Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Budget: Hospitality relief at raft of support

Published: 10 March, 2021

Industry leaders welcome much of the Chancellor’s aid package but are disappointed it falls short in some vital areas, writes Lisa Riley.

Webinar: Tackling the on-trade staffing crisis

Published: 09 March, 2021

Most would agree that quality staff are the lifeblood of customer-facing food and drink businesses. But, with the ongoing staffing crisis further exacerbated by Covid and Brexit, good team members – front and back of house – are proving harder to find as hospitality venues move towards reopening.

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.

New on-trade revenue streams likely to remain post-pandemic

Published: 04 March, 2021

Retail is likely to remain firmly in the mix for many hospitality operators, even once the pandemic recedes.

New September ‘cliff edge’ set for hospitality

Published: 04 March, 2021

The Chancellor has yet again set a date-based cliff edge for the hospitality industry with a new date for the end of furlough, analysts have said, predicting that this could hamper the sector’s chances of full recovery.

Pubs to reap rewards of outside trading over bars and restaurants

Published: 03 March, 2021

Fewer than half of England’s pubs, bars and restaurants will have any space to operate outside when the lockdown is relaxed—but pubs could be set to have a head start with 72% having outside space, CGA research has revealed.

New £30m support for Welsh hospitality and leisure

Published: 03 March, 2021

The Welsh government has unveiled a £30m support package for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Average of 30 licensed premises closing a day

Published: 01 March, 2021

Nearly 12,000 licensed premises have closed in Britain since December 2019 — an average of around 30 a day and the highest rate on record, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

Westminster brings back alfresco scheme

Published: 25 February, 2021

Westminster City Council has announced that it will reintroduce last summer’s alfresco scheme to help the hospitality sector.

Hospitality leaders show long-term optimism

Published: 25 February, 2021

Hospitality leaders are optimistic about the long-term future of the sector and its role in the UK’s economic recovery, with many businesses seeking to grow rather than shrink, the latest CGA Business Leaders' Survey has revealed.

Wine most popular online drinks purchase

Published: 24 February, 2021

Wine has been pinpointed as the most popular e-commerce purchase during the Covid pandemic.

“Bitter disappointment” over Scotland’s recovery roadmap

Published: 24 February, 2021

The plan for a tentative reopening of Scotland’s economy including shops, bars and restaurants has been met with criticism by hospitality businesses who say an end of April start date will be too late for many.

UKH urges sector to join Budget campaign

Published: 18 February, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has called on the industry to make its voice heard to secure further VAT cut and business rates holiday.

Helping hospitality survive

Published: 18 February, 2021

If reopening doesn’t come soon, many on-trade operators face ruin unless new support measures come into play. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Rates relief to be extended in Scotland

Published: 17 February, 2021

Hospitality, leisure and retail businesses in Scotland will pay no rates during 2021-2022 as part of a new relief package proposed by the Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes on 16 February.

Hospitality not 'significant area' of Covid transmission

Published: 17 February, 2021

Hospitality businesses were not "significant areas" of Covid transmission in 2020 and should be central to reopening plans in 2021, according to new research by CGA, commissioned by UK Hospitality (UKH).

Government backed loans pile on the debt for hospitality operators

Published: 16 February, 2021

Mounting debt for operators who’ve had no choice but to take on huge government-backed loans to stay afloat is creating an untenable pressure cooker situation for the trade, hospitality owners have said.

Covid propels delivered drinks market into the mainstream

Published: 16 February, 2021

Lockdown is giving the on-trade and suppliers a chance to claim share of the delivered drinks market from supermarkets, according to CGA’s latest consumer research.

Extension to rent moratorium considered as momentum for UK re-opening builds

Published: 15 February, 2021

Ministers are reportedly drawing up plans to extend the rent moratorium for commercial properties until past the March end date, further curbing landlords’ ability to evict businesses over unpaid rent.