On-Trade - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

It’s time to raise the bar - Michelin style

Published: 14 March, 2022

A brand new recognition system for the world’s best bars is set to become one of the industry’s most respected benchmarks of excellence.

Hospitality sales above pre-pandemic levels, but cost of living looms large

Published: 14 March, 2022

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups raised sales above pre-pandemic levels in February, thanks mainly to the removal of Covid-19 restrictions. Still, high inflation continues to make real-terms growth challenging.

London Cocktail Week 2022 dates and format announced

Published: 11 March, 2022

London Cocktail Week 2022 will run from 13-23 October 2022, including two weekends, following two years of extended month-long activities.

Ukrainian vodka supports fundraising for British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal

Published: 11 March, 2022

Emporia, a spirits importer, is teaming up with several bars across the UK to serve cocktails with the Ukrainian Vodka ‘Staritsky Levitsky, Private Cellar’.

How the rising cost of living will impact consumer attitudes to drinking

Published: 11 March, 2022

As the cost of living increases, consumers are looking to reduce spending, and recreational drinking could bear the brunt.

Nightjar gears up for a second round with Soho launch

Published: 11 March, 2022

Nightjar, the landmark speakeasy on Old Street is preparing to open its doors to a second site in Soho.

On-trade calls for hold on VAT rise

Published: 11 March, 2022

In April, the VAT on hospitality sector purchases will return to the pre-pandemic rate of 20%. The increase follows two years of reduced rates for the industry; in July 2020, rates were reduced to 5% before rising to 12.5% in October last year.

Hospitality cries for help

Published: 07 March, 2022

James Bayley dives into ‘quintuple shock’ looming on the horizon in April, as businesses call for more ongoing support to boost recovery.

London hospitality struggling the most post-covid

Published: 01 March, 2022

Hospitality sectors in major British cities including Bristol and Manchester are recovering their vibrancy as Covid restrictions wind down, according to new research.

From ‘demonised’ White Lyan to international entrepreneur – how Ryan Chet grew an empire

Published: 28 February, 2022

Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known by alias Mr Lyan, says his first launch, White Lyan, was branded as a heretical concept by his peers and ‘demonised’ when it launched back in 2013 for its left-field approach to cocktails. Fast forward nine years, and the British entrepreneur is on the cusp of launching Seed Library, which sees him come full circle to where it all began in East London.

Jack Rabbit launches new app for its Wine Club

Published: 28 February, 2022

Jack Rabbit, the UK’s number one on-trade wine brand, is launching a new mobile app for its Wine Club, allowing members to engage with the brand and redeem reward points digitally.

Government announces ‘Living with Covid plan’ but must do more to help hospitality

Published: 23 February, 2022

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ‘Living with Covid plan’, which will see England end all of its remaining legal coronavirus rules on Thursday, including contact tracing.

January deliveries up five-fold on pre-Covid levels for managed restaurants and pubs

Published: 21 February, 2022

Britain’s leading restaurant and pub groups saw their delivery sales reach five times their pre-pandemic levels in January, the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals.

Sadiq Khan proposes £10m tourism boost for London on-trade

Published: 17 February, 2022

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has today announced proposals to invest an additional £10m to attract more tourists back to the capital – including launching a new international tourism campaign.

L’Enclume becomes star of the north with a Michelin first

Published: 16 February, 2022

The latest iteration of the Michelin star list has unveiled a first for the north of England with Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume clinching a watershed three stars.

Restaurant January sales up on pre-Covid as restrictions ease

Published: 15 February, 2022

Rising consumer confidence about safety and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed pub, bar and restaurant groups to a modest increase in sales in January, the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

US investment firm makes bid for Corbin & King

Published: 14 February, 2022

A New York-based company, Knighthead Capital Management, has pledged to refinance Corbin & King's restaurants after making an offer to the administrators FRP Advisory.

Hospitality sector embarks upon landmark recruitment campaign

Published: 10 February, 2022

Grass-roots organisation Hospitality Rising has been appointed strategic leader of the industry’s biggest ever recruitment campaign, working in collaboration with the Hospitality & Tourism Sector Skills Board (HTSB).

Leeds and Glasgow hospitality sectors resurgent despite pandemic disruption

Published: 09 February, 2022

New research from CGA Strategy has uncovered a stark division between hospitality businesses in London and regional cities across the UK, with the latter thriving in the context of a difficult trading period, while London continues to struggle.

Hospitality sector urges government to stall VAT hike in April

Published: 08 February, 2022

In a campaign organised by UKHospitality, more than 250 business leaders from the service and leisure industries have written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, urging the government to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022.