Cocktails

Cocktail and spirits sales up, ale sales down for JDW

10-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Cocktail, vodka and rum sales have risen for pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) but draught products including traditional ale and stout sales have declined.

CBD alcohol dying fad despite ‘anti-anxiety’ benefits

09-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Cannabidiol (CBD)-infused alcohol is a dying craze unlikely to resurface due to the hesitation of larger companies and distrust of customers, said bar operators.

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The UK's favourite cocktails made easy with Funkin Pre-batch products

08-Nov-2021 By Funkin

As the UK returns to its pubs, it seems drinkers are increasingly expecting a wider drinks offering, looking for cocktails they know and love to be on the menu.

Top 50 Cocktail Bars

Top 50 Cocktail Bars awards open for entry

05-Nov-2021 By Top 50 Cocktail Bars

Have you got the best bar team in the country, pride yourself on your sustainable credentials or perhaps you’re new to the bar scene and want to make your mark?

Nightcap reports 68% sales increase versus pre-Covid

03-Nov-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap, the parent company of cocktail bar groups London Cocktail Club and Tonight Josephine, has reported a 68% increase in net sales for a 13-week period versus the same, pre-Covid, equivalent in 2019.

New products round-up

Spirits dominate latest new launches

28-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Whether it's the fiscal boon awarded to the spirits sector through this week's Autumn Budget statement from Chancellor Rishi Sunak or just a buzz for Halloween, spirits are the top hitters for new products this week.

Autumn Budget 2021

Duty increase for alcohol scrapped, new scheme to lower rate further

27-Oct-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced planned duty increases for alcoholic drinks at pubs would be cancelled from midnight on Thursday (28 October) and a new Draught Relief scheme would see duty cuts of 5% introduced in 2023.

Opinion

Socialisation on a grand scale

29-Sep-2021 By Dianne Irving, managing director, Drouth Ltd

Last week, I attended the MA Leaders Club event in Leeds. This event, formerly known as the MA 500, can only be described as first rate.

GBPA 2021

Having a blast on social media

29-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Morning Advertiser looks at the social media activity of those involved in the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) after the event and category winners were announced.

New products round-up

The latest new products to hit the market

24-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

This week’s new products focuses on a variety of spirits, including gins from Boë and Foghouse, plus tea, coffee, beer and ginger ale variants.

Quality time at the bar

20-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Whether it is a bit more disposable cash or a lust to try the best products available, pub customers are going for quality when it comes to enjoying a drink since the on-trade reopened in earnest.

New products round-up

New products round-up: The latest products to hit the market, including a rebrand for Vocation’s entire range

10-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The latest new products include Vocation, Crodino, Nuet, Lost Boys Brewery, Tomatin and Beavertown.

Property round-up

Property round-up: The latest activity in the pub property market

08-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The latest property news includes Banwell House Pub Company, The Manor Reborn group, London Cocktail Club, Blame Gloria and The Castle Hotel.

Big interview

'Resilience of pubs is one of the biggest things to come out of the pandemic'

09-Aug-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

The way the on-trade has adapted and been resilient against the coronavirus pandemic has been a huge learning, one drinks business boss has highlighted.

Reopened Revolution Bars trading at 86% of 2019 levels during roadmap

05-Jul-2021 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group’s 66 sites have traded at almost 90% of 2019 levels since resuming indoor trade, according to an update ahead of the operator’s year end date on 3 July.

Spirits Week – in association with Diageo

'Things people couldn't recreate at home key to keeping customers coming back'

13-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

To cap off Spirits Week, Diageo’s Rob Poulter explains how operators can stir up success at their pub or bar by diversifying their drinks offer.

Spirits Week – in association with Diageo

Consumers still 'really engaged' in cocktail culture while bars were shut

12-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Diageo’s Hywel Evans pours over ways in which pub and bar operators can increase profitability with cocktails once Covid restrictions ease.

Spirits Week – in association with Diageo

Cocktails 'vital part' of on-trade sales mix

11-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

On day two of Spirits Week, brought to you by Diageo, CGA’s Tom Quinn serves up some key stats about the spirit and cocktail categories and runs through the recipe for spirits success.

Spirits Week - In association with Diageo

Cocktail-led outings 'much, much more of a reward'

10-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

To introduce Spirits Week, brought to you by Diageo, drinks expert Douglas Blyde distils some of the key trends and new consumer behaviours shaking up the spirit and cocktail categories.

In association with Fentimans

Key drink trends for summer 2021: Premium pours, gin growth and independent brands

10-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

With the help of experts from across the on-trade, The Morning Advertiser and premium drinks brand Fentimans have poured over a handful of trends worth watching as the parched public return to pubs and bars.

New product round-up

Summer serves: seasonal launches from Bombay Sapphire, Kopparberg and Crystal Head Vodka

16-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Bombay Sapphire, Kopparberg, Crystal Head Vodka and a collaboration between HonestBrew and Northern Monk are among the latest crop of seasonal drink launches.

New product round-up

New launches from Haig Club, Martini, BrewDog Distilling Co and Roger Daltrey

09-Apr-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

This fruit flavoured new products round-up sees Haig Club, BrewDog Distilling Co, Hawkes and Martini among drinks makers to unveil new pours in time for summer.

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The products tasted in The MA's Virtual New Products Showcase

24-Mar-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

More than 30 operators took part in The Morning Advertiser's first Virtual New Products Showcase, in which a series of tastings were undertaken.

