Food & Drink

The Sun joins beer duty escalator campaign as more than 3,000 people call for MPs to attend debate

31-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett and Gurjit Degun

The Sun has backed industry calls to scrap the beer duty escalator and more than 3,000 people have contacted their local MP asking them to attend the Government debate being held tomorrow over the issue.

Raise a glass to legendary pub licensee Ian Rigg

31-Oct-2012 By Pete Brown

Ian Rigg, formerly of the Taps in Lytham, is one of the most respected figures in the pub trade I could never run a perfect pub. I know that, and it sometimes gives me pause when I find myself trying to tell other people how to do it. I don’t have the...

Wine & Spirit Education Trust names first female chair

30-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced that Laura Jewell will take over as chair from 10 December.

Laverstoke Park Farm’s Ale and Lager breaks responsible alcohol marketing rules

29-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

A Hampshire brewer has breached alcohol responsibility rules for using a drawing with particular appeal to young children to market its alcoholic drinks.

The Big Interview: Benet Slay, Carlsberg UK

29-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Carlsberg UK chief executive Benet Slay talks to Robyn Black about snacks, cider and strategy, in his first interview since joining the brewer in March.

New beers from Shepherd Neame

26-Oct-2012 By Jessica Harvey

Shepherd Neame has launched two new beers which were brought back to life from 19th century brewer’s logs.

BBFB pumps £1.5m into Grey Goose

26-Oct-2012

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands (BBFB) is ploughing £1.5m into a campaign for premium vodka Grey Goose.

Licensees urged to get their local MPs to attend the beer tax debate

25-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Licensees are being urged to get their local MPs to attend a debate over the beer duty escalator in Parliament next Thursday.

Monster Energy denies responsibility for death of 14-year-old US girl

24-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

The maker of energy drink Monster Energy is being sued by the family of a teenage girl who drank two cans before she died last December.

WKD rolls out cocktail kettles to add the "wow factor" in pubs and bars

24-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Tens of thousands of WKD ‘cocktail kettles’ are being rolled out across the on-trade, as brand owner SHS Group looks to capitalise on the growth in the cocktail market.

Batemans tackles the challenges head on

24-Oct-2012

What would you do if you’re a family brewer in a largely rural area with a large seaside resort a few miles away that few people go to and the local population is made up of mainly poorly-paid farm workers? Reach for the suicide pill?

Brewers could close after Waverley TBS administration

24-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

A couple of small breweries could close down as a result of the collapse of drinks supplier Waverley TBS — that’s the stark reality from Buster Grant, owner of Brecon Brewing in Wales.

Beer duty escalator to be debated by MPs on 1 November

23-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

MPs will debate the future of the beer duty escalator in a three hour debate in the House of Commons on 1 November.

The Big Interview: John Holberry, Growler Brewery

23-Oct-2012 By Phil Mellows

Remember the autovac? Those were the days, John Holberry remembers. He started his drinking career on Tetley’s Bitter when it was served via an autovac — a dispense system for recirculating waste beer from the drip tray that was later, understandably...

Brewmeister Brewery bullish over 65% ABV Armageddon beer

22-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

A Scottish brewer who has launched the world’s strongest beer, at 65% ABV, denies he is being irresponsible or that he is trying to compete with BrewDog.

Illicit beer sales are on the increase, claims HMRC estimates

22-Oct-2012

The loss of revenue to the UK Exchequer due to illicit beer sales increased c10% in the past year, according to the latest estimates from HM Revenue & Customs.

MPs to meet Backbench Business Committee to push for beer duty escalator debate

22-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

MPs Andrew Griffiths and Greg Mulholland are set to meet the Backbench Business Committee tommorrow to present the case for a debate to discuss ending the beer duty escalator.

Video: Scientists reveal the formula for enjoying the perfect pint

19-Oct-2012

Researchers claim to have come up with a formula for enjoying the perfect pint.

Pub food ideas: 7 ways with takeaways

18-Oct-2012 By Sheila McWattie

Sheila McWattie takes a look at some exciting and innovative routes to making takeaways part of your pub’s offer.

Castle Rock Brewery lures Starbucks customers with pub coffee deals

18-Oct-2012 By Mike Berry

Castle Rock Brewery is tempting disillusioned Starbucks customers with coffee deals in its pubs on the back of the tax scandal that has engulfed the US coffee giant.

Rekorderlig aims to grow via cocktails

18-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Swedish cider brand Rekorderlig is looking for a larger slice of the cider market by developing a range of simple cider cocktails.

Cask Report: Different beer factions should unite and celebrate growth of cask ale

17-Oct-2012 By Pete Brown

The latest edition of The Cask Report was launched two weeks ago. We had a great evening in the Parcel Yard — the stunning new Fuller’s pub in the rebuilt King’s Cross Station in London.

Pro-pub MPs to meet Treasury to call for scrapping of beer duty escalator

16-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Three high profile MPs are set to meet with Sajid Javid, Economic Secretary to the Treasury today (17 October) to call on the Government to scrap the beer duty escalator.

Cask Ale Week hailed a success after 8,000 pubs take part

16-Oct-2012

Cask Ale Week has been hailed a success after 8,000 pubs got on board with this year’s event.

