Food & Drink

Drinkaware: ‘We are not the booze police’

15-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

It is a busy Friday night in the pub and the punters are out in force enjoying themselves as the drinks flow from behind the bar. Just as things start to get into the swing, a distressed customer storms into the bar and frantically screams: “Everybody...

Tim Page steps down as director of Drinkers' Voice

14-Nov-2017 By Stuart Stone

The chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Tim Page has stepped down from his role as a director of Drinkers' Voice but confirmed he's staying in place at CAMRA.

Supermarkets selling beer and cider for 75p a pint

14-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

An investigation by The Morning Advertiser has revealed supermarkets are selling lager and cider for as little as 75p a pint.

Soft drinks sales to boom during Christmas

14-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Almost half of consumers (45%) are set to buy more soft drinks over the Christmas period, research from Britvic has revealed.

Further pressure put on Chancellor to cut beer tax in Autumn Budget

14-Nov-2017 By Ed Bedington

Pressure is mounting on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to heed calls from the pub and brewing sector to reduce taxation on beer in the upcoming Budget.

Wild Beer Co unveils new can designs following brewery investment

14-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Somerset craft brewer Wild Beer Co has revealed a brand new line of can designs, following a £500,000 investment in a new canning line.

HonestBrew launches investment fund for independent breweries

14-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Online craft beer retailer HonestBrew has launched the HonestBrew Brewery Investment Fund to provide financial support for independent craft breweries.

Is draught beer in supermarkets another threat to the on-trade?

13-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Christmas shopping is often thirsty work and, for some, a crisp pint at the end of it is the only thing that makes the prospect bearable.

Diners would pay more for British food

13-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Half of UK diners would be willing to pay more for food with British provenance, new research from purchasing company Beacon has revealed.

MA reporter shortlisted for two Guild of Beer Writers awards

13-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

The Morning Advertiser (MA) food and drink reporter James Beeson has been shortlisted for two British Guild of Beer Writers awards and is among 30 journalists vying for a coveted accolade this year.

The Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock webinar launches

13-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Be the first to discover which drinks and trends are driving sales in the on-trade by tuning into The Morning Advertiser’s (MA) Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock free webinar this Thursday (16 November).

Beer line cleaning firm launches crowdfund campaign

10-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A beer line cleaning company that works with pubcos including Admiral Taverns and Theakston’s has launched a £250,000 crowdfunding campaign to boost its business.

Beer Academy relaunched as the Beer & Cider Academy

09-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

The Beer Academy has relaunched itself as the Beer & Cider Academy, with a fresh look, a new cider offering and a leading presenter.

Exciting new details revealed about Beer Merchants' taproom and blendery

09-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Cave Direct has unveiled more details about the Beer Merchants Tap – the new taproom, bottleshop and training centre it plans to open in Hackney Wick, east London.

Could this be the end of the banana split?

09-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The humble banana could disappear from pub menus as a disease that could have “devastating consequences” affects crop production.

How many chips make the perfect portion?

09-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

The issue of chip portion sizes made the headlines this week when Greene King was forced to apologise to a customer who received only six chips with her fish and chip meal.

London re-established as gin capital of the UK

09-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

London is now home to 24 gin distilleries - more than existed in the whole of the England in 2010 – according to new statistics revealed by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Northern Monk Brew Co: We can’t sustain our business making cask beer

08-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

The price point of cask beer is too low and is driving breweries into other forms of packaging, according to the director of one of the UK’s leading craft breweries.

Beer sales decline: Should the industry be worried?

08-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Freehouses, craft breweries and distributors have moved to allay fears the beer market is in terminal decline following news that sales have suffered one of the worst falls in five years.

Tis the season to be jolly: How pubs can make the most of the Christmas party period

07-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

While Bing Crosby dreamed of a White Christmas, operators need to do more than dream in order to get their festive wishes.

Hackney bar celebrates Living Wage Week with beer festival

07-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Mason & Company, the craft beer bar in Hackney Wick, east London, is celebrating Living Wage Week with a beer festival dedicated to breweries that pay their workers the national living wage.

Pub sector remains resilient despite consumer spending slowdown

07-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

Consumers refuse to reduce their spend on eating and drinking out in pubs and restaurants, despite a spending slowdown across the UK.

Lakes Distillery seeks to emulate BrewDog success with new crowdfunding scheme

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

The Lakes Distillery has launched a new crowdfunding initiative via Crowdcube, as it seeks to expand capacity and invest in new storage and distribution facilities.

Mulling it over: How can pubs ensure cider sales don't drop in winter months?

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Traditionally, cider is very much a summer drink. There’s nothing quite like a pint of crisp, refreshing cider in a beer garden on a sunny afternoon.

Gluten-free beer brewery Autumn Brewing Co expands and improves distribution

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Autumn Brewing Co has increased capacity and added to its distribution network through a partnership with London-based distribution company Dam Tasty Beer.

