NEWS

No and low beer now accounts for almost 3% of the UK’s total beer market, British Beer and Pub Association reveals 200 million pints of no and low ABV beers are expected to be drunk by the end of 2025, with 22 million pints expected to be poured over the festive period alone The BBPA calls on the government to support innovation within the sector through changing the definition of alcohol free from 0.05% to 0.5% ABV   This year has been the most successful year on record for

The Spotted Cow on Wolverhampton Road in Bloxwich reopened on Friday 19th December following a phenomenal investment of more than £390,000. The pub is part of Proper Pubs, the award-winning community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 220 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. Inside, the Spotted Cow underwent a complete transformation to include brand new flooring, fixtures, fittings and furniture throughout as well as five multiple flat

New jobs to be created at much loved venue   A much-loved Belhaven pub in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town is set to ring in the New Year in style with a brand-new look and elevated offering as it undergoes a significant programme of refurbishment. Recognised as a true landmark in the Grassmarket and set in the shadows of Edinburgh Castle, the Beehive Inn has been an iconic building in the capital for over 400 years and remains a vibrant hub for locals and tourists alike. T

Family run independent brewery, T&R Theakston is marking the retirements of two long serving team members with a combined service totalling over half a century.   The company has a proud record of long-term employees and the latest to be included in that roll call are Alison Livesey and Phil Williamson who are calling last orders on their time at Theakston’s this Christmas.   Having joined the brewery around the time of its acquisition by Matthew Brown PLC, production adminis

Powder Monkey Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of Double Maxim Brewery in Sunderland. This addition reinforces both the capability and capacity in the North East following the acquisition of Castle Eden Brewery earlier in the year. Mark Anderson of Maxim commented “Maxim Brewery was formed following the closure of Vaux Breweries in 1999. We are proud to have been brewing and serving our customers North East favourite beers Double Maxim, Samson, Lambtons, Swedish

Greene King, the UK’s leading pub company and brewer, is rolling out the Christmas spirit, by offering more than 4,000 free meals to community heroes, volunteers and those spending Christmas by themselves.   Pubs across the UK are bringing communities together throughout December through a range of initiatives – all of which promote connection and belonging - and working closely with its charity partners to extend the spirit of Christmas to the many volunteers who play an act

WHAT:  The Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven has opened ticket sales for next year’s exciting event. WHEN:  The Happening is a celebration of the craft of brewing, along with great street food and top musical entertainment, and will be held from Thursday, June 11, to Saturday, June 13. WHERE:  The Happening will take place in a purpose-built marquee in Stonehaven’s Baird Park. WHO:  The Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven is a not-for-profit event organised by local b

Independent family brewer Shepherd Neame is hoping drinkers will say ‘Kia Ora’ to its latest limited edition beer – a New Zealand-inspired Pale Ale.   New Zealand Hazy Pale Ale (5.3%) is a cold IPA crafted using Kiwi hops known for their zesty citrus character. It was created at the Faversham Brewery by Apprentice Brewer Tom Smith, who drew inspiration from his travels across New Zealand and his family’s long-standing connection to the country.   Tom created the innovative br

A one-of-a-kind sector-wide graduate scheme in collaboration with some of the UK’s leading pub companies and breweries has been launched by the British Beer and Pub Association. From hops to HR, the BBPA Academy will give graduates the opportunity to gain a breadth of experience with the guidance of industry experts, while focusing on their own professional development. The leading trade association said the two-year pubs and brewing industry graduate scheme will recruit and

Hebden Bridge, UK: 17 December 2025 –  Yorkshire’s Vocation Brewery, known for its bold and great-tasting beers, is raising a glass to an exceptional year of recognition after securing a string of awards across various highly respected competitions. The independently-owned brewery, rooted in Hebden Bridge, has seen a raft of its beers celebrated by judges from the Great Taste Awards , the World Beer Awards , the SIBA North West Independent Beer Awards  and the SIBA Can & Bott

