Merchant House to open specialist gin and rum bar in London

The London Bar Consultants are opening Merchant House in the City, which will stock super premium and rare rums as well as 250 different gins.

Matthew Clark sees wine sales rise 7%

Wine sales at on-trade wholesaler Matthew Clark have jumped by 7% in the last year, outperforming the on-trade as a whole where sales fell 13%, according to CGA.

Final 12 sommeliers chosen to battle it out for Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2014

The 12 semi-finalists of the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2014, organised by the Academy of Food & Wine Service, have been announced who will now battle it out to go through to the grand final.

Sake: hot or cold? Anna Greenhous on when it's right to heat things up

Whether sake should be drunk warm or cold is the subject of much debate. People unfamiliar with sake have often only experienced it warm, and so believe this is the way it should be served. Some sake fans claim good quality sake should always be served cold and that bad sake is warmed to hide its faults. However, it isn't that simple.

My List: Devon Pryor, head sommelier at Home House, London

Hands down, the wine I am most excited to have added to the list recently is Château La Lagune 2005. This 3eme Cru Haut-Médoc is on the Home House list for £188.

Bottle Green poaches national account manager from Australian Vintage

Wine importer and distributor Bottle Green as appointed Russell Smith to senior national account manager, with responsibility for two national off-trade customers.

Stevens Garnier to distribute Finca Flichman through Molson Coors

Stevens Garnier has appointed Molson Coors to distribute its Argentinian brand Finca Flichman in the on-trade.

Organic wine firm Vintage Roots returns to growth

Organic wines supplier Vintage Roots has seen sales surge by 12% in the past nine months.

Jägermeister to leave Cellar Trends and set up its own UK distribution company

Noma reclaims the title of World's Best Restaurant

Harpers Awards announces its finalists for 2014

Restaurants, bars, sommeliers, multiple grocers, drinks websites, independent wine merchants, suppliers and brand owners will all come together on June 2 in the hope of winning a trophy at the Harpers Awards 2014.

Tube strikes will mean more losses for London's restaurants and bars

London bars and restaurants face losses as more Tube strikes are lined up, says the British Hospitality Association.

Brazilian nightclub to open in Battersea in time for the World Cup

Cocobananas is a new Brazilian nightclub that is set to open in Battersea, south London in time for people to celebrate the World Cup.

Spend on eating out grows

Consumer spending on eating out has risen in the last quarter, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker.

Douglas Blyde unleashes his senses on José Sanfins' wines at London's Clos Maggiore

According to research recently published in journal, "Science", the average human is equipped to differentiate some one trillion odours (999,999,990,000 more than previously thought). Buoyed by these findings, I was keen to apply my apparently amazing snout to the finery at Clos Maggiore's wine club. Tonight's instalment was hosted by Matt Thomas. Formerly a store manager at Majestic Wines, Thomas joined Hallgarten Druitt, as account development manager six months ago. Despite Clos Maggiore's Covent Garden location, Thomas's territory, work-wise and residentially is Dalston where he secured accounts, White Rabbit and Jones & Son, which he highly recommends are worth a visit

Pub and restaurant sales jump 4.6% in March

Sales at the UK's largest pub and restaurant groups rose 4.6% on a like-for-like basis in March, compared to the same month in 2013, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Tesco ups casual dining focus as profits slide

Tesco is boosting its store refurbishment programme by opening 100 new Giraffe, Decks and Harris + Hoole outlets in the next year

Douglas Blyde visits Putney's new Italian trattoria BIBO

BIBO, defined as "simply the Latin, Bibo (I drink) - Bibo ergo Sum if you will," by consultant-sommelier, Zeren Wilson, is brought to you by restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas, mind behind local stars, Sam's Brasserie and Kitchen W8, and chef Chris Beverley, "one of Theo Randall's top boys."

Liberty Wines recruits commercial director

Liberty Wines has recruited Jon Worsley as commercial director to boost the company's premium position.

Restaurant review: ?Margaux

Margaux, 152 Old Brompton Rd, London SW5 0BE; barmargaux.co.uk