NEWS

Christmas has come early for UK fans following the release of a limited-edition craft ale from a leading Edinburgh microbrewery.    The team behind Edinburgh’s Cold Town Beer have poured their passion into the extra special ‘Barrel Aged Imperial Stout’, which has been described as the ultimate Christmas tipple for craft beer connoisseurs, due to its smooth whisky character and deep complexity.   The Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is aged in Speyside whisky casks, making it a rare

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has today released the results of their flash survey following the Chancellor’s budget announcement last week, with the devastating impact of broken promises destroying the pub sector. BII members revealed that only 1-in-3 are currently  profitable , thanks in the main to the previous budget in October 2024, which delivered huge increases in Employer NICs, Minimum Wage and the doubling of business rates bills as the relief was slashed

Griffin Trophy 2025 winner and runners-up announced Fuller, Smith & Turner , the premium pubs and hotels business, is delighted to announce The Coach & Horses, Soho [29 Greek St, London W1D 5DH] is the 2025 winner of its Pub of the Year competition – The Griffin Trophy. The competition is open to all Fuller’s 185 Managed Pubs and Hotels and 151 Tenanted Inns and sees the winner take home the coveted Griffin Trophy. The Coach & Horses, managed by Ali Ross, is a Soho instituti

A drive to reuse, refurbish, repurpose or recycle pub kitchen equipment has resulted in positive financial and environmental impacts for Greene King.   Greene King, the country’s leading pub company and brewer, is working in collaboration with contractors and suppliers to reinforce the value of sustainability during pub investments and maintenance projects.   Greene King’s property and maintenance team is trialling a complete end-to-end circular economy solution this year to

The Guild of Beer Sommeliers is pleased to announce that three individuals have successfully completed the rigorous beer sommelier examination and have been awarded beer sommelier status. The three candidates displayed their proficiency by accurately identifying a diverse range of beer styles in a blind tasting examination. The assessment also evaluated their