Fat Duck sommelier named Young Sommelier of the Year 2011

25-Mar-2011 - Sommeliers at that The Duck in Bray have scooped up the top three awards in the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ National Young Sommelier of the Year competition, held this week.

Drinkers find wine offer disappointing

21-Mar-2011 - Pubs and bars are missing out on increasing wine sales because of a “disappointing” array of products, according to a study by market research company Wine Intelligence.

Restaurants and pubs back Responsibility Deal

15-Mar-2011 - The Department of Health has published full details of its Responsibility Deal, as well as a list of 170 companies and organisations that have already pledged their support on measures to help tackle poor diets and alcohol misuse.

Molson Coors commits to unit labeling on glasses

15-Mar-2011 - Carling and Grolsch brewer Molson Coors has committed to providing alcohol unit information on its glasses, and will also introduce two-third pint measures in support of the Government’s Responsibility Deal.

Marco Pierre White launches beer brand

15-Mar-2011 - Marco Pierre White has teamed up with a Family brewery in Manchester to launch a new beer brand that promotes ‘Britishness’.

Heineken to remove 100m alcohol units

14-Mar-2011 - Heineken UK is to reduce the alcoholic level of one of its key brands as part of its commitment to the Government’s Responsibility Deal on alcohol.

Matthew Clarke adds 200 wines to 2011/12 Wine List

11-Mar-2011 - On-trade drinks supplier Matthew Clark has introduced 200 new wines to its 2011/2012 Wine List, with some bottles launching in the UK for the first time.

Renewed calls for beer duty freeze as consumption falls

11-Mar-2011 - People in the UK are consuming less beer and more strong spirits and wine, according to new consumption figures, prompting renewed calls for a beer duty freeze.

Wine drinkers spend more but go out less, finds research

17-Feb-2011 - Restaurants are the most popular destination for British adult drinkers when they go out, according to new research by the Wilson Drinks Report (WDR).

Enterprise & Punch hike drinks prices

15-Feb-2011 - Enterprise Inns is to increase its drinks prices by an average of 3.8 per cent to its tenants while Punch Taverns is to pass on an average 3.3 per cent increase — meaning licensees face having to increase prices three times in three months.

Diageo tests frozen and layered drinks

04-Feb-2011 - Trials of frozen and layered cocktails developed by Diageo are currently underway in a small number of UK bars.

News in brief

Heineken UK signs Olympic sponsorship

04-Feb-2011 - Heineken UK has been appointed as the Official Lager Supplier and sponsor of the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 2012 in a tier three sponsorship deal.

Diageo bags bars for draught cocktail

26-Jan-2011 - Diageo is trialling its first draught cocktail in the UK under its Smirnoff brand.

Celebrate Royal Wedding with Prince William Champagne

24-Jan-2011 - Hospitality operators looking to celebrate the upcoming Royal Wedding can now provide their customers with a limited edition bottle of Prince William Champagne.

Trade website to help operators “make time for wine”

20-Jan-2011 - A specialist trade website aiming to help wine service businesses make the most of their offer during National Wine Month in May, has been launched.

Pubs could be forced to add more than 10p to a pint

14-Jan-2011 - Pubs could be forced to add 10p or more to the price of a pint this year as a combination of wholesale price rises, the VAT hike and duty increases hit home.

Government commits to two-third pints changes

05-Jan-2011 - The Government has confirmed plans to let pubs sell beer in two-third pints measures.

Duty to fall on low strength beers

30-Nov-2010 - The Government is to increase duty on beers over 7.5 per cent abv but will reduce duty on beers under 2.8 per cent abv at the next budget in March.

Global whisky favourite Cutty Sark now available in UK

17-Nov-2010 - Maxxium UK is now distributing Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky, one o fthe top ten best selling blended Scotch whisky brands in the world, to the UK ontrade

Fentimans breaks into alcoholic ginger beer market

26-Oct-2010 - Natural soft drinks manufacturer Fentimans has developed its first ever alcoholic drink using a recipe dating back to the early 20th Century

Wells & Young's loss of Corona and Red Stripe worth £85m

05-Oct-2010 - The loss of Mexican lager Corona Extra and Jamaican lager Red Stripe is set to hit Wells & Young's hard as they account for 40 per cent of turnover — around £85m worth of business

Black Moth truffle-infused vodka launches

15-Sep-2010 - Black Moth, a vodka infused with black European Perigord truffles, has been launched to the on-trade

Nyetimber to release first Rosé wine

13-Sep-2010 - Sussex vineyard Nyetimber is to release its first Rosé wine this month

Win an iPad with Restaurant magazine

18-Aug-2010 - Name your favourite suppliers, products and brands, and you could be in with a chance of winning a brand new iPad

Citrus cachaca Salto launches to UK ontrade

16-Aug-2010 - Salto, a new citrus-flavoured cachaca named after a town in Brazil’s foremost cachaca producing region, has been launched in the UK