Food & Drink

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

Hugo Boss battle ‘a great source of empowerment and determination’

28-Dec-2020 By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

While 2020 has been punctuated by restrictions, setbacks, tragedy and loss according to Boss Brewery director Sarah John, there have also been positive moments she will look back on fondly.

39 million fewer pints to be sold in pubs this Christmas

23-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

This Christmas is set to be the quietest on record for pubs with 39m fewer pints and 5m fewer Christmas dinners to be served amid the coronavirus restrictions across the nation.

£2.6bn pub sales nosedive predicted during December

21-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

New data from pay-at-table app OrderPay has revealed that potential sales of at least £2.6bn will be lost during December under the latest raft of Government-mandated trading restrictions and business closures.

New product round-up

Sir Geoff Hurst launch to support Alzheimer and dementia charities, Boss Brewing ‘protest beer’

18-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The final new product round-up before Christmas 2020 includes a protest pour from Boss Brewing, a gin launch from TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst unveiling a limited-edition gin and whisky collection.

December beer sales set to be 90% lower than ‘normal’

14-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Beer sales in pubs are expected to be 90% lower than ‘normal’ this month – a drop of 270m pints, one trade association has estimated.

Sponsored by Diageo

How to install draught cocktails

11-Dec-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

The growth of draught cocktail technology means pubs with little time or bar space to make cocktails can now easily tap into this profitable category.

New product round-up

Beavertown revives Tempus Project, Kingstone Press low alcohol cider, Fever-Tree creates new mixer

11-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A wave of product launches includes new creations from Beavertown, Aluna Coconut, Signature Brew and Fever-Tree.

Pub sales plummet 84% on first post-lockdown weekend

10-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) survey suggests that more than half of operators expect to close pubs that re-opened after England’s second national lockdown if trade doesn’t improve in the coming weeks.

New product round-up

Coca-Cola launches into Europe alcohol market, new spirits celebrate Birmingham, Salty Tiers released

04-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Amid a wave of new spirit launches, the Coca-Cola Company has announced that Topo Chico Hard Seltzer has reached the UK.

Has Covid-19 shaken up low and no alcohol pub drinks?

03-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The coronavirus pandemic not only failed to burst the low and no bubble but helped reinforce the category’s importance in the embattled on-trade.

lockdown live

Pubs hit by tier four closures in 'longest winter in living memory'

02-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

As pubs adapt to new coronavirus measures, The Morning Advertiser will bring you the latest updates and reaction on this live blog.

Tier 2 ‘not fair on customers or owners’ of wet-led pubs

01-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

One tier two operator has described his disappointment over being unable to reopen his "proper locals' pub" after lockdown.

The Drinks List

Camden Hells pips Punk IPA as craft best seller amid £100m category hit

30-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

The overall value of the ten best-selling craft beers in the UK on-trade plummeted by £105.8m in the past 12 months – with 130,742 hectolitres, or around 23m pints, fewer poured.

New product round-up

Captain Sir Tom Moore charity gin, new Gemma Collins liqueur ‘worthy of any diva’, World Cup winner unveils ale

27-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

In addition to more festive and low-alcohol pours, Captain Sir Tom Moore, Gemma Collins and Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson MBE have announced new drinks launches.

The Drinks List

The Drinks List – Top Brands to Stock in 2021

27-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Despite being closed for four months, facing strict curfews, tier systems and enduring a second national lockdown, drinks sales in the on-trade were strong when the sector was open.

New product round-up

Christmas spirits: 'world first' vodka, non-alcoholic rum alternative and 'Sea & T' RTDs unveiled

20-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

A wave of new spirit news including updates from botanical rum distillery the Spirited Union, the Cotswolds Distillery, Nordic beverage brand Altia and alcohol-free spirit maker Caleño has landed in the past week.

