Food & Drink

‘No one noticed’ changes made after soft drink levy

08-Jul-2019 By Emily Hawkins

The levy on sugary soft drinks hit the headlines after comments from the Tory leadership contenders – what does the drinks industry think should happen?

You can now upload a selfie onto your beer

08-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

Drinks giant Diageo has announced an innovation that lets drinkers upload their selfies onto the foam atop their beer.

£2.1m investment to relaunch London Fields Brewery

05-Jul-2019 By Gary Lloyd

Hackney-based London Fields Brewery’s iconic home is geared up for reopening next month (9 August) and leading from the front will be a new Kaspar Schulz brewkit that will allow the business to make experimental beers.

Mermaid Gin debuts pink variant

05-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

Just three months after the successful relaunch of Mermaid Gin, Isle of Wight Distillery has introduced its first ever pink gin.

The great debate over free tap water at pubs

04-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

In recent months, there has been a huge debate around whether tap water should be free for customers in pubs and bars.

Calls for Prime Minister contenders to rule out SBR reductions

04-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has written to Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to ask them to rule out reductions in Small Breweries’ Relief (SBR).

Little interview

Martyn Cozens: beer is our passion

03-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

With more than 350 years of brewing heritage, combined with a lasting connection to drinkers and a healthy dose of modern business is what makes, according to Molson Coors, a leading global brewer.

Sharp’s launches limited-edition IPA

03-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

Sharp’s Brewery is releasing a new India Pale Ale to its limited-edition cask series.

Irn Bru maker pumps £1m into non-alcoholic spirits

03-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

A seven-figure investment from AG Barr will help Stryyk non-alcoholic spirits rapidly expand its on-trade presence, according to the 0%-ABV drink maker’s chief executive.

Beer named after Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas

02-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

Olympic gold medallist and last summer’s Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas has had a new beer named after him.

Premium soft drinks market worth more than half-a-billion pounds

02-Jul-2019 By Stuart Stone

In its first report on premium soft drinks and mixers, Fentimans has revealed the category has grown by 33.1% year on year and is now worth a huge £517m.

On-trade beer volume drops by a third

01-Jul-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The total volume of beer consumed in the on-trade has fallen by 36% (11,867,182hl) since January 2007, new research has revealed.

Krombacher brings ‘world-renowned’ alcohol-free beer to the UK

01-Jul-2019 By Robert Mann

With the demand for low and no-alcohol beers on the rise in the UK, German premium beer brand Krombacher is launching its flagship no-alcohol Pilsner across the on-trade.

London pub backs Lionesses with special beer

01-Jul-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A London-based brewing operation is putting its support behind the England women’s football team with a unique beer.

Ed Sheeran hits Ale Trail

28-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pop star Ed Sheeran has completed the Brakspear Henley Ale Trail, which included stopping for a pint at the Saracen’s Head pub in the riverside town.

BrewDog breaks into world’s 25 most valuable beer brands

28-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

Scottish craft brewer and pub operator BrewDog has been ranked among the world’s 25 most valuable beer brands by Brand Finance for the first time.

Little interview

Sandro Bottega: Prosecco is the greatest wine in the world

26-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Present in more than 130 countries worldwide with its own wines and spirits, Bottega Spa stands out for its production of Prosecco and well-known sparkling wines.

Shot of whisky, anyone? That’ll be £1,000

26-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

A bar is selling a whisky so rare it costs almost £1,000 for a single measure.

Strongbow ditches artificial sweeteners, flavours and colours

26-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Heineken-owned cider brand Strongbow has relaunched its range so it is now made without artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours.

What makes a perfect serve?

25-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Getting your range of drinks is, of course, crucial but making sure you serve them correctly and with elegance will help maintain and even grow custom.

Spotlight

Is cannabis-infused food and drink a thing of the future?

24-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

With attitudes towards cannabis softening in some parts of the world in recent years, there are many new ideas about how to use the plant – including adding it to drinks.

Bedlam Brewery to crowdfund £800k for expansion

24-Jun-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Bedlam Brewery hopes to raise up to £800,000 through crowdfunding so it can expand its operations across the country and open a taproom in Brighton.

Jon Bon Jovi launches super-premium rosé in the UK

24-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

American singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi has launched a rosé wine in the UK – which will be available to the on-trade.

Big interview

Curious Brewery is as disruptive as anyone

24-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

The difference between punk idealists BrewDog and Chapel Down’s Curious Brewery is not quite as vast as one might believe. Gareth Bath explains what’s happening with his new calling

Opinion

Can Marston’s ‘cathedral of brewing’ be described as craft?

24-Jun-2019 By Pete Brown

The definition of craft beer is difficult to say the least so can an archaic, yet beautiful, brewing practice make one?

Brancott Estate low-calorie wine is relaunched

24-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Pernod Ricard has entered the lower-alcohol wine UK market – four years after its Brancott Estate wines were last available.

