Sparkling wine is success story of 2014, as still wine sales fall, says WSTA report

Wine sales fell 3% in the off-trade in 2014, and 2% in the on-trade - but sparkling wines are still in the ascendancy, says the latest market report from the Wine & Spirits Trade Association.

Australian wine Giant Steps moves to Liberty Wines from OW Loeb

Yarra Valley's Giant Steps wine has shifted its UK distribution from OW Loeb to Liberty Wines.

Mitchells & Butlers lists Help for Heroes wine

Bar and restaurant operator Mitchells & Butlers has listed the Help for Heroes wine brand at 300 of its venues across the country.

BBC Food & Drink's new double act of Joe Wadsack and Tom Kerridge goes live on January 2

Joe Wadsack, the acclaimed wine broadcaster and consultant, will make his first appearance as the new face of wine on BBC's Food & Drink programme when the programme is re-launched with two Michelin-star chef, Tom Kerridge, on January 2, 2015. 

David Beckham's Haig Club whisky to open pop-up bar and retail store for Christmas

Alcohol wholesaler scheme 'massive' boost for legitimate traders and retailers

A new registration scheme for alcohol wholesalers will be a "massive boost for legitimate traders and taxpayers", and a "positive step" for retailers, say trade bodies. 

Eating out growth boosts pub and restaurant sales

Pub and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales grow 3.4% in November, marking the 20^th consecutive month of growth for the sector.

COPY: Harpers new consumer report reveals key wine trends in the UK on-trade

In the second of our exclusive consumer reports, Harpers turns the spotlight on drinking trends in the UK on-trade and finds out what the average Brit thinks of the wine in their glass and what attracts them, or not, to ordering wine when out and out about compared to other drinks

Restaurateur Marlon Abela buys into wine merchant OW Loeb

High profile restaurateur Marlon Abela has taken a majority ownership interest in wine merchant OW Loeb.

Starbucks moves into on-trade in US with beer and wine offering

Last week Starbucks announced at its annual investor conference that it would begin serving beer, wine and 'evening' food in 3,000 of its 11,900 cafes in the US.

Business rates relief welcomed by pubs and drinks retailers

The 2% cap on business rates and commitment to a full "structural review", as revealed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement, has been broadly welcomed across all sides of the drinks industry - both on and off-trade.

Despite positive H1 results, concerns about Greene King remain

Total revenue was up 3.3% rising to £614.9 million for the first half of 2015 fiscal year for pub company and brewer Greene King, but its operating profit dropped 3.1% to £123.3 million.

Jago to highlight Middle Eastern cuisine at new opening in Shoreditch

London sees boom in restaurant openings in 2014

London has seen "unprecedented" growth in net restaurant openings in the past year, as 101 venues opened up, beating the previous 2006 record of 75.

Brothers James and Richard Manning are doing their bit to shake up juice bars

Brothers James and Richard Manning started out in the industry selling fresh British juices made at their Herefordshire farm. Little did they know that their old wooden apple crates would transform their business, says Bernadette Costello, and they are now looking to work with wine and spirits brands.   

You'll need loadsamoney to enjoy St Pancras's £60 a glass Cinnamoney mulled wine

Hands up who likes mulled wine? Go on, you know you do. Throw in a  few carols, a bit of recently laid snow and there's nothing quite like those touches of spice and cinnamon on a cold winter's day.

Vinoteca counts down to Christmas with Wine-vent Calendar

After the frenzy of Black Friday you might think Christmas is almost upon us, but there are actually still 24 shopping days left.

UK on-trade gears up for bumper festive season

Bars and restaurants are heralding a bumper festive season, with bookings so far 5-10% ahead of last year.

Spanish wines fastest growing in UK bars and restaurants

Spanish wines are the fastest growing in the UK on-trade - listings are up 25% in the last year - at the expense of French wines, whose listings have fallen by 11%.

Four pubs battle it out for CAMRA's National Pub of the Year

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has shortlisted four pubs who will battle it out to be named its National Pub of the Year.