Food & Drink

CAMRA relaunches ‘Real Ale in a Bottle’ scheme

07-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has relaunched its ‘Real Ale in a Bottle’ accreditation scheme, with a new name and new look.

The Cocktail Club Cardiff opening in May

07-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the owner of The Cocktail Club, the Adventure Bar Group and the Barrio Familia group of bars, is set to open a The Cocktail Club site in Cardiff in early May.

Whisky sales decrease by 43.5% compared with 2019

07-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Total sales of Whisky were down 43.5% in January 2022 when compared with the same period in 2019, data from CGA has revealed.

Albert’s Schloss announces Liverpool opening

07-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Albert’s Schloss – the bar, restaurant and live entertainment brand operated by Mission Mars – is set to open a site in Liverpool as part of a £3m investment.

Has the gin bubble burst?

04-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

After what has seemed like a never-ending boom, it looks like the rapacious consumer demand for gin appears to be tailing off.

People's Captain announces new partnership with Punch

04-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Craft beer maker People’s Captain has announced a nationwide partnership with pub operator Punch Pubs & Co.

Diageo and Unilever hit back at removal from Prompt Payment Code

03-Mar-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Diageo Scotland, Diageo Global Supply IBC, Diageo Northern Ireland, Diageo Great Britain and Unilever UK have been formally removed from the Government’s Prompt Payment Code (PPC) after “failing to honour their commitments”.

Fundraising bids launched by distillery and low-alcohol beer business

03-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Lakes Distillery has launched a fundraising drive seeking £1.25m while Small Beer Brew Co wants to raise £300,000.

Gin sales decrease by more than a third

03-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Total sales of gin have decreased by 38.5% when compared with the same period in 2019, according to data collected by CGA.

New products round-up

Celeb chef teams up with craft brewery, ciders from Brothers and Cider is Wine

03-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

This week’s huge round-up of new products includes Sikh chef Tony Singh launching a range of beer roars with Fierce Brewing plus a number of beers, ciders, spirits and mixers.

Brothers Cider announces Cherry Bakewell variant

03-Mar-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Somerset based cider plant, Brothers Cider, has announced the launch of its latest flavour, Cherry Bakewell.

The Lock In Podcast

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

03-Mar-2022 By Ed Bedington

When it comes to beer and spirits, pubs are ahead of the curve, but why do they let the side down on wine so often?

Venues ditch Russian drinks in support for Ukraine

02-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Operators across the UK have banned Russian-made products in a bid to show support for Ukraine, as Russian forces continue a devastating attack on the country.

Are people drinking differently when out and about now?

01-Mar-2022 By Pritesh Mody, World of Zing Cocktails

Perhaps more recognisable as the cocktails mixologist on Channel 4 TV show Sunday Brunch, World of Zing Cocktails founder Pritesh Mody gives his thoughts on how cocktails are faring in the on-trade and offers his advice on what to expect and what you...

Gin producer smashes fundraising target

01-Mar-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Ethical gin producer One Gin has smashed its fundraising target as it seeks to expand its sales team to reach more on-trade business, develop a vodka and non-alcoholic spirit, ramp up marketing and launch a new sustainable bottle while helping to fund...

Britvic to launch Pink Raspberry Tonic to on-trade only this month

28-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Soft drinks brand Britvic is launching Pink Raspberry Tonic to its on-trade line-up this month to complement its Elderflower variant, which was released in spring 2021.

In association with Britvic

Serve of the month – the Shamrock Highball

28-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

This cocktail from Britvic is simple yet elegant. It uses orchard fruits and the addition of honey adds sweetness to a boisterous Irish whiskey. Serve it in your venue.

London Fields Brewery brought to market

28-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

A property consultancy has been instructed to launch Hackney-based site London Fields Brewery to the market.

Black Sheep Brewery campaign to entice younger people into cask ale

25-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Black Sheep Brewery has launched a campaign to encourage younger drinkers to enjoy cask ale as the category goes through a difficult period.

Energy drinks category sees 42% growth in value

24-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The energy drinks category has grown at a much faster rate than the wider soft drinks market in the past two years, according to the latest CGA On Premise Measurement data.

New products round-up

Wales rugby stars kick-off spirit launch, Hendrick’s boasts botanicals in new gin

24-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The latest new products have a strong bias towards being lower in alcohol or in calories. First up is a low-alcohol spirit from four former Wales rugby union stars while Beavertown and SkinnyBrands launch drinks with fewer calories.

Cost of a pint could be more than £10 by the end of the decade

22-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

An average a pint could cost more than £10 by the end of the decade, new research from marketing analysists Admirals has revealed.

Property round-up

Beartown breaks ground on brewery, first Bounce site in seven years

22-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The latest property news includes Beartown Brewery’s investment plans, a new Bounce site from State of Play, a pub purchase by Greene King, BrewDog to open in Cheltenham, Star Pubs & Bars to double managed estate in Scotland, Inn Collection Group's...

Sustainability in cocktail bars 'very important for the world right now'

22-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The key to sustainability in cocktail bars lies within using local resources, reusable items, and creative solutions to combat waste, according to sustainable cocktail bars across the sector.

