Food & Drink

Bang in season: Chenin Blanc makes Top Shelf

New products

Wine, beer and pumpkin-spiced Baileys

By Nicholas Robinson

Top shelf: Pour a glass of Kleine Zalze Bush Vine’s South African Chenin Blanc and be prepared for a ripe pineapple and guava smack in the nose.

Hot and spicy: Adding heat and spice to your soft drinks in the colder months will keep things current

Soft drinks

Soft drinks heat up for the winter

By Sara Hussein

Summer will soon be fading and punters are going to be looking for drinks to excite them in the colder, darker months. While the alcohol categories have this covered, soft drinks are often associated with the summer only. Here’s how to keep your soft...

New kid in America: alcohol-free spirit ready for US release

Future Trends: Spirits

Alcohol-free ‘spirit’ Seedlip set for US expansion

By Nicholas Robinson

Ben Branson, founder of the UK’s first alcohol-free ‘spirit’ Seedlip, has revealed his plans to expand into the US, after the brand’s successful UK launch just 10 months ago.

Trending event: get into the spirit of the summit

Event

10 reasons to attend the Future Trends: Spirits event

By Nicholas Robinson

Operators will descend on London’s Royal Institution next month for the must-attend Future Trends: Spirits event where top trends, innovations and new products will be exclusively revealed. Here are the top 10 reasons why you must not miss it.

Wine guidance: Greene King initiative

Wine

Greene King helps licensees ‘take the mystery out of wine’

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubco Greene King has launched a free wine and spirits tool kit to help operators drive sales in the categories, which it claims can be challenging for licensees who feel they “lack the expertise” to put together a strong offer.

Beer process: fish-based isinglass is used to clarify beers

Beer

CAMRA’s rumoured isinglass ban troubles brewers

By Nicholas Robinson

Brewers have received calls from agitated consumers, asking them to stop using the beer fining agent isinglass, after the national press falsely reported a ban by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Snacks, sides and nibbles key focus for pub menus

MENU TRENDS

Snacks, sides and nibbles key focus for pub menus

By Daniel Woolfson

UK operators are boosting customers’ average spend by increasing starter and dessert prices as well as focusing on side dishes and snacks, new research claims. 

Premium targets: Molson Coors is looking to expand its range

Exclusive

Molson Coors set to buy more beer brands

By Nicholas Robinson

Beer behemoth Molson Coors, owner of brews including Sharp’s and Cobra, will buy and develop more beer and cider brands in a bid to expand its recently launched premium Brew + Press range.

Masons Gin: creating unique flavours will keep the spirit alive

Spirits

Preventing gin’s bubble from bursting

By Nicholas Robinson

Gin’s popularity will only endure if distillers continue to innovate beyond the label on the bottle and start producing more innovative flavours, a Yorkshire gin maker has claimed ahead of his return to the Future Trends: Spirits event next month.

Relevance: Is there such a thing as craft gin?

Spirits

Craft gin terminology has been abused too much

By Nicholas Robinson

Craft gin terminology has "been abused to a ridiculous point", with all new gins apparently being 'craft', claims the founder of gin brand Warner Edwards at the launch of the distiller’s new limited-edition Melissa Lemon Balm Gin.

Education boost: Molson Coors' new Brew + Press brand

Beer and cider

Molson Coors’ new premium beers and ciders

By Nicholas Robinson

Beer giant Molson Coors, the home of big names including Carling, has launched a premium collection of beers and ciders curated by specialists under its new Brew + Press brand.

Rising: sales of Champagne and gin on the up

Spirits and fizz ‘taking over beer’

Spirits and wine make up 50% of drinks sales in new pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits and wine are giving beer a run for its money, with the two categories now accounting for almost half (49%) of value sales in new pubs, bars and restaurants.

Carlsberg joins forces with Brooklyn Brewery

Carlsberg

Carlsberg joins forces with Brooklyn Brewery

By Nikkie Sutton

Carlsberg UK is teaming up with Brooklyn Brewery to handle the exclusive distribution of the brewery’s beer portfolio in the UK after an agreement to transfer distribution rights from James Clay is made effective from 30 December this year.

Cyclops beer scheme celebrates milestone

Beer

Cyclops beer scheme celebrates milestone

By Helen Gilbert

Beer-tasting notes scheme Cyclops has been used in more than 400 breweries since it started a decade ago, according to its latest figures.

On the up: rum sales are soaring in the on-trade

Future Trends: Spirits

The masterclass: rum explosion in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of rum in the UK on-trade are growing at 17% and pubs can do more to benefit from the boom, according to Pernod Ricard UK on-trade channel director Ian Peart ahead of the company’s study tour session at The Morning Advertiser’s (MA) Future Trends:...

Sell up: Upgrade customers to Champagne over Christmas for a better experience

Spirits

New Star Wars film ‘kept people out of the pub’ at Christmas

By Nicholas Robinson

Stormy weather, Christmas markets and the new Star Wars film kept punters out of the pub last Christmas, according to Pernod Ricard’s UK (PRUK) on-trade channel director Ian Peart. But those who made it to the bar did spend more.

Profit booster: reap the rewards of a premium drinks offer

Premium

Top-end tipples: premiumise your drinks offer

By Nicholas Robinson

With the premium drinks category now worth more to the on-trade than ever before, here’s how you can take stock of your offer and navigate the busy waters of products on offer, Michelle Perrett reports

British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards 2016 deadline extended

Awards

Beer Writing Awards deadline extended

By Nikkie Sutton

The deadline for this year’s Beer Writing Awards, which is run by the British Guild of Beer Writers, has been extended until Monday 19 September.

Carlsberg UK's Poretti sales up by 150%

Carlsberg

Poretti sales up by 150%

By Nikkie Sutton

Italian beer brand Birrificio Angelo Poretti has experienced record sales growth, up by 150% this year to date.

Key members talk CAMRA Revitalisation

CAMRA Revitalisation

Key members talk CAMRA Revitalisation

By Oli Gross

Key members of The Campaign for Real Ale’s Revitalisation Project have given an insight into its progress as the process approaches the halfway stage.

The finalists: (l to r) Harry, Tom, Jess, Luke and Arron

Cocktails

Move over Bloody Mary, there are new brunch cocktails on the block

By Nicholas Robinson

Cocktails at brunch can help operators tap into the on-trade’s expanding £76m dining occasion, yet the traditional Bloody Mary can put many customers off. Here some of the country’s top bartenders show their bespoke brunch cocktails.

Premium boost: Heineken's Blind Pig cider aims to grow the premium segment

Premium cider

Does cider need saving?

By Nicholas Robinson

In a market that appears to be constantly striving towards better quality, it’s a wonder why sales of premium cider have dipped. But looking for ways to boost the segment is something cider makers can do very well

Yarr! Set sail for new Slingsby gin

New products

Navy-strength Slingsby gin

By Nicholas Robinson

TOP SHELF:Ignite your gunpowder even if it’s soaked in gin, says independent alcoholic drinks company Slingsby with its newly-launched 57% ABV navy-strength variant of its Artisan Gin.

Follow us

Property of the week

Pub Trade Guides

View more

Webinars

Upcoming editorial webinars

The Lock In Pub Podcast

Headlines