Drinks

Drinks sales down but hopes up for strong Christmas

05-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

On premise drinks sales were down by 5% year-on-year in the week to last Saturday (25 November)—but there are grounds for optimism as the run-up to Christmas begins.

THE CASK PROJECT

St Austell beer festival raises £20k for charity

04-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

More than 2,000 people from across Cornwall and beyond descended on St Austell Brewery for its popular Celtic Beer Festival last month.

FEATURE – Low & no-alcohol

FEATURE: The category you can no longer ignore

04-Dec-2023 By Emma Inch

In 2023, the Christmas bells are ringing in some changes for how we celebrate together.

DRINKS LIST 2024

The Drinks List – top brands to stock in 2024

04-Dec-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Welcome to the Drinks List 2024 – a list of the top-selling beverages in the on-trade looking at 15 different categories during the past year.

DRINKS LIST 2024

The top cask brands to stock

04-Dec-2023 By The Morning Advertiser

Sharps Doom Bar was the best-selling cask ale brand in 2023, data from The Morning Advertiser’s The Drinks List has found.

Jump Ship: ‘taking action against BrewDog not an easy step’

01-Dec-2023 By Rebecca Weller

“Just because we are small doesn’t mean we don’t matter”, that is founder and managing director of alcohol-free beer brand Jump Ship Sonja Mitchell’s message to BrewDog.

THE CASK PROJECT

Acorn Brewery's new general manager to champion cask

01-Dec-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Liz Casserly is on a mission to champion cask as she takes to the helm of 20-year-old Acorn Brewery in Yorkshire.

Breweries pushed into insolvency due to rising interest rates

01-Dec-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Nearly as many craft breweries went out of business in the first half of 2023 as the whole of last year due to a surge in interest rates, data from Price Bailey has revealed.

CHRISTMAS NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Beers and spirits dominate new drinks for Christmas

30-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Hey, if you didn’t realise, Christmas is round the corner and now is an ideal time to launch some new drinks that could keep customers coming back until next Yuletide.

Bibendum top wine trends for 2024

29-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Close to nine out of 10 consumers would recommend a venue where they rated the wine offering as “very good or excellent”.

What’s on the Bar with the Red Lion, Shepperton

27-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The latest episode of What’s on the Bar showed what the award-winning Surrey pub, the Red Lion in Shepperton offers.

THE CASK PROJECT

Why Cask Ale Week is a highlight on the pub calendar

24-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Plenty has happened in recent times when it comes to the world of cask ale – not least Cask Ale Week, which was, as usual, a huge success.

Range 'most important' to new generation cider drinkers

23-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Three quarters of cider drinkers feel range is most important when choosing a hospitality venue to visit, especially during the winter months, according to the latest Heineken UK cider report.

Northern Monk discontinues two beers after complaints

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Leeds-based brewer Northern Monk has discontinued two of its seasonal products after complaints against the beers were upheld by the Portman Group.

THE CASK PROJECT

GK launches Cask Ale Club for franchises and T&L division

21-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Brewer and pub operator Greene King has launched a ‘Cask Ale Club’ initiative exclusively available to its ‘Pub Partners’.

Carlsberg shares 'heartbreak' as Russian staff arrested

21-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Carlsberg has shared its “heartbreak” after two members of staff at its Russian brewery were arrested on suspicion on fraud, branding the allegations against them as “fake”.

THE CASK PROJECT

Rocking Rudolph returns, cancer charity to benefit again

20-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Greene King is hoping to boost charity coffers again this year with the release of festive favourite cask ale Rocking Rudolph.

Xmas 'make or break' for sector as drinks sales dip

17-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Christmas period “make or break” for hospitality firms as drinks sales “disrupted” by stormy weather.

How a brewery creates a festive beer

17-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Norfolk brewery Woodforde’s wants to set the scene for enjoying a pint at Christmas.

Price of a pint of lager jumps 12.5% YOY

16-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The average cost of a pint of draught lager increased 12.5% in the year to October 2023 as pubs and brewers “struggle to survive”.

Camden Brewery unveils new collaborative beer

15-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Camden Town Brewery has launched a new limited-edition collaborative beer in partnership with HP Sauce, Camden HP Brown Ale.

WSTA: 'duty freeze only way to stop budget-busting price rises'

13-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A freeze on alcohol duty is the “only option” to prevent “inflation-stoking” and “budget-busting” price rises, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned.

THE CASK PROJECT

Old Peculier returns to US after 10-year gap

13-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

T&R Theakston has started shipping Old Peculier back to the US after a 10-year hiatus.

OPINION

Unfair tax system must be fixed

13-Nov-2023 By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent brewers (SIBA)

In a free market economy, Governments help things that are good for society and tax things that aren’t. Life should really be that simple.

What’s on the Bar with the Fox & Hounds

10-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

In this first episode of our What’s on the Bar series, we looked at the what the Fox & Hounds in Barley, Hertfordshire, is serving.

