Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Solid first week for on-trade groups

Published: 27 April, 2021

Pubs, bars and restaurant groups have made a robust start to post-lockdown trading in England, the latest figures from the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has shown.

Brewers welcome “scrapped” Covid passports

Published: 26 April, 2021

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has responded to growing speculation that Covid “passports for the pub” have been shelved, calling pubs and taprooms across the country “safe” for reopening without additional red tape.

Hospitality in Wales and Scotland reopen with 8pm indoor curfew for Scotland

Published: 26 April, 2021

Hospitality businesses can now open in Wales and Scotland for the first time since December, with Scotland’s ‘indoors but without alcohol’ policy putting it ahead of England’s outdoor-only phase of its current roadmap.

Portman research predicts “cautious return” to pubs post lockdown

Published: 08 April, 2021

Pubgoers look set to tailor some of their pre-pandemic drinking behaviours once restrictions ease, the Portman Group has said, with many planning to drink less when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown.

UKH: ‘Vaccine passport scheme would create confusion and inequality’

Published: 25 March, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has warned against the use of a vaccine passport scheme as a condition of removing restrictions for on-trade visits, branding it “unworkable”.

UK craft brewery openings hit record levels

Published: 15 March, 2021

Flying in the face of on-trade closures during the pandemic, the number of craft breweries operating in the UK has reached levels not seen since 1930s.

UKH urges govt to review roadmap following legal challenge

Published: 15 March, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has urged the government to review the roadmap again following the instigation of legal action by Pizza Express investor Hugh Osmond and night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord.

Technology key focus for investment and innovation

Published: 08 March, 2021

Technology is set to be a key focus for investment and innovation as hospitality opens up again, according to the latest CGA’s Business Leaders’ Survey.

Delayed on-trade reopening redoubles calls for support

Published: 23 February, 2021

The government’s roadmap for re-opening has brought little cheer for hospitality, with already financially-stricken restaurants, bars and pubs languishing towards the back of the queue.

Half measures for on-trade groups post lockdown

Published: 14 December, 2020

Around half of Britain’s managed pubs, restaurants and bars were open and trading last week as lockdown ended and the new tier levels came into force in England, but sales were significantly down even in those sites able to open.

Welsh on-trade faces 6pm curfew and ban on selling alcohol

Published: 30 November, 2020

Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales are facing a 6pm curfew and complete ban on selling alcohol from 4 December, first minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

At least 50k sites to be shut or unviable under new tiers

Published: 30 November, 2020

More than 50,000 of England’s licensed premises will be unable to trade under the government’s tough new tiered restrictions coming into place this week, according to research for the latest edition of the Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

Lockdown will end in Tiers (2 and 3 for most of England)

Published: 26 November, 2020

The end of lockdown will bring little relief for England’s hospitality sector, which is returning to the rule of alcohol “only to be served with substantial meals” or stricter for most of the country.

Return to tougher Tier system brings limited cheer for hospitality

Published: 24 November, 2020

The news yesterday (23 November) that England will return to a three-tier system post lockdown has highlighted the ongoing struggle faced by pubs, bars and restaurants.

Mixed news for hospitality in new English tier system

Published: 23 November, 2020

The 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants is to be lifted when England comes out of lockdown on 2 December, the prime minister is expected to announce today.

SLTA: ‘Level 4 signals permanent closure for many’

Published: 18 November, 2020

Moving parts of west central Scotland into Level 4 “effectively signals permanent closure for many pubs and restaurants”, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has warned.

Chancellor considering further relief measures for hospitality

Published: 12 November, 2020

Rishi Sunak has said that there will be further support designed to get people “out and about” post-lockdown, in response to questioning over whether there will be a return to the Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme.

Nearly a third of licensed premises shut prior to lockdown

Published: 10 November, 2020

Trading restrictions led to almost a third of Britain’s licensed premises shutting their doors in October ahead of England’s second lockdown on 5 November, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

Govt U-turn on pub lockdown sales

Published: 04 November, 2020

In a U-turn, the government has agreed to allow England’s pubs to sell takeaway alcohol during the national lockdown that begins on Thursday.

Trade slams new lockdown ban on takeaway drink sales

Published: 02 November, 2020

In a new blow for England’s on-trade, the government has banned the sale of takeaway alcohol for the duration of the second national lockdown, which begins at midnight on Wednesday 4 November.