Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Joe Fattorini: On wine, lemons and cow shit

Published: 18 March, 2019

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

Northern restaurant and bar boom continues

Published: 15 March, 2019

The number of restaurants and bars in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds increased by an average of 19% during the past five years, according to new research.

Round Z

Published: 15 March, 2019

The younger generation is drinking less and spending less time in bars, but demanding more. Jo Gilbert finds out how bars can box clever.

Restaurants continue to struggle as consumers tighten purse strings ahead of Brexit

Published: 11 March, 2019

The restaurant trade suffered another tough month in February with the mini heatwave towards the end of the month failing to move the whole market much, despite an encouraging performance from the pub trade.

Q&A: Matteo Montone, Berners Tavern

Published: 11 March, 2019

Next month Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern at The London Edition is launching a series entitled An Introduction to Wine, hosted by director of wine Matteo Montone. On Monday nights 12 guests will be guided through the basics of wine in the restaurant’s private dining room, with each guest receiving 15% off their bill if they dine in the restaurant afterwards.

Matthew Clark comes out fighting fit after major restructure

Published: 06 March, 2019

National wholesaler Matthew Clark says it is firmly back on track, with a far-reaching restructure of the business completed and having “delivered one of the best Christmas in terms of service and performance”, according to managing director David Phillips (pictured above).

UK still ‘litmus test’ as global benchmark for wine brands

Published: 27 February, 2019

The UK market continues to be the shop window for the world of wine, with the on-trade driving premium sales.

Where do we go from Grüner?

Published: 25 February, 2019

Food compatibility and top-quality wines have made Austria a secret weapon for sommeliers wanting to impress their guests. Jo Gilbert looks at which varieties, regions and styles head their lists.

UK restaurant numbers dip for first time in nine years

Published: 25 February, 2019

The number of “casual dining” restaurants has dropped for the first time in nine years as the pressures facing the sector take their toll.

M Restaurants calls on hospitality industry to join it in raising ‘starting wage’

Published: 21 February, 2019

M Restaurants has introduced a new fixed £10 ‘starting wage’ and has called on the hospitality industry to follow suit.

Spring into SITT

Published: 21 February, 2019

With our Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) almost upon us, there’s a cornucopia of independent buyer-focused wines waiting to be discovered at what we believe will be our most exciting and productive events yet.

Pubs and restaurants hit by January slump

Published: 18 February, 2019

Strong Christmas trading gave way to a slump in January for UK pubs and restaurants, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

New initiative to tackle skills gap in hospitality industry launches

Published: 15 February, 2019

D&D London will launch My Hospitality World, which it describes as a “pioneering two-week group-wide initiative encouraging young adults into hospitality” on 25 February.

The Swan gets a new lease of life via José Pizarro

Published: 04 February, 2019

2 Hare Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9BS

Q&A: Piotr Pietras MS, independent wine consultant and SITT On-Trade Ambassador

Published: 28 January, 2019

Piotr Pietras MS, former director of wine at London’s Hide, has taken on the newly-created role of on-trade ambassador for SITT (Specialist Importer Trade Tastings). Harpers caught up with him about his plans for the role and for tips on the on-trade wine scene too.

Hospitality and health

Published: 28 January, 2019

As Healthy Hospo marks its first anniversary, the movement for a healthier on-trade continues to grow apace.

The Goring to launch seafood restaurant

Published: 22 January, 2019

THE GORING

There may be trouble ahead…

Published: 17 January, 2019

The number of leaders with confidence in the future of their own company within the eating and drinking-out market took a knock in the three months to November 2018, according to the latest CGA Business Confidence Survey.