Former pubco pair pump funds into revamped Hofmeister

17-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Two pub industry veterans have invested in revived beer brand Hofmeister, which they believe is in line to be one of the UK’s most popular pours in the next five years.

BrewDog secures £25m CBILS boost

16-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has secured a £25m financial spur through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) in a bid to endure the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Countdown to Brexit

Post-Brexit supply chains: ‘We don’t know what we’re preparing for’

16-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

As Britain edges towards the end of an 11-month Brexit transition period, drinks makers and pub sector stakeholders remain hopeful the lack of clarity over supply chains will be addressed in the coming weeks.

Brewers call for more support ahead of return to tiers 'disaster'

13-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Brewers have called tier three measures a “real disaster” and called for more evidence to justify the tough rules imposed on pubs.

New product round-up

Royal British Legion gin, Apprentice mainstay rebuke and Christmas spirits pour in

13-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

The latest new product round-up is awash with a flood of festive launches and new spirit launches including a Royal British Legion tribute and a bitter lemon dig at an Apprentice stalwart.

Average pint of cider price up to £3.88

12-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The average cost a pint of cider in the on-trade has risen 6p year on year to £3.88, new research has found.

More low and no options in Parliament pubs would keep MPs on their ‘A game’

11-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Mindful drinking movement Club Soda and a number of low and no-alcohol drink makers have written to the House of Commons’ speaker to encourage the Westminster estate's bars to stock more alcohol-free drinks after he called time on Parliamentary pints.

Christmas stocking: which drinks should make pub and bar operator lists this year?

10-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Though drink sales in pubs traditionally snowball over Christmas, the ongoing pandemic means that, more than ever, strong seasonal returns will be far from gift wrapped when venues reopen.

Sponsored by Heineken

How much could upskilling bar staff during lockdown boost pub profits?

10-Nov-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

While skipping keg day and ignoring pour form can leave profits languishing in drip trays, a renewed focus on staff training while venues are closed can help publicans boost their bottom line at a time when it matters most.

Post-lockdown profits hidden in cocktails

09-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

It was the rising star of the on-trade outside of specialist bars, yet cocktails in pubs understandably took a bashing during and after the first coronavirus lockdown. But forget the category at your peril, because the money generated by cocktails prior...

New product round-up

‘World’s strongest gin’, Jurassic Park actor’s whiskey collaboration, brewer creates Burnham beer

06-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

A pair of scientists launch what they claim is the world's strongest gin, Salford-based Seven Bro7hers brews Andy Burnham tribute and Samuel Gelston’s launches its latest Irish whiskey matured in Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir casks.

Pubs slashing ale pint prices to less than £1

03-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and Stonegate Pub Company have cut prices of real ale to under £1 in a bid to throw as little beer away as possible during the second lockdown.

New product round-up

Gin-spiration: Charity 10pm curfew spirit launch, ‘bottle for life’ roll-out, new pour to fund arctic row

30-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

A raft recent spirit launches includes new pours from Salcombe Distilling Company and Laphroaig, as well as charity focused Sis4ers Distillery and Northwest Passage Expedition gins.

AB InBev sees volume sales rise

29-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Global beer brand AB InBev saw total volume sales increase by 1.9% in the third quarter of this year, with own beer volumes up by 2.6%.

BrewDog smashes £7.5m crowdfunding target in 6 weeks

28-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog has hit its initial crowdfunding target of £7.5m for its Equity for Punks Tomorrow scheme, which launched in September.

Small brewers pay 50x more in rates than global beer firms

28-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Independent small brewers can be paying as much as fifty times more per pint in business rates compared to international beer brands, new research has found.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Bad wine experiences, blind tasting and tier 2

28-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

In this week's episode of The MA's Lock In podcast, Ed Bedington, James Cuthbertson and Heath Ball talk bad experiences drinking wine, tier two and Ball is treated to a blind wine tasting, but will he guess them right? Tune in to the latest...