Finding the perfect match: How pubs can drive revenue by elevating their beer and food offering

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Too many venues still look to wine when matching dishes with drinks, but with interest in craft beer at an all-time high, there is a real opportunity for pubs to drive revenue by improving their beer selection.

Has BrewDog ‘quietly joined the Establishment’? asks The Sunday Times

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

BrewDog co-founder James Watt has come under fire for failing to treat the company’s shareholders equally in a new interview published by The Sunday Times.

Thornbridge among winners at SIBA Midlands Independent Beer Awards

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Backyard Brewhouse in Walsall and Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell have taken home the two top spots at the SIBA Midlands Independent Beer Awards, it has been announced.

Worrying 35m pint drop in beer sales

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of beer in pubs have suffered a worrying drop, the worst performance in five years, for the third quarter of 2017.

Drink trends for 2018 – what do customers want?

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Northerners want gin in their cocktails, Londoners prefer herbs in their gin and those in the midlands have a severe thirst for cider.

Save on wine costs by going draught

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Draught wine could be as big in the UK as it is in the States, according to the co-founders of Love Wine on Tap, but the current stigma surrounding it needs to be broken down.

Woodforde’s announces return of master brewer

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Norfolk brewer Woodforde’s is to be reunited with master brewer Neil Bain, who worked at the brewery for seven years until 2015.

In association with Coca-Cola European Partners

10 years of Coca-Cola's Designated Driver campaign

06-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Criminal court cases of drink-driving have reduced over the years but pubs still have an important role to play in lowering them further – especially around Christmas. Promoting a designated driver scheme over the festive period is not only responsible,...

Sales of better bevvies rise again in pubs

03-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Brits cannot get enough of high-quality drinks when visiting the pub, according to the latest research from CGA, which shows two in five consumers are now going premium.

Food trends for 2018 – what do customers want?

03-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Diners are more willing to go solo and dine out alone, with more than three quarters of those asked in new research claiming to find eating without a partner socially acceptable.

Gin brand NB Distillery launches first mixer

02-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A Scottish gin producer has launched its own tonic with soft drinks brand Bon Accord, which will be rolled out nationally next year.

Alcohol-free beer ‘will make up 10% of the market’

02-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Alcohol-free beer will make up 10% of total beer sales in the near future, a specialist brewer has told The Morning Advertiser after signing a deal to supply 190 pubs with St Peter’s 'Without' range.

Crown Cellars extends Quirky Wine range

02-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Carlsberg UK wine arm Crown Cellars has extended its on-trade-only Quirky Wines after its debut last year.

Wetherspoon launches beer mat manifesto for Brexit

01-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

JD Wetherspoon has placed 500,000 beer mats in its 895 pubs, calling for the UK parliament to back its three-point Brexit manifesto.

BrewDog launches climate change protest beer

01-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Scottish craft brewer and bar chain owner BrewDog has unveiled a protest beer to remind global leaders to prioritise issues relating to climate change.

Campaign to cut beer tax debated in Parliament

01-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

MPs from all political parties spoke out in support of fairer tax treatment for the beer and pub industry in Parliament yesterday.

Adnams develops its own tonic water

31-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Family-owned brewery and distiller Adnams has produced its own tonic water to accompany its range of gins and vodkas.

Fuller's to open two flagship train station sites

31-Oct-2017 By Mark Wingett, MCA

Fuller’s is set to open pubs in two London train stations, The Morning Advertiser's sister site MCA has learnt.

Molson Coors launches three-pronged ‘Balance’ scheme

31-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Molson Coors has announced the launch of Balance – a new initiative aimed at educating publicans and bar owners on how to maximise their beer range.

Toby Carvery reveals Yorkie wraps on new menu

31-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Mitchells and Butlers brand Toby Carvery has unveiled a new midweek menu, which includes Yorkshire pudding wraps.

More than 90% of customers served with dirty crockery or glasses

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

There’s nothing worse than going into a pub being served a pint in a murky glass, or being brought food on a plate that looks like it hasn’t seen a dishwasher this side of September.

JW Lees to strengthen range with three new beers

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Sixth generation family brewer JW Lees has announced three new beers, a series of collaborations with Manchester brewers and a rebrand of its core range.

Alcohol taxes are a cash cow for Government, say public

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Just one in ten people believe that increased taxes on alcohol go towards helping those who misuse the substance, according to new research by alcohol consumer organisation Drinkers’ Voice.

Butcombe invests £4m in West Country brewing business

27-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Butcombe Brewing Company has made a £4 million investment in improving the capability, capacity and quality of its brewing business in the West Country.

Spooky Halloween drinks to serve

27-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Halloween-themed cocktails and drinks could be just the trick pubs need to treat their customers this year, as the festivity becomes ever more popular in the UK.