THE CASK PROJECT

Hook Norton brewer: quality and price point key for cask’s future

10-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Maintaining quality and not being scared to charge what your beer is worth will help cask beer stay at the forefront of UK pubs.

SIBA unveils new categories for 2024 Business Awards

09-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Entries for the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Business Awards 2024 are now open, with the introduction of new categories.

BrewDog’s Hawkes taproom shuts for good

07-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BrewDog has called last orders at its Hawkes taproom in Bermondsey, south London, citing economic pressures.

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Festive cocktail recipes to 'elevate' your offering

06-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

With the Christmas season fast approaching, this week’s Drinks Masterclass showcases some festive cocktail recipes to help pubs stand out from the crowd.

FEATURE - Spirits

FEATURE: Get into the spirit of increasing sales at your pub

03-Nov-2023 By Nigel Huddleston

Cocktail culture and the popularity of classic mixer serves such as the G&T have made spirits one of the most dynamic sections of the on-trade drinks market in recent years.

Drinks sales hit by reduction in 'big nights out'

03-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Daily drinks sales hit by “negative” trading figures as consumers “restrict” big nights out.

Low and no products becoming 'ingrained' in drinking culture

03-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Demand for low and no serves is “maturing” and becoming more culturally “ingrained” as products grow more “in their own right” to sit alongside alcohol.

The Cask Project

Trendy US-hopped kegged beers are great in cask too

03-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

US brewers see cask as the pinnacle for beer and the latest craft innovations from the US can work just as well in the traditional dispense method, according to Hook Norton’s Andy Thomas.

Carlsberg reports 5.8% revenue rise and cuts ties with Russian brewery

02-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Carlsberg Group has announced a 5.8% global rise in revenue per hectolitre across Europe and the termination of its license agreements with its Russian brewery as part of its Q3 performance update.

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Black Sheep Brewery releases first craft beer

01-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

This month's round-up includes new products from Black Sheep Brewery, Molson Coors, Thatchers Cider, Warner's Distillery and more.

Stout Wars: Guinness and the competitors for the crown

01-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

As winter approaches and pub customers’ thoughts turn to enjoying the cosy surroundings of a warm pub until the sun returns, plenty of people see stout as the perfect drink to relax with.

Real Brewing Pub Company enters administration

01-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Real Brewing Pub Company, the pub operation arm of Derby Brewing Company, has entered administration due to Covid debts and soaring costs.

CMBC’s multimillion-pound investment in Northampton Brewery

31-Oct-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is planning to invest more than £10m into upgrading equipment at its Northampton Brewery in a bid to boost its sustainability credentials.

Two Tribes chief: 'The stronger breweries will survive'

27-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Justin Deighton has friends in high places. A career spearheading the 90s club-culture revolution as a DJ accumulated a punchy contact book of artists, musicians and chefs.

Thatchers unveils new fruity flavour

26-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Thatchers Cider has extended its range of fruit ciders with the release of a new Apple and Blackcurrant variant.

Hall & Woodhouse offloads Rio

25-Oct-2023 By MCA

Independent brewer and pub company Hall and Woodhouse has sold soft drinks brand Rio to A.G. Barr for £12.3m.

Signature Brew smashes fundraising target on day 1

25-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

East London-based Signature Brew, which is known for collaborating with musicians and bands, has launched its third crowdfunding campaign and is overfunding before the first day of the drive is over.

BrewDog slashes prices for under-25s

24-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

BrewDog has launched an ‘Under-25 Club’, cutting prices by 50% for younger guests across all its UK bars.

Where can you swap Tesco Clubcard points for pints?

23-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Tesco Clubcard points can now be used at BrewDog bars, but which other venues let you switch out points for pints?

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Pubs need to 'stand out from the crowd' when it comes to wine

23-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Kickstarting the latest series of The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks Masterclass, we've looked at trends within the wine category and how operators can “stand out from the crowd” to encourage consumers to explore wine lists and boost sales.

CASK WEBINAR

Don't miss our cask webinar live today at 3pm

20-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

If you want to start or improve your cask beer offer, sign up now for free to watch our webinar on cask ale that goes live today at 3pm (Tuesday 31 October).

CAMRA: Autumn Statement is ‘make or break’ moment for UK pubs

19-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Next month’s Autumn Statement has been labelled as a “make or break” moment for the UK’s pubs, according to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

No change of average pint price

19-Oct-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The average cost of a pint draught lager stayed at £4.62 in September – the same price as the previous month, according to official figures.

CMBC secures 'momentous' 10-year agreement with Stonegate

17-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced a new 10-year partnership with the UK’s largest pub company.

CASK WEBINAR

How to improve your cask offer – free webinar

16-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Whether you’re a licensee wanting to start serving cask beers or a pub company looking for a few tips to improve the offer you already have – this free webinar is one you won’t want to miss.