Brookfield Drinks acquires Crabbie’s from Halewood
Brookfield Drinks has acquired the Crabbie’s alcoholic ginger beer brand from Halewood Artisanal Spirits.
Beer
London accounts for 44% of smaller beer serves
Smaller beer serves are becoming a growing midweek habit in Britain’s new bars, new data has shown.
Brewery closure rate slows but pressures remain
The rate of UK brewery closures slowed in the first half of 2026, but independent brewers are still facing significant pressure, according to new SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) data.
FEATURE
FEATURE: Winners on the bar – four of the fastest-growing beers in UK pubs
There are always going to be winners and losers on the bar of any pub.
International Beer Day 2026
OPINION: Cash efficiencies key to innovation in brewing
With International Beer Day taking place today (Friday 7 August), we look at how innovative moves within in the beer industry are taking place with one eye on financial constraints…
Diageo sales slip as Guinness continues to power ahead
Guinness continued to outperform the wider beer market and gain share in UK pubs, despite a downturn in annual sales for Diageo.
Vault City grows pub presence as fruit beer category expands
Fruit beer has soared in popularity recently and Edinburgh-based Vault City is a key producer in the craft beer market.
Pub market to hit £24.7bn despite seven closures a week
The UK pub and bar market is forecast to grow 2% to £24.7bn this year, despite continued outlet decline, according to new Lumina Intelligence data.
Damm UK admits Old Speckled Hen delays ‘feel like a shortage’
Damm UK has admitted some pubs are experiencing delays with receiving Old Speckled Hen products as the portfolio of beers transitions from the ownership of Greene King.
Cask Marque gets Lucky
Beer accreditation scheme Cask Marque has signed up its first ever low & no member with Lucky Saint coming on board as a corporate member.
Damm UK takeover of Eagle Brewery saved jobs as recruitment drive ramps up
Damm UK head brewer Chris Reid says its acquisition of Eagle Brewery in Bedford has saved dozens of jobs as it begins its biggest recruitment drive in 19 years.
Draught sales rise despite dip in pub numbers
Licensed premises reported strong draught sales despite declining outlet numbers as warmer weather and the World Cup boosted trade, new data has shown.
King Charles pours pints at Hall & Woodhouse Badger brewery
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewing in Blandford, as the business marked its 250th anniversary.
James Watt mounts new bid to ‘bring BrewDog home’
BrewDog co-founder James Watt has formally submitted a new offer to buy back the company from Tilray.
World Cup semi-final offers bigger trade boost than NYE
More than 6m extra pints have been predicted to be poured across the on-trade during the World Cup semi final, providing a bigger uplift than New Year’s Eve (NYE).
BBG warns rising taxes could backfire on Gov and pubs, new fruit beer flying
Budweiser Brewing Group (BBG) has warned further tax increases on the sector could ultimately backfire on operators and the Government.
World Cup quarter final worth £27m for pubs
Pubs could generate more than £27m in additional pint sales during England’s World Cup quarter final against Norway, new data has revealed.
Northern Monk: Craft beer is evolving, not dying
Craft beer isn’t dead yet, Northern Monk has said, arguing headline category declines hide a more nuanced story of growth, innovation and changing consumer tastes.
THE CASK PROJECT
Damm UK: Cask under pressure but Gen Z could drive comeback
Damm UK admits the cask ale category is under pressure after its acquisition of the Old Speckled Hen brands from Greene King – but young drinkers can save it.
Average UK pint prices jump as regional beer costs revealed
Average pint prices across the UK have shot up within a year, according to the latest MA Beer Report 2026.
CAMRA calls for CMA probe into UK beer market
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the UK beer market, warning independent brewers are being excluded from bars and pubs.
Brains MD: Trade remains ‘bloody tough’, plans to build Guinness Storehouse-style attraction
Brains managing director Nick Payne is looking to pursue plans to build a Guinness Storehouse-style brewery attraction in Cardiff despite trading conditions remaining difficult.
Northern Monk doubles down on pubs with Damm partnership
Northern Monk has shared ambitious plans to grow its on-trade presence over the next year through its distribution partnership with Damm Brewery.
BrewDog CEO James Taylor steps down from role
BrewDog CEO James Taylor has stepped down from his position at the Ellon-based brewer and pub operator business.
Greene King unveils new fruit-flavoured lager
Greene King has debuted a new peach lager in response to growing demand for fruit-led beers.
