Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Mid-week on-trade spend in major Northern cities booms

Published: 12 March, 2020

Northern cities have started to shed their ‘weekend party image’ with ‘seven day socialising’ taking hold, according to new research.

Budget: Coronavirus relief for SMEs and employees

Published: 11 March, 2020

UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered a bold response to the coronavirus crisis in his 11 March budget, with a raft of measures to support SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and their employees.

On-trade kickstarts 2020 on a positive note

Published: 12 February, 2020

The on-trade sector has started 2020 on a positive note with like-for-like sales up 1.9% in January compared to the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Pub decline halted as food drives growth

Published: 16 January, 2020

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has released figures showing that the long decline in the number of pubs in the UK has stopped, with a “small rise” in 2019 buoying up the sector for the first time in decades.

On-trade set for Halloween sales hike

Published: 31 October, 2019

Restaurants, bars and pubs are poised to see sales significantly boosted by Halloween as the fright-night continues to gain traction as a ‘big night out’ for adults.

Wet-led businesses helping high street to recover from “poisonous cocktail” of regulatory costs

Published: 19 July, 2019

Renewed investor interest is improving the health of a malnourished high street – driven mostly by wet-led venues, a group of suppliers and industry leaders were told this morning.

Pubs and bars signal optimism as restaurant sector continues to suffer

Published: 15 July, 2019

The latest CGA Fourth Business Confidence Survey, canvassing opinion from hospitality industry leaders, has revealed concern over the frequency of consumer visits to pubs, bars and restaurants during the second half of 2019.

The Alchemist eyes global expansion

Published: 18 June, 2019

The Alchemist has said it expects to hit sales of £50m at the end of its financial year and plans to invest in further expansion in the UK and abroad.

Zero growth for pubs and restaurants in May

Published: 11 June, 2019

UK pubs and restaurants saw trading fall flat in May, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Collective like-for-like sales growth across the market was zero compared to last year.

Vermouth and Japanese whisky among top serves in high-end London bars

Published: 09 April, 2019

Vermouth and Japanese whisky are among the most fashionable drinks in London’s top high-end bars, according to the latest CGA and DrinkUp.London's 2018 Influencers Report.

31 Days of German Riesling returns

Published: 05 April, 2019

The annual celebration of Riesling is back, opening up yet more opportunities for the trade to promote and get behind Germany’s star player.

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.

Industry platform Hospitality Speaks set to launch

Published: 20 February, 2019

A platform addressing bullying, harassment and discrimination in the UK hospitality industry launches next month.

Festive period provides cheer for on-trade

Published: 15 January, 2019

Managed pubs and restaurants saw a 4.1% collective like-for-like sales increase across the festive season compared to the same period the prevous year.

Bars and restaurants set to ‘save the high street’

Published: 08 October, 2018

The bar and restaurant scene has been predicted as key in preventing the decline of the high street, with 92% of councils believing night-time economy will play an “important role”, according to new research.

London’s Dandelyan wins world’s best bar accolade

Published: 04 October, 2018

London’s Dandelyan has claimed the top accolade as the world’s best bar at The World’s 50 Best Bars awards 2018.

Restaurants burned by the heatwave and World Cup

Published: 16 July, 2018

Restaurant groups suffered a drop in trade in June with pubs on the other hand basking in the sunshine as like-for-like sales rose.

Arc Inspirations creates key role as part of expansion strategy

Published: 09 July, 2018

Leeds-based multiple operator Arc Inspirations has created a HR and training business partner position as it gears up to expand further this year.

Bacardi marches 5,500 employees ‘Back to the Bar’ for grassroots on-trade initiative

Published: 09 February, 2018

Employees at spirits powerhouse Bacardi left their computers and labs yesterday and headed to their local bars as part of a global initiative to find out what’s driving engagement at the sharp end of the trade.

Pubs keep up with coffee shops as consumers vote for top out of home activity

Published: 19 December, 2017

New research suggests going to the pub is one of the top out of home activity for consumers, marking hope for the struggling sector as it adapts to new trends.