty rally: Escalator is "crippling the industry" says MP Andrew Griffiths

12-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The rally to scrap the beer duty escalator has kicked off with pro-pubs MP Andrew Griffiths saying that the measure is “crippling the industry”.

Mulholland calls for beer duty escalator update during Treasury questions

12-Dec-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, Greg Mulholland MP asked Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Sajid Javid, for an update on his consideration of the future of the beer duty escalator.

CAMRA stats show regular pub visitors down 3 million since beer duty escalator introduced

12-Dec-2012 By Adam Pescod

The number of regular pub goers in the UK has declined by 3 million people since the beer duty escalator was introduced in 2008, according to new figures from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA).

Carling to invest £5m in new font rollout

12-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

A new Carling font is being rolled out over the next two years, at a cost of £5m to brewer Molson Coors.

Anti-tie brigade could learn a thing or two from beer duty campaign

12-Dec-2012 By Pete Brown

When I worked in advertising, my life was full of smug aphorisms and parables. Creative directors especially loved to throw out comments that seemed unarguable, and then sit back like some coke-fuelled Buddha and watch you squirm.

Beer with Welsh whisky wins Brains Brewery challenge

11-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

An ale infused with Welsh whisky has won the Brains' “Ultimate Collaboration Beer Challenge.”

The Big Interview: Steve Magnall, Thwaites

11-Dec-2012 By Michelle Perrett

When Steve Magnall jumped ship from FTSE-250 company Greene King to north-west brewer Thwaites, it was not such a great shock.

Captain Morgan sales hit 10 million case landmark

11-Dec-2012 By Mike Berry

Rum brand Captain Morgan has become only the sixth premium spirit ever to sell 10 million cases in one year.

Pernod Ricard launches campaign against drink driving

10-Dec-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Drinks firm Pernod Ricard UK is once again warning consumers of the dangers of drink-driving in the run-up to Christmas.

Festive beer brings festive cheer to pubs

10-Dec-2012 By Robyn Black

Brewers have excelled themselves again this Christmas, with a plethora of festive brews on offer. From the 6% ABV Winter Wallop to a brew designed to commemorate the predicted end of the world on 21 December, below you can find just a few of the PMA’s...