Adnams secures new borrowing facilities
Adnams has secured an extension of its borrowing facilities with Barclays through to June 2027.
MA Beer Report: World lager takes a third of all sales in pubs, exclusive data revealed too
Data from the MA Beer Report 2026 shows world lager accounts for 30% of volume sales and 35% of value sales.
NEW PRODUCTS
NEW PRODUCTS: BrewDog, Stella & Brixton launch summer brews
A range of new beers and ciders have been released for the on-trade for the all important summer trading period.
THE MA BEER REPORT 2026
MA Beer Report 2026 goes live next week
Don’t miss the MA Beer Report 2026, which goes live next week.
Damm UK on-trade sales surge as Old Speckled Hen deal nears completion
Damm UK has reported strong growth across the on-trade as the brewer prepares to complete its acquisition of the Old Speckled Hen family of brands from Greene King.
NEW PRODUCTS
Stella Artois unveils new limited-edition beer
Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I has announced the launch of a new fruity variant of Stella Artois.
Functional beer moves beyond low & no
Functional beer is moving beyond low & no, as brewers increasingly look to fibre, electrolytes, vitamins, botanicals, gluten-free recipes and low-calorie positioning to reach health conscious drinkers.
Brewery to bar: Mapping Britain’s biggest beer producers
From iconic ales to household lager brands, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has mapped where the UK’s biggest brewers are based and the beers they produce at each site.
Dark Star Brewery founder Rob Jones dies
Rob Jones, the founder of Dark Star Brewery and landlord of the Duke of Wellington pub in Shoreham by Sea, Sussex, has died following illness.
Death of the round?
With changing consumer habits, has the tradition of buying drinks in a round gone the way of the dodo? The Lock In team head to the bar to find out.
Over 28m pints sold across spring bank holiday
More than 28m pints were poured across the spring bank holiday weekend, new data has revealed.
Fruit beer and stout fuelling category growth
Both stout and fruit beer are seeing value growth, new data has shown.
James Watt reveals plans to launch beer business
BrewDog co-founder James Watt has announced he is launching a new beer venture.
NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP
NEW PRODUCTS: Vocation unveils new seasonal line-up
This month’s new products round-up features innovations from Vocation, Jägermeister, Thatcher’s, Aviation Gin and Greene King alongside a variety of snacks.
EXCLUSIVE: Average pint price up 3.3%
The average cost of a pint of draught beer has increased by 17p to £5.34 in the past 12 months, according to an exclusive survey from The Morning Advertiser.
Champion Beer of Britain 2026 unveiled
A south west brew has been named this year’s Champion Beer of Britain.
GK sells Old Speckled Hen beer brands to Damm UK
Pub company and brewer Greene King has announced the sale of its Old Speckled Hen (OSH) beer brands to Damm UK alongside a new brewing strategy, which will see the company “move away from off-trade channels”.
£10 pints ‘not reflective of wider market’
£10 pints are largely confined to premium hotels and do not reflect the wider market, operators have said, warning rising costs could make such prices more commonplace.
OPINION: Let’s get real on the £10 pint issue
Let’s be realistic for a minute: despite the national media nonsense claiming that the £10 pint has arrived in London, it hasn’t. Yet.
NTIA: ‘Reality of £10 pints more complex than headline figure’
As London pint prices reportedly hit £10, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned the reality is “far more complex” than the headline figure.
Operator vows to ‘fight’ after council rejects brewery taproom plans
A Dorset brewery has vowed to continue to “fight” for its business after the council rejected a planning application for a taproom.
Women’s presence in indie beer rises - but gaps remain
Last year saw a modest shift in gender balance across at independent breweries, with the proportion of women in the workforce up slightly, but disparities across roles persist, new data has revealed.
Woodforde’s hails Indie Beer Week
Norfolk brewer Woodforde’s has hailed SIBA’s ongoing Indie Beer Week, stating the support created for such breweries is also beneficial for their local communities.
SIBA: Indie brewers’ focus is simply on survival
Almost half of Britain’s independent brewers are focused solely on survival as almost a third expect turnover to fall this year, new data has revealed.
‘I’ve always wanted to own it’ Tilray’s CEO on achieving his dream purchase
“What this business needed was a disruptor,” says Irwin Simon, the new owner of BrewDog - with no small degree of irony.