Hook Norton Brewery is proud to announce the launch of its new Limited Edition Barrel Aged Double Stout, a bold and indulgent creation brewed to an authentic 19th-century recipe and matured to perfection. Crafted at 8%, this jet-black stout has been barrel aged for 18 months in oak, developing a remarkable depth of character that showcases the very best of traditional English stout brewing. Rich, smooth, and complex, the Barrel Aged Double Stout delivers a distinctive harmony

As the UK heads towards the end of 2025, New Year’s Eve appears to be evolving. While grand city parties and high-budget events remain part of the landscape, a growing number of people are opting for something quieter and more personal: a relaxed dinner with friends, familiar surroundings, and the freedom to decide whether to stay out late or head home early.   Longbow Venues - a collection of Peak District pubs, restaurants and boutique hotels - has observed this shift acros

Firebrand Brewing Co is delighted to announce their official partnership with 2026’s Arc of Attrition. Everyone who finishes the incredibly difficult 100, 50 or 25 mile race will find a special edition Firebrand pale ale or alcohol-free larger waiting for them once they cross the finish line. The iconic event that is held by UTMB in Cornwall this January, is part of the world’s ultimate trail running circuit that unites the sport’s biggest stars and amateur runners through th

Windsor, Berkshire, UK – 15 th  December 2025 – Indie Rabble Brewing Co.’s ‘CAPYBARA COLLAGE’ New England IPA wins Gold at the Indie Beer UK Digital Beer Awards.   At their first entry to the digital beer awards, run by SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) as part of their Indie Beer campaign, Indie Rabble has won gold! With their ‘CAPYBARA COLLAGE’ voted the best canned or bottled IPA in the Southeast Region by a panel of esteemed beer judges and industry col

Nuremberg, December 15 2025.  The world’s leading hop specialist BarthHaas is supporting young scientists again this year with its research promotion prizes, the BarthHaas Grants, each of which is worth 10,000 euros. The company chose the two winning research teams from among twelve applicants. The winners are a group from the Conicet research unit at the National University of Comahue in Argentina led by Dr. Julieta Burini and a team from the Chair of Brewing and Beverage Te

As 2025 comes to a close, the Brewers Association (BA) recaps a year of continued contraction, punctuated by creativity and innovation.    Statistical highlights are included below, and the full Year in Beer can be viewed here .   Craft Beer by the Numbers Count: The number of small and independent breweries in operation in the U.S. in 2025 totaled 9,778. Employment:  The craft beer industry supported over 443,000 jobs nationwide, fostering local economies and creating opport

The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) has joined industry calls for urgent pub specific relief on Business Rates following the changes announced in the Autumn Budget. Without immediate support community pubs face significant and growing costs which ratchet up over three years, with an average pub seeing a 76% increase in Business Rates. In comparison, warehouses operated by online tech giants will only pay 16% more. The vast majority of beer from independen

Greene King, the country’s leading pub company and brewer, has seen one million customers sign up to its loyalty and rewards programme since the launch of its new app in September.  The one million milestone has been reached in just three months showing customers’ appetite for an intuitive app and added rewards.  Greene King made the multi-million-pound investment into the evolution of its app to enable better customer connection; allowing them to explore Greene King’s brands

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) is urging the Scottish Government to introduce a season-long trial to allow fans to enjoy a pint at the football. This weekend’s Scottish league cup final will see another set-piece football fixture pass by without Scottish football fans being able to enjoy a responsible pint at the country’s national stadium, despite rugby fans being able to have a drink when Glasgow Warriors take on Edinburgh Rugby at Barclay’s Hampden on Saturd

Wells & Co. proudly announced the reopening of The Playwright, a Nottingham pub in its managed estate, after a £500,000-plus refurbishment. Having reopened on Thursday 11th December, the project underscores Wells & Co’s commitment to backing its pub estate despite the mounting financial and operational pressures facing the sector, heightened by the recent Autumn Budget. The refurbishment is more than a lick of paint. As well as refreshing both exterior and interiors, it offer