St Austell CEO demands Gov ‘keep a pint affordable’
St Austell Brewery chief executive Kevin Georgel has demanded the Government takes action to “keep a pint of great British beer affordable”.
Beer
Guinness 60/40: Here to stay or a passing fad?
A new social media trend has divided opinion among Guinness drinkers and operators.
Which beers have had their ABV reduced?
Foster’s is the latest brand to drop its ABV as a wave of big-names get weaker at the bar.
Operators warn of tipping point on pricing as sector looks to sharpen its beer offer
Operators from Bristol and the wider region shared a mixture of optimism and realism at a Morning Advertiser roundtable last week, exploring how pubs can sharpen their beer offer in a changing market.
AUTUMN BUDGET 2025
Gov must use Budget to ‘empower’ indie brewers
The Government has the chance to “empower” independent brewers at next week’s Autumn Budget SIBA chief executive Andy Slee told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
Pubs must sell 950k extra pints an hour to cover rising costs
Scottish pub operator and brewer BrewDog has warned pubs would need to sell an extra 950,000 pints an hour to offset rising energy, labour and tax costs.
Heineken boss vows to keep Foster’s pricing ‘competitive’
Heineken UK on-trade director Will Rice has pledged to keep the price of Foster’s ‘competitive’ after reducing the lager’s strength.
Heineken boss issues Budget demands
Heineken on-trade director Will Rice is backing the industry in its bid to ensure the Government supports the sector in the Budget.
OPINION
OPINION: Beer drinkers too hung up on ABVs
Heineken UK slashing the strength of Foster’s Lager from 3.7% ABV to 3.4% was enough for historian and industry commentator Keith Flett to demand the return of the Assize of Ale (presumably extended to bottom-fermented products).
Heineken lowers Foster’s ABV
Heineken UK has announced it will brew its Foster’s Lager with a reduced ABV in line with shifting drinking habits.
NEW PRODUCTS
SALT targets new wave of drinkers with latest brew
Yorkshire-based brewer SALT has targeted the fast-growing fruit beer category with the launch of its latest brew.
Robinsons boss on fears for 2026 as costs continue to batter sector
Robinsons joint managing director Oliver Robinson has expressed his fears for the upcoming year as cost pressures continue to attack the sector.
The year of the black pint: Stout finds fresh energy and new fans
With International Stout Day today (6 November), few categories are fizzing with as much momentum as stout. Once a winter comfort, it’s now a year-round staple, and, for the first time, it’s not just the “old boys” drinking it.
How malt, hops and yeast shape beer flavour
Understanding the difference between yeast, malt, and hop-driven beers can help operators inform customers, guide purchasing decisions and curate a well-rounded beer selection to meet diverse tastes.
Guinness begins ‘new chapter’ as it confirms Covent Garden brewery opening date
Diageo’s Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden is set to open its doors just before Christmas (Thursday 11 December).
Gen Z drinking less, or just drinking differently? New data challenges assumptions
The long-running story that Gen Z are turning their backs on alcohol is losing strength. New research from Lumina Intelligence and CGA by NIQ shows younger adults are still drinking, socialising and spending in pubs and bars, just in different ways.
APPBG and Tourism urges business rates and tax overhaul
A cross-party group of MPs has called for sweeping fiscal reform to help pubs and brewers unlock growth and investment, warning that current tax and regulatory pressures are stifling the sector’s potential.
Demand for fruit beer surges as drinkers seek new flavours
Once a niche offering, fruit beers are rapidly emerging as one of the on-trade’s brightest opportunities, drawing in curious drinkers seeking flavour and novelty.
Bars, pubs and clubs see spending dip as consumer caution continues
Spending in bars, pubs and clubs fell 0.5% in September, according to Barclays’ latest Consumer Spend report, as cautious consumers reined in discretionary spending ahead of November’s Autumn Budget.
NEW PRODUCTS
New products for pubs this Halloween
With the spooky season just around the corner, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has rounded-up the best new products available for pubs this Halloween.
Damm officially opens its first brewery outside the Iberian Peninsula following £70m investment
Beer business Damm has officially opened its Bedford brewery after investing £70m in a bid to modernise the site.
‘Escalating overheads’ forces Gipsy Hill to move majority of brewing to Curious Brewery
Gipsy Hill has announced it is moving the majority of its brewing the Curious Brewery in Ashford, Kent.
BrewDog demands action to counter additional £1bn sector costs
Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has demanded action in the upcoming Budget as “the UK brewing and pub sector has been hit by more than £1bn in additional costs over the past 12 months”.
