Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Business energy bills capped by government relief scheme

Published: 21 September, 2022

The government has announced a new energy relief scheme that will reduce energy bills for businesses by 50% of expected levels.

Businesses urged to get behind ‘Hospitality Apprenticeships Week’

Published: 16 September, 2022

Trade bodies, charities and training providers have come together to promote Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2022, running between 3 and 9 October.

Hospitality industry urges new Prime Minister Liz Truss to ‘act quickly and decisively’ to save the sector

Published: 06 September, 2022

On Monday (5 September), Conservative Party members chose a new leader and, therefore, a new Prime Minister. Liz Truss secured 57% of the vote, defeating Rishi Sunak in the race to Number 10.

UKH urges government to issue on-trade rescue package

Published: 31 August, 2022

UKHospitality (UKH)chief executive Kate Nicholls has written an urgent letter to the UK government, outlining the potential disaster facing thousands of businesses in light of the energy crisis.

Government extends off-sales licence after backlash

Published: 18 July, 2022

The government has announced that it will extend the alcohol off-sales easement, introduced during the pandemic, to September 2023, following a campaign led by UKHospitality and other sector bodies.

Hospitality sector recovery stymied by labour shortages, rising costs, and a drop in consumer confidence

Published: 13 July, 2022

A new report, Future Shock – Leaving Covid Behind, shows sales are back to pre-pandemic levels, but 15% of roles remain vacant, costs are spiralling, and the cost of living challenges is impacting consumer spending.

7,000 pubs forced to close in last 10 years

Published: 04 July, 2022

According to real estate consultancy Altus Group, the number of pubs in England and Wales is now at its lowest point on record, down by more than 7,000 in the last decade.

'Chronic' staff crisis continues as vacancy gap widens

Published: 14 June, 2022

New figures have shown how the hospitality sector’s staffing crisis is worsening under growing stagnancy in the job market, as the gap between new job creation and people willing to enter the workforce is widening.

Hard hit hospitality calls for further government support

Published: 17 December, 2021

As the hospitality industry continues to face a mounting crisis of cancellations and closures in the wake of Omicron and Plan B restrictions, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has urged the government to step in and save many businesses from going under.

Scotland announces DRS implementation date

Published: 15 December, 2021

Scotland's Minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity has confirmed that the nation's inaugural Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will launch next year.

Scotland delays implementation of Deposit Return Scheme

Published: 18 November, 2021

A perfect storm of Covid-19, Brexit and a struggling hospitality sector has delayed the introduction of Scotland's inaugural DRS scheme, according to Scottish Minister Lorna Slater.

Customers return to on-trade quicker than last summer

Published: 23 August, 2021

A total of 56% of consumers visited a hospitality venue in the first 10 days following July’s Freedom Day, according to a new UK Hospitality (UKH) survey, supported by data from CGA, released today.

Nicholls appointed hospitality disability ambassador

Published: 28 July, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) CEO Kate Nicholls has been appointed as the hospitality sector’s first disability ambassador to date as part of the government’s new National Disability Strategy.

Venue closures and reduced service looming for hospitality

Published: 26 July, 2021

The hospitality sector is facing a summer of venue closures and reduced service following the government’s decision to leave the industry off the self-isolation exemption list, UK Hospitality (UKH) has warned.

Industry welcomes lifting of social distancing measures

Published: 13 July, 2021

The industry has welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confirmation that social distancing measures will be lifted next week, a move that UK Hospitality (UKH) said would bring “huge relief” for the hospitality sector.

Industry welcomes plans to lift restrictions but warns long road ahead

Published: 06 July, 2021

The hospitality industry has welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on the lifting of restrictions on 19 July as a “major milestone”, but warned of a "long road ahead".

UKH: ‘Indication that business rates holiday will be extended would go a long way’

Published: 15 June, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has urged the government to waste no time in providing details of how it will safeguard the future of the hospitality sector following the Prime Minister’s confirmation that Covid restrictions will remain for another four weeks.

Investment in hospitality sector slumps 14%

Published: 08 June, 2021

Business investment in the hospitality sector slumped 13.7% last year, trailing UK industry as a whole, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

UKH launches Jobcentre Plus initiative

Published: 03 June, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has joined forces with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to launch a Jobcentre Plus initiative to promote sector opportunities to jobseekers.

UKH: ‘Delay on further relaxation of restrictions will have devastating effect’

Published: 02 June, 2021

Any potential delay on further relaxation of restrictions this month would have a “devastating effect on an already-fragile hospitality sector”, Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality (UKH) has said.