Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Graham Hall, Drake & Morgan

Following another eventful year for the drinks trade, Graham Hall, director at Drake & Morgan reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus the hopes and plans for the business in the year ahead.

UK bars roll out drink spiking test kits

With the festive season in full swing, police and businesses have joined forces to crack down on drink spiking across the UK.

Hospitality sales up 4% YOY in November

Britain’s leading hospitality groups achieved year-on-year (YOY) sales growth of 4% in November, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

Mezcalito Brompton

Mezcalito Brompton, a stylish and brand new late-night offering situated on South Kensington’s Old Brompton Road, is set to open its doors this month. Previously Eclipse, a fixture of the area’s nightlife for decades, the launch comes from real-life partners Oliver Castilla-Tristan and Laura Geas, owners of the lively and much loved Mexican tapas-style restaurant bar Mezcalito Chelsea – claiming to hold the largest selection of agave spirits in Europe and celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.

The Oxford Wine Cellar

Having celebrated its crowning as the number one merchant in Harpers’ 50 Best Indies list 2023, The Oxford Wine Group has opened a new city centre venue. It is the second ex-Oddbins site the business has taken over in the past few years and is a stone’s throw away from the OWC’s Turl Street shop. Visitors to the bar

Survey estimates £7.4bn will be spent on Christmas partying

A survey of 2,000 UK adults by tonics and mixer brand, Double Dutch, has estimated £7.4bn will be spent in UK hospitality during the festive period – a significant threefold increase compared to the previous year.

The Bugis Singapore Restaurant

Taking its name from the bustling area in Singapore renowned for its street food and flavours, The Bugis has recently reopened inside its new home – The Bailey’s Hotel. Still in Kensington, the latest iteration of the Asian-inspired favourite features a top cocktail menu and bar inspired by Lord Bailey’s journey in the Far East. The food menu, meanwhile, features a new approach focused on small sharing plates, with traditionally passed-down Chinese, Malay and Indian family recipes at its core.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Owen Morgan, 44 Group

Following another eventful year for the drinks trade, Owen Morgan, director of Spain-focused 44 Group, reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus hopes and plans for the year ahead, in our annual Q&A series.

Record Christmas bookings for Drake & Morgan

Drake & Morgan, the London-based bar and restaurant group backed by Bowmark Capital has announced record bookings for Christmas 2023, sounding a note of optimism in an otherwise challenging environment.

Scotland calls out government for pubs closing at twice the rate of England

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have issued a joint appeal to support their sector after it emerged that English businesses will receive a 75% reduction in rates bills for the financial year 2024-25.

Live gigging could unlock £2.4bn boost for UK pubs and bars

A new CGA report published today (29 November) has revealed that gigging in the hospitality sector could be the catalyst for a multi-billion pound boost to venues. 

Deliveries worth 15p per pound of restaurant spend

Delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading managed restaurant groups rose 5% year-on-year in October 2023, according to CGA by NIQ’s Hospitality at Home Tracker.

Nick Gillett: Competitive socialising – novelty or here to stay?

Consumers seek affordable drink-only occasions Lumina finds

The latest Lumina research has revealed that consumers are opting for affordable drink-only occasions, with pubs and bars seeing the most notable share growth year-on-year, up 1.3% in Q3.

Hospitality closures fall in third quarter

The Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners has recorded a fall in licensed premises of 0.3% – the equivalent of three net closures a day, in the third quarter.

Insolvencies peak driven by hospitality and retail

Newly released figures from the Insolvency Service show that a higher rate of UK insolvencies over the 12 months have been driven by pressures in consumer facing industries such as leisure, hospitality and retail. However, research suggests the worst might now be in the rear-view mirror, with an easing now expected to follow as the industry works through some of its core challenges.

Customer loyalty reins supreme in cost-of-living crisis

New research has unveiled the importance of providing consistently good experiences in hospitality, with nearly half of consumers saying just one or two bad experiences at a hospitality venue would cause them to feel less loyal to a brand.

Licenced premises down by a third since 2003

The number of licenced premises in Britain has fallen below 100,000, marking a 31% decline in the two decades since 2003.

Scotland’s call to government as hospitality faces ‘continued barrage of challenges’

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is pleading for more support to help protect the hospitality sector, as venues report the crippling impact of staff vacancies and ‘a continued wave of cost increases’.

Hospitality leaders hold on to optimism as inflation slows

Confidence is rising slightly among hospitality owners, new data suggest, despite inflation slowing at a ‘glacial’ pace and economic pressures in the offing, which could potentially leave the sector with a ‘billion-pound bill’.