On-Trade - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Majestic acquires Vagabond Wines

Published: 05 April, 2024

Wine retailer Majestic has bought Vagabond Wines after the business went into administration last month.

Largest ever increase to minimum wage takes effect

Published: 02 April, 2024

As of yesterday (1 April), employment costs have increased for hospitality businesses following a rise in the National Minimum Wage.

Easter weekend Hospitality bookings up 40%

Published: 28 March, 2024

The latest insight from hospitality technology partner Zonal reveals bookings for Easter weekend are up 40% compared to 2023.

Hospitality visits suffer as weekend revellers cut back

Published: 22 March, 2024

Visits to the on-trade are taking a tumble as consumers cut two nights’ worth of out of home eating and drinking down to one, new research reveals.

Night-time industry evolves amid swathe of club closures

Published: 19 March, 2024

Few industries have suffered more than night-time hospitality during and since the pandemic. Last month, Rekom UK, which owns the Pryzm and Atik nightclub brands shut down 17 of its venues.

Government announces ‘very positive’ apprenticeship changes

Published: 18 March, 2024

The government has today (18 March) announced a series of apprenticeship reforms which will benefit SMEs and the workers they employ within the hospitality sector.

Pub closures highest for a decade in 2023

Published: 18 March, 2024

According to accountancy firm Price Bailey, pub closures reached a decade high in 2023.

Spanish government to reduce restaurant opening hours

Published: 15 March, 2024

The Spanish government has announced its intention to enforce a 35-hour working week, to align itself with the rest of Europe and reduce restaurant opening hours.

Sommelier Wine Awards makes a welcome return

Published: 14 March, 2024

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) made a lively return this week (12-13 March) at The Oval in London, bringing together judges from a wide pool of the UK's leading restaurants.

Hospitality continues slow start to 2024

Published: 14 March, 2024

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

The Cocktail Co agrees LWC listing

Published: 11 March, 2024

The Cocktail Co, a producer of premium, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, has secured a listing with the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, LWC, with a view to on-trade expansion.

Hospitality industry hit by 63% cost surge

Published: 11 March, 2024

Research conducted by the price comparison website money.co.uk has found that the hospitality industry has been the most affected by cost increases.

Vagabond under ‘no threat of closure’ despite appointing administrators

Published: 07 March, 2024

A spokesperson for Vagabond Wines, the popular ‘self-pour’ wine bar chain founded by Stephen Finch in 2009, has confirmed the business will continue to trade as usual despite running into financial difficulties.

Only A Pavement Away helps hundreds into employment

Published: 06 March, 2024

Hospitality charity Only A Pavement Away is celebrating a major milestone as reaches its five-year anniversary, by helping to place over 450 people into employment.

London hospitality poised for off-peak tube and rail fare Fridays

Published: 06 March, 2024

From this Friday (8 March), London Underground and rail fares on pay-as-you-go and Oyster will be off-peak all day on Fridays, as part of an initiative to encourage businesses to return to the office five days a week.

Upping the ante on food and wine pairings

Published: 06 March, 2024

Mugaritz in San Sebastián is just one top restaurant exploring the relationship between wine lists and food menus via exclusive collaborations with producers, as Jo Gilbert discovers.

No rates relief for Scottish hospitality

Published: 28 February, 2024

The Scottish Budget for 2024-25 was passed unchanged at Holyrood yesterday (27 February), with hospitality businesses north of the border hanging in the balance.

Q4 restaurant closures highest-ever

Published: 28 February, 2024

Restaurant closures surged to the highest-ever quarterly figure in Q4 2023, according to accountancy firm Price Bailey.

Liberty Report: premium on-trade wine sales still below pre-Covid levels

Published: 23 February, 2024

Wholesaler and importer Liberty Wines has released its premium on-trade report covering the two years following the final Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2021.

Quarter of hospitality businesses run out of cash reserves

Published: 19 February, 2024

A joint survey by UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster has revealed the cost pressures facing venues compared to 2023.