Rum crowned ‘the drink of lockdown’

27-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

New figures from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) have revealed rum enjoyed the biggest growth across all spirits categories during lockdown.

Diageo buys Chase distillery

26-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits giant Diageo has acquired family-owned Chase Distillery and its portfolio of brands for an undisclosed sum.

New product round-up

Dame Vera Lynn tribute ale, alcohol-free Guinness, Untappd birthday brew and LGBTQ charity collaboration

23-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

New brews from the likes of Guinness, Bedlam, Greene King and Beavertown comprise a beer-heavy new product round-up this week.

Guinness launches no-alcohol Guinness 0.0

22-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

The brewers at Guinness’ St James’s Gate home in Dublin have today (22 October) unveiled new no-alcohol, low calorie, serve Guinness 0.0.

New product round-up

Coors Light rebrand, new gin to raise funds for hospitality sector, Madrí Excepcional UK launch

16-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Amid a swathe of spirit launches, Molson Coors Beverage Company announced the rebrand of Coors Light and UK launch of Madrí Excepcional, while a new not-for-profit gin brand launched to raise funds for the UK's embattled hospitality sector.

Sponsored content

Lowdown: Top low and no alcohol drinks on the market

14-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

The low and no category is one that has seen increased interest from consumers and rapid expansion from manufacturers in recent months, and with the ongoing political scene, it’s likely to see a further boost.

CMA clears £780m Marston’s and Carlsberg joint venture

09-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Competition and Markets Authority has approved the proposed joint venture between Marston’s and Carlsberg’s brewing operations.

New product round-up

Wave of new spirit expressions launch, Barbados Sea Turtle Project partner rum to hit UK

09-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Intercontinental Brands has added a spiced rum pledging 10% of its profits to the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to its brand portfolio, while new spirit releases from the likes of The Moore House Cocktail Company, JJ Whitley Vodka, Jatt Life also landed....

Pubs missing out on more than £47m of beer sales due to curfew

02-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs across the nation could stand lose £47,532,015 for each week they are subject to the 10pm curfew, research has uncovered.

New product round-up

Iron Maiden, 99 Luftballons and Netflix star drink launches revealed

02-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden has released its latest Day of the Dead pour in tandem with Robinsons Brewery, while Signature Brewery has created an Oktoberfest serve named after an iconic German language single.

New product round-up

Shipyard, Grolsch, Thatchers draft on-trade launches

25-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Shipyard, Grolsch and Thatchers have lined up new brews to help them tap into the on-trade while new sparkling mead, banana rum and English vermouth launches have also hit the market.

Grolsch makes UK return

21-Sep-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Grolsch will return to the UK on-trade after its 35-year presence here ended last November.

New product round-up

BrewDog launches ‘world’s strongest beer’, new craft brewer launches fungi-based range

18-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog has created a new 57.8% pour, South Devon-based Salcombe Distilling Co has teamed up with two-Michelin starred chef Niall Keating, and a new brewer has created a range of craft beers using adaptogenic mushrooms.

BrewDog kicks off final Equity for Punks crowdfund to boost sustainability drive

15-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Scottish craft brewer and bar operator BrewDog has launched the last round of its record-breaking crowdfunding programme in a bid to bankroll new sustainability initiatives to the tune of £7.5m.

BrewDog posts £8.1m losses due to pandemic

14-Sep-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

BrewDog made a net loss of £8,151,071 in the six months to 30 June 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

New Product Round-up

BrewDog teams up with Ricky Gervais, Crown & Hops launches craft beer equality scheme

11-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

The latest new product round-up features drinks makers taking on the issues of racial equality and homeless dogs in addition to low and no brew news from Big Drop and Square Root.

New product round-up

New brews from Adnams, Beavertown, Fourpure and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall revealed

04-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Kopparberg, Jura and Westons have all provided new product news in the past week while new brews from the likes of Adnams, Beavertown, Fourpure and television chef and environmental campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have also been confirmed