Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Insights: The new big night out

Published: 12 April, 2024

New research has laid bare the state of night-time on-trade businesses operating post-pandemic. James Bayley looks at the new trends shaping the sector.

Night-time industry evolves amid swathe of club closures

Published: 19 March, 2024

Few industries have suffered more than night-time hospitality during and since the pandemic. Last month, Rekom UK, which owns the Pryzm and Atik nightclub brands shut down 17 of its venues.

Hospitality continues slow start to 2024

Published: 14 March, 2024

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

Liberty Report: premium on-trade wine sales still below pre-Covid levels

Published: 23 February, 2024

Wholesaler and importer Liberty Wines has released its premium on-trade report covering the two years following the final Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2021.

Hospitality sales flat in January as consumer spending squeezed

Published: 15 February, 2024

Britain’s leading hospitality groups generated like-for-like sales growth of just 0.1% in January according to CGA.

Premium chains lead restaurant market growth

Published: 14 February, 2024

According to Lumina Intelligence, the UK restaurant market reached a value of £18.6bn in 2023, spearheaded by premium branded establishments and menu price inflation.

Analysis: Hospitality seeks aid to halt closures

Published: 14 February, 2024

As the on-trade is hit by a cost-of-doing-business crisis, many are facing a tough decision unless government intervenes. James Bayley reports.

Managed groups eye expansion despite swathe of hospitality closures

Published: 12 February, 2024

Gaucho and M-owner Rare Restaurants will open 30 new sites following its double-digit revenue growth in 2023.

On-trade: Sporting chances

Published: 07 February, 2024

As a summer of major fixtures looms, quality on-trade outlets are increasingly embracing lucrative shared viewing experiences, reports James Bayley.

6,000 hospitality venues closed in 2023

Published: 30 January, 2024

New data released today (30 January) has revealed more than 6,000 hospitality venues closed in 2023, bringing the total number of closures since the pandemic to nearly 23,000.

Tech: On the plus side of AI

Published: 26 January, 2024

Innovative tech, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is sometimes reserved only for large corporations with massive budgets. However, more and more SMEs are coming to the party, James Bayley finds.

Managed groups enjoy YOY December growth

Published: 18 January, 2024

Britain’s top hospitality groups generated year-on-year sales growth of 8.8% in December, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

D&M achieves record Christmas sales

Published: 17 January, 2024

Drake and Morgan, operator of 17 premium bars and restaurants in London and Manchester, has announced record festive trading with like-for-like sales up 31.7% against the same period in 2022 (4 weeks to 31 December 2023).

Hospitality sales up 4% YOY in November

Published: 13 December, 2023

Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year (YOY) sales growth of 4% in November, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

Live gigging could unlock £2.4bn boost for UK pubs and bars

Published: 29 November, 2023

A new CGA report published today (29 November) has revealed that gigging in the hospitality sector could be the catalyst for a multi-billion pound boost to venues.

Trade reflects on ‘mixed-bag’ Autumn Statement

Published: 27 November, 2023

Following rumours of a second duty hike in line with inflation, the government quelled fears by announcing a freeze on alcohol duty in the Autumn Statement last week.

Deliveries worth 15p per pound of restaurant spend

Published: 22 November, 2023

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups rose 5% year-on-year in October 2023, according to CGA by NIQ’s Hospitality at Home Tracker.

Wet October softens growth for hospitality

Published: 15 November, 2023

Britain’s leading hospitality groups saw year-on-year growth slow to 3.2% in October amid widespread poor weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Consumers seek affordable drink-only occasions Lumina finds

Published: 14 November, 2023

The latest Lumina research has revealed that consumers are opting for affordable drink-only occasions, with pubs and bars seeing the most notable share growth year-on-year, up 1.3% in Q3.