London Cocktail Club owner eyes growth to 40 sites in five years

16-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Co-founded by investor Sarah Willingham in September 2020, Nightcap plc harbours hopes of quadrupling in size following its acquisition of London Cocktail Club.

Operators warned of fines for unlicenced cocktail deliveries

11-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operators have been warned that they need special permission from HMRC for the off-sale of pre-mixed cocktails.

Double Dutch launches scholarship for aspiring female bartenders

08-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Premium tonic and mixer brand Double Dutch is celebrating International Women’s Day 2021 by unveiling its Female Bartender Scholarship Programme.

Revolution revenue drops by £41.3m – further liquidity secured

17-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The operator of 67 bars under its nationwide Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands has reported sales significantly down in the first 24 weeks of FY21 as a result of “severe and constantly evolving trading restrictions.”

Sponsored by Diageo

How to install draught cocktails

11-Dec-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

The growth of draught cocktail technology means pubs with little time or bar space to make cocktails can now easily tap into this profitable category.

Christmas stocking: which drinks should make pub and bar operator lists this year?

10-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Though drink sales in pubs traditionally snowball over Christmas, the ongoing pandemic means that, more than ever, strong seasonal returns will be far from gift wrapped when venues reopen.

Post-lockdown profits hidden in cocktails

09-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

It was the rising star of the on-trade outside of specialist bars, yet cocktails in pubs understandably took a bashing during and after the first coronavirus lockdown. But forget the category at your peril, because the money generated by cocktails prior...

Revolution Bars Limited CVA launched

27-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Nationwide bar operator Revolution Bars Group has launched a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) of subsidiary Revolution Bars Limited in a bid to improve the wider group’s long-term financial position.

NEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers grow rum range

06-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Both Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers have added new variants ahead of National Rum Day on 16 August, while Everards and Robinsons have launched limited edition beers.

One in six have failed to fulfil dinner or drinks bookings since lockdown

20-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Though 95% of Brits consider it rude not to let a pub, bar or restaurant know they won’t be making a booking, operators have nonetheless faced a wave of ‘no-shows’ since trading resumed on 4 July.

MA’s review of the week

Consumers will have a difficult time deciphering the purpose of face masks

17-Jul-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's (MA) editor Ed Bedington catches up with The Alchemist’s Simon Potts to discuss what’s grabbed his attention from the week’s headlines.

Revolution Bars to kick off phased reopening on 6 July

02-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Revolution Bars Group has outlined plans to gradually reopen its 74-site stable post-lockdown with measures such as cashless payments and mobile ordering in place.

Inception Group puts £25,000 behind the bar for NHS workers

30-Jun-2020 By Stuart Stone

London-based bar operator Inception Group has pledged to spread a £25,000 tab for NHS staff across its eclectic estate as part of reopening plans.

Little interview

Women ‘less hesitant’ in drinks start-ups, says Double Dutch co-founder

06-Mar-2020 By Stuart Stone

Raissa de Haas, who co-founded premium mixer brand Double Dutch, looks forward to seeing the ‘next batch’ of young female entrepreneurs make their mark.

Are gender-neutral cocktails a thing?

13-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

A new survey has revealed 21% of participants do not feel comfortable drinking certain cocktails as they feel they are better suited to the opposite gender.

Big interview

'Time capsule' concepts can help bring the pub into the 21st century

11-Nov-2019 By Stuart Stone

Known for its stylish and innovative venues, Inception Group has 11 sites, with more planned. Here, co-founder Charlie Gilkes tell us how the operation began, where the ideas come from and what to expect in the future

Long queue times ‘drives customers away’

11-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

New research shows queues could be losing bartenders more customers than they realise, with the average British consumer waiting up to a whopping 12 hours a year for their cocktails.

Beat the chill with a great winter cocktail line-up

06-Nov-2019 By Alice Leader

Cocktail drinkers visit the on-trade 25% more than non-cocktail drinkers, according the CGA analysis.

Alcohol-free cocktail range includes Aperol Spritz and Pink G&T alternatives

02-Oct-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A new drinks company has made its debut with a range of cocktails for teetotallers, including the first alcohol-free versions of two popular pub drinks.

Drinkers seeking ‘purist’ cocktails

18-Sep-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Simple serves will be the next big trend within the cocktail category out-of-home, according to the director of a pre-batch cocktail company.

Bloody Mary cocktail range to tackle 'inconsistency'

16-Jul-2019 By Emily Hawkins

A canned Bloody Mary cocktail has been launched by two friends who felt there was a gap in the market for premium versions of the cocktail in the off-trade.

How can your bar make the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list?

18-Apr-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

We told you the exclusive Top 50 Cocktail Bars list would be back – and this is where it begins.

Beer still on top, but more Brits opting for alcohol-free

19-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The UK’s favourite drink remains beer, with 17% of Brits asked citing it as their beverage of choice, however, an alcohol-free option came in at a close second new research has claimed.

New York bar to host one-night London pop-up

03-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A New York bar with a celebrated international reputation will make an appearance in London for one night.

Ziggy's hotel bar to honour David Bowie

03-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

One of David Bowie’s former haunts, the Hotel Café Royal, London, will pay tribute to the pop icon with a new bar opening this month.

New York cocktail concept to open London bar

28-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A New York inspired brand is opening a cocktail bar in London next month.

Alcohol-free ‘gin’ and ‘rum’ launched

27-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Funkin cocktails founder Alex Carlton has stepped into the alcohol-free ‘spirits’ category with the launch of Stryyk Not Rum and Not Gin variants.