Sponsored by Fentimans

The rise and rise of the spritz

24-Jun-2019 By Adam Bloodworth

The spritz drink is right on-trend and something consumers already love but there’s more to it than the familiar Aperol Spritz and operators now have a glut of recipes and inspiration to draw on should they want to create memorable beverages this summer

Bermondsey Beer Mile could end up ‘like a poorly run high street’

24-Jun-2019 By Emily Hawkins

The founder of a brewery situated on the Bermondsey Beer Mile has shared his concerns that rising rents and new management of businesses under railway arches could ‘end up going the same way’ as a neglected high street.

Hackney pub offering free beer for NHS birthday

21-Jun-2019 By Emily Hawkins

NHS workers will be able to order a free pint at one London tavern next month when the service marks its 71st year.

New BrewDog site is first to feature on-site beer school

20-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

Independent Scottish craft brewer and pub operator BrewDog will open its second UK brewpub, this time in Manchester, on 21 June.

Pubs losing thousands from throwing away 40m pints of beer a year

20-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 40m pints of beer are discarded before they are served, costing pubs thousands of pounds over the course of a year, according to new research.

Heineken to add calorie labelling to cider brands

19-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Drinks giant Heineken will be adding calorie and nutritional information labelling to its cider packaging.

‘Vast majority of drinkers buy brands over beer’

19-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

Watneys Beer director Nick Whitehurst explains that while drink producers need to care ‘deeply and passionately’ about their product, consumers increasingly prioritise tried, tested and recognisable brands.

Kellogg's cereal beer set to launch across the on-trade

18-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Cereal giant Kellogg’s has announced that its beer, which is made from waste cereal, will be rolled out across pubs and bars throughout the UK.

Magners Irish Cider introduces Magners Rosé to the UK on-trade

18-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Magners Irish Cider has introduced Magners Rosé – available to the on-trade in July.

Tired of queuing at the bar? This pub is way ahead of the game

18-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

A savvy pub has opened a special beer lane to quench the thirst of its punters without having to queue at the bar.

CAMRA extends ale discount voucher beyond JDW

18-Jun-2019 By Emily Hawkins

CAMRA is extending its voucher system, which offers its members discounts on real ale, to more than 600 additional pubs this summer.

Strongbow dual tap rolled out across the on-trade

18-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Strongbow is rolling out its new dual font to pubs and bars nationwide – claiming it could boost cider sales by 44%.

Prosecco bubble hasn’t burst yet, says Bottega boss

17-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

The founder of Prosecco producer Bottega has bitten back at claims that the UK has reached ‘peak Prosecco’ and shared his thoughts on why quality is of the utmost importance to the category.

Sales rise for nation’s favourite cocktail – the Pornstar Martini

17-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pornstar Martini is still Britain’s favourite cocktail with sales of the drink rising by 2% over the past 12 months, new research has revealed.

SIBA appoints new chief executive

14-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has appointed a new chief executive James Calder, replacing Mike Benner who is leaving to head up the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Priciest beer regions revealed

14-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Ahead of Beer Day Britain tomorrow (15 June), personal finance experts have polled the UK to find out how much people would expect to pay for a pint of lager or craft beer.

Whisky set to grow to £2.44bn in next 3 years

13-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Whisky will return to growth and will be worth £2.44bn by 2022 (up from £2.31bn in 2018), new research has predicted.

Dark Star MD leaves brewery?

13-Jun-2019 By Ed Bedington

Confusion surrounds the disappearance of the Dark Star brewery managing director (MD) James Cuthbertson who appears to have left the role.

More than a quarter of dinners out are at pubs

13-Jun-2019 By Stuart Stone

While an overall slide means pubs are becoming a slightly less popular option for an evening meal, they have increased their market share at breakfast according to findings from foodservice and hospitality research agency MCA Insight.

Strike vote threatens northern beer deliveries

13-Jun-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Drivers who deliver beer to pub chains in the north and the Midlands have voted in favour of strike action, which could threaten stock levels in some pubs.

Southern Comfort crowns best mixologists

12-Jun-2019 By Robert Mann

Two triumphant bartenders were cheered to victory last night – becoming winners of Southern Comfort’s Southern Showdown cocktail competition.

William Grant & Sons hope to ‘break mould’ of G&T

11-Jun-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish spirits giant William Grant & Sons hopes a new marketing push will see its fruit-flavoured gin reach pubgoers who have traditionally avoided the juniper drink.

JDW stocks Kopparberg on draught

11-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is now serving Kopparberg on draught at more than three quarters of its pubs, with plans to make it estate-wide next month (July).

Stella Artois launches beer accreditation scheme

11-Jun-2019 By Nikkie Thatcher

Budweiser Brewing Group-owned Stella Artois has unveiled a new accreditation programme in partnership with Beer Marque, in a bid to increase beer quality and premium experience.