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE: Alf Turner partners with Stonegate to raise money for Help for Heroes
Alf Turner butchers has joined forces with the UK’s biggest pubco to raise money for veterans charity Help for Heroes.
Has the price of a pint become unaffordable?
The Lock In podcast explores the cost of a pint along with beer writing legend Pete Brown - has the price risen out of reach of the consumer?
What is the history of Guinness?
The new Netflix series is sparking an interest in the history of the famous Dublin brewery and the Guinness family.
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE: Majority of drinkers bored by pub beer ranges
Almost three-quarters of drinkers are bored of the beer ranges they come across in the on-trade, new research has revealed.
Asahi responds after cyberattack halts operations
Brewing giant Asahi has confirmed its UK supply has not been impacted after a cyberattack caused a system failure, bringing the business to a standstill.
Brewers warn rising production costs forcing price hikes onto pubs
Brewery bosses have warned rising energy bills, higher wages and regulatory pressures are driving up production costs and forcing price increases onto pubs.
Cask Ale Week: Sharp’s celebrates ‘local pub legends’
Sharp’s Brewery has highlighted pubs at the heart of their communities by celebrating the first six Cornish venues to be recognised as part of its Cask Quality Club.
INDIE BEER MASTERCLASS: gluten-free beer
In the past, the beer options for people who are allergic or have an intolerance to gluten were very limited.
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE: Laine shifts to pure pub focus
The Laine Pub Company has announced the decision to shift its operations away from brewing to focus on its pub estate.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Meantime & KG Hospitality unite to open ‘community hub’
KG Hospitality group and Asahi-owned Meantime Brewery have joined forces to open the Dial, a new community hub in London’s Greenwich Peninsula.
FEATURE: Bring back the Boddies
Manchester has clearly contributed its share of cultural icons to the national psyche.
Signature MD: Budget encouraged cutting of hours rather than job creation
The Government would rather see opening hours cut at pubs rather than the creation of new jobs, according to Signature Brew managing director Tom Bott.
Adnams reduces debt to £11.7m as turnaround progresses
Adnams has cut its debt to £11.7m at the half-year, down from £18.2m a year earlier, as the Suffolk brewer and pub operator pushes ahead with its turnaround strategy.
BrewDog hits back over draught beers listing losses
Scottish bar operator and brewer BrewDog has hit back over reports that claim it has lost listings of its beers in almost 2,000 pubs.
INDIE BEER MASTERCLASS: Extra Pale Ale (XPA)
Extra Pale Ales have become really popular in the UK in recent years thanks to delivering great hop aroma and flavour in a lighter tasting beer.
Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery and Butcombe Group join forces
Multiple operator and brewer Butcombe Group and Jeremy Clarkson-owned business Hawkstone Brewery and his Farmer’s Dog pub are collaborating this summer.
A look at the past 10 CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain winners
The Morning Advertiser has taken a look back at the past 10 Champion Beer of Britain winners from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Two thirds of public ‘lost faith in Gov’s efforts to save pubs’
Almost two thirds of the public believe the Government must do more to help pubs and bars.
CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2025 unveiled
Mild by Penzance Brewery has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2025 at the Great British Beer Festival in Birmingham.
Brewery expansion for Joule’s
Market Drayton-based pub operator and brewery Joule’s is to expand its brewery as demand for its beers continue to grow.
FEATURE: Discovering trends at the London Craft Beer Festival
Brewers came together with craft beer fans for the London Craft Beer Festival at Magazine in London on a gloriously hot Friday but torrential rain gatecrashed the party a day later.
Estrella Damm 0.0% to be rolled out across on-trade
This summer will see Damm launch Estrella Damm 0.0%.
Anspach & Hobday launches Pineapple Gose
London-based craft brewery Anspach & Hobday has released a pineapple gose using Maldon Salt.
Record results and the return of a legendary beer from JW Lees
Family brewer JW Lees has announced another record year of results, along with a deal which will see iconic Manchester beer Boddingtons being relaunched back into the cask market.
Premiumisation and stout driving LAD segment
The Long Alcoholic Drinks (LAD) category was the only major drinks category to grow market share in the on-trade during the first half of 2025, new insights from CGA by NIQ have revealed.
NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP
New beers available for pubs this month
The past month has seen several new beers and ciders launched for the on-trade, including from Sagres, Stella Artois, Old Mout and more.
Fears grow for cask beer and UK British brewing heritage
Fears are continuing to grow for the future of cask and the UK’s brewing heritage a year after Marston’s sold its remaining brewing interests to what is now Carlsberg Britvic.