Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

One-in-eight pubs now at imminent risk of insolvency

Published: 09 February, 2026

One-in-eight pubs in the UK are in “severe financial distress” and at imminent risk of insolvency, according to accountancy firm Price Bailey.

Hopsitality: Pursuing work-life balance

Published: 04 February, 2026

The hospitality industry is well known for its tricky work-life balance. Whether it be long, demanding shifts, unpredictable and irregular hours or excessive workloads, the trade’s reputation is that its demands often eat into employees’ personal lives, impacting their mental and physical health.

Two thirds of consumers believe pubs and bars good for local communities

Published: 02 February, 2026

New consumer research from Zonal in partnership with NIQ has revealed that 69% of consumers believe that pubs, bars and restaurants play an important role in their communities.

Waitrose backs Indie Beer campaign

Published: 02 February, 2026

Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to back the Indie Beer campaign, with planned promotions in-store and a new ‘Indie Beer’ section on its website.

Hospitality industry reacts to Reeves' pub support package

Published: 28 January, 2026

The hospitality industry has reacted to yesterday’s announcement by the government that pubs and music venues would receive a rates relief package costing £80m next year alone (as Harpers reported).

Government announces £80m U-turn on pubs and music venues

Published: 27 January, 2026

The government has revealed a support package aimed at helping pubs and music venues in England, worth £80m.

Indie Beer Week set to return this Spring

Published: 19 January, 2026

Returning for its second year, Indie Beer Week 2026, a UK-wide series of events promoting "independent beer, pubs and people” is due to take place from 10-19 April.

Calls for business rates pub relief to extend to all hospitality

Published: 12 January, 2026

Last week’s reports that pubs will see great business rates support has been followed by a chorus of industry figures urging the government to extend the relief to all of hospitality.

Business rates: Hospitality venues to be hit with £32k hike

Published: 20 December, 2025

Fresh analysis from trade body UK Hospitality (UKH) can reveal that over the next three years hospitality venues in England can expect to see an average increase in business rates of over £32k.

SIBA issues open letter on Budget concerns

Published: 04 December, 2025

The Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA) has sent an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, expressing its “deep concern” that the hospitality sector was facing a “crisis of survival” after the recent Budget.

Pub insolvencies on rise as cost pressures take toll

Published: 03 November, 2025

Pub insolvencies saw a marked increase during Q2 and Q3 of 2025, reversing a tentative recovery seen earlier this year. According to accountancy firm Price Bailey, 219 pubs entered insolvency in Q2, followed by 189 in Q3. Q1 saw 161 establishments not able to pay their debts.

How Brexit preparation delivered wine bonus for LWC

Published: 11 August, 2025

LWC Drinks has revealed how Brexit preparations primed the company for the growth of its wine portfolio through and beyond the pandemic, which among other commercial successes also helped land the company a number two slot in last year’s Harpers Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers 2024 listing.

UKH: Industrial Strategy a missed opportunity to support hospitality

Published: 23 June, 2025

The government’s announcement of its new Industrial Strategy has been met with frustration from figures inside the hospitality trade. UKHospitality has noted that the sector is among the industries not included in the Strategy’s energy bill reduction plan.

Pedalling to Pubs fundraiser exceeds £100K 

Published: 16 June, 2025

The 2025 Pedalling to Pubs bike ride has raised a record-breaking total of over £100,000 for hospitality charities the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) and Only A Pavement Away.

Uptick in pub insolvencies following April NICs and Minimum Wage increases

Published: 16 June, 2025

According to analysis from accountancy firm Price Bailey, April saw a rise in pub insolvencies with 67 establishments going bust. This follows the early April changes to both NICs and Minimum Wage.

‘Nonsensical’ EPR rules will cost millions, say hospitality businesses

Published: 20 March, 2025

Under the umbrella of UKHospitality (UKH), leading pub and hospitality businesses have written to Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, pushing back against a significant flaw in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.

Meteorological phenomenon and economic headwinds dent consumer confidence

Published: 19 March, 2025

A new survey released by Lumina Intelligence suggests that a combination of inclement weather and financial pressures impacted on-trade visits in February 2025, although the pub sector enjoyed a relatively strong performance.

Mounting costs drive hospitality confidence to two-year low

Published: 12 March, 2025

Hospitality business confidence has hit a low not seen since October 2022, when inflation peaked at a 40-year high.

Festive on-trade: divergent fortunes for wine and spirits

Published: 12 February, 2025

The festive period is the most pivotal time of year for wine and spirits in the on-trade and a strong yuletide performance is an essential indicator of a venue’s financial health. The prospect of venue closures has been a concerning spectre for hospitality and a good Christmas showing can buoy operators for the year ahead.

Festive pub performance drives December growth for hospitality groups

Published: 22 January, 2025

New figures from CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows year-on-year growth of 3.2% for December 2024, reflecting a month of boosted sales for hospitality.