SmartBeer real ale labelling system attracts more brewers

16-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

A number of brewers are signing up to a new real ale Point of Sale labelling system which is seen as a “free alternative” to Cyclops.

MP calls for ban on liquid nitrogen cocktails following Gaby Scanlon tragedy

15-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

An MP is calling on parliament to consider a ban on liquid nitrogen cocktails following the tragedy of Gaby Scanlon who had her stomach removed after drinking on her 18th birthday celebrations.

Reading the Cask Report will boost real ale sales at your pub

15-Oct-2012 By Mitch Adams

Cask Ale Week, the Cask Report and the latest Good Beer Guide launch has left me feeling very upbeat about the industry. Cask ale is at the heart of British brewing heritage and should be celebrated.

St Austell Brewery signs deal with CPL Training

15-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

St Austell Brewery has entered a partnership agreement with CPL Training to ensure its staff are trained to the highest standard.

Aspall launches Harry Sparrow, a new cider for pubs and bars

12-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Aspall has launched a new cider into the on-trade, to plug a gap in the market between mainstream and premium brands.

Aspall's targets record sales of Mulled Cyder this winter

11-Oct-2012

Aspall is predicting record sales for its Mulled Cyder this winter, which will be stocked in Fuller’s and Peach Pub Company outlets for the first time.

Hot Enough Vodka Company launches 'world's hottest' chilli vodka

10-Oct-2012

English chilli vodka specialist, the Hot Enough Vodka Company, has launched what it is claiming is the world’s hottest chilli vodka.

The Big Interview: Colin Wilde, Castle Rock

09-Oct-2012 By Mike Berry

This year has been a good one for Colin Wilde. In January he became managing director at Castle Rock, reaching the top of the firm he joined 18 years previously. Then in May his home-town team Manchester City won its first Premier League title.

St Austell Brewery launches Seven Stars scheme to let customers rate its beer

08-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

St Austell Brewery has launched a new initiative to guarantee that customers to all 170 of its pubs are 100% happy with their pint.

Shortlist announced for British Beer and Pub Association's first awards

08-Oct-2012 By Gurjit Degun

The shortlist for the British Beer and Pub Association’s (BBPA) first ever awards ceremony has been announced.

Stella Artois fans encouraged to drink responsibly in new campaign

08-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Brewer AB InBev is ploughing money into a responsible drinking campaign for its Stella Artois brand.

AB InBev UK sales hit by freetrade closure

08-Oct-2012

Stella Artois and Budweiser brewer AB InBev UK saw its turnover reduce by £196.7m in 2011 following the closure of its independent freetrade business and the stopping of distribution of third-party products.

Protz: Supermarket beer prices study reveals bombshell findings that threaten the pub trade

08-Oct-2012 By Roger Protz

This column is about supermarket beer prices and how they undermine the pub. Don’t yawn, say “I’ve heard that all before” and turn the page, because this is new information and it’s devastating stuff.

James Staughton of St Austell Brewery to become IFBB chairman

05-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Paul Wells is to step down as chairman of the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) and will be replaced by James Staughton of St Austell Brewery.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands in Jack Daniel's Xmas campaign for pubs

05-Oct-2012

Jack Daniel’s owner Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands is hoping to grab a bigger slice of the spirits market this Christmas with an on-trade campaign for the Tennessee whiskey.

BBPA chief calls for Labour to cut VAT on food and end the beer duty escalator

05-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

Cut VAT on food sales and end the beer duty escalator which is “killing our industry” – was the call from British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Brigid Simmonds to Labour politicians earlier this week.

Enterprise Inns permits tenants to buy wines and spirits ‘out of tie’ following WaverleyTBS administration

04-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Enterprise Inns is allowing its tenants to purchase wine and spirits outside of the tie after WaverleyTBS went into administration earlier this week.

Flavoured Red Bull to be launched for the first time

04-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Red Bull is rolling out cranberry, lime and blueberry versions of its energy drink, the first flavour extensions it has ever launched in the UK.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands invests in biggest campaign in five years for Southern Comfort

03-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

A new TV ad for Southern Comfort is set to hit screens in November, as part of the biggest investment in the brand for five years.

The Big Interview: Adrian Staley, Hook Norton

02-Oct-2012 By Phil Mellows

There’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. The Hook Norton Brewery nestles in a fold of the Cotswolds, a jewel of quintessential Englishness. No-one could have designed it better for a beer market thirsty for heritage...

Jim Beam Bourbon variant Devil's Cut unleashed to UK market

01-Oct-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

Maxxium has introduced a devilish new premium Jim Beam Bourbon variant to the UK.

Cask Report 2012: Cask ale volumes grow for first time in 20 years

28-Sep-2012 By John Harrington

Cask ale volumes grew in 2011 for the first time in 20 years, and the category has now overtaken keg as the most popular form of draught ale, according to the Cask Report 2012-13, published today.

A great licensee makes us forget that anyone is running the pub

28-Sep-2012 By Pete Brown

I am filing this column from the departure lounge of Toronto airport after helping to celebrate Toronto Beer Week (last night’s ten-course beer and food-matching dinner was a particularly memorable highlight), on my way to visit the celebrated ice cider...

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