Beer cost rise to have 'significant negative effect' on 'battered sector'

18-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Rising beer costs will have a “significant negative effect on pubs” as Heineken UK has “created the precedent” for increases while the sector faces “record levels of debt”, according to a number of voices across the sector.

Tequila sales increase by 106%

18-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Sales of Tequila in the on-trade have increased by 106% in the past year with total value sales for the year rising from £68.12m to £140.6m, according to CGA data.

New products round-up

Trio of beers from Wild Card, Allsopp’s launches two classics

17-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

In the latest new product launches we have a trio of beers from Wild Card Brewery, two new beers from an almost forgotten historic brewer in Allsopp’s, Scottish brewer Cold Town Beer backs it national rugby team with a limited-edition ale, Indian spirit...

Heineken UK announces price increase

17-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Heineken UK has announced an increase in its prices as the company expects to be “significantly impacted by inflation and supply chain pressures” this year, according to the companies 2021 full year results report.

BrewDog to launch new site in Cheltenham

17-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Scottish craft brewer and operator BrewDog has announced plans to open a new bar in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Jameson launches new campaign with comedian Aisling Bea

15-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Jameson Irish Whiskey has today (15th February 2022) launched its new international brand campaign, ‘Widen the Circle’.

BrewDog’s Watt lodging official complaint about BBC documentary

14-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog co-founder James Watt is set to launch an official complaint with the BBC and regulator Ofcom for “dozens of inaccuracies and false claims” aired in a documentary about the business.

Pubs advised keeping cocktails simple is key

14-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The rise in consumers’ desire for cocktails “will go on for quite some time” but the industry needs to take the art of cocktail making “very seriously”, according to some of the top cocktail bars across the country.

Vote now: Have you seen an increase in spirits sales?

14-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

In the week to Saturday 5 February, average drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants were 3% below the same period in 2020, however, sales of spirits have continued to soar, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.

'Price rises are only going to widen the gap between the on and off-trade'

14-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Lincoln Green Brewing's founder Anthony Hughes to talk beer, recycling, unsustainable price rises and what challenges the next few months hold for brewers and pub operators across the UK.

Beer sales plummeted by 1.4bn pints in 2021

11-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs lost £5.7bn of revenue from beer sales in 2021, equivalent to 1.4bn pints, new data from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has revealed.

Theakston brings back a favourite, North Brewing’s new two

10-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Theakston is bringing its XB beer back to its core range after a two-year absence, North Brewing Co has released two new brews and Macnair’s unveils a 10-year-old blended whisky.

Beavertown to reopen taproom after revamp

10-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

North London-based brewer and pub operator Beavertown Brewery is set to reopen its Tottenham Taproom on Saturday (12 February) after a huge renovation that includes an upstairs area that overlooks the workspace.

CAMRA announce special edition beer box for International Women’s Day

07-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced a new special edition beer box and accompanying brewer-led virtual tasting event set to feature five of the nation’s top female brewers to celebrate International Women’s Day (Tuesday 8 March 2022).

Drinks sales drop in single figures for first time since pre-Xmas

04-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales in Britain’s managed pubs, bars and restaurants saw a drop in sales of 8% in the week to Saturday 29 January compared to the same period in 2020, the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker has revealed.

New products round-up

Beer releases for Six Nations kick off latest product launches

03-Feb-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Six Nations rugby union tournament starts this weekend and there are beer launches to coincide with it among the new product releases.

Top 50 Cocktail Bars

Lab 22 named UK’s number one cocktail bar

02-Feb-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Cardiff-based Lab 22 was awarded named the best cocktail bar in the UK on this year’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list.

We are behind the curve and missing out when it comes to low and no

02-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

Our trade has often prided itself as being ahead of the curve when it comes to drinks trends and innovation - it’s often said brands and new drinks are created and built in the on-trade.

The Lock In Podcast

The low and no revolution

02-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team take a trip to an innovative alcohol-free off licence and realise the trade needs to stop saying no to low and no. We hear from special guests including Laura Willoughby of Club Soda, James Kindred of award winning brewers Big Drop Brewing...

Cost of wine could rise by an average of 38p per bottle

01-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s proposed changes to alcohol duty could see the cost of a bottle of wine rise by an average of 38p, according to Wine Drinkers UK.

SIBA Business Awards 2022 entry deadline extended

01-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The entry deadline for the SIBA Business Awards 2022 has been extended to Sunday 13 February to ensure a wide variety of businesses from across the beer, brewing, hospitality and retail sectors are able to enter.

Small brewers barred from Gov’s plan to help pubs

31-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor’s plan to help pubs through a new way of taxing alcohol will exclude small brewers and cider producers, new research from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has revealed.

Diageo to pump £73m into new Guinness microbrewery

31-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Drinks firm Diageo has announced plans to invest more than £70m into a new microbrewery and culture hub in Covent Garden, central London.

Top 50 Cocktail Bars set to be revealed

28-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The best cocktail bars in the business are due to be revealed as The Morning Advertiser prepares for the announcement of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list for 2022.

New products round-up

3 in 1 font from Thatchers, Krombacher Pils cans hit on-trade

28-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Claimed to be a first for the cider industry, Thatchers has launched its 3 in 1 font for serving fruit ciders. Also in the world of new products, Krombacher has rolled out its Pils cans to the on-trade, Black Sheep releases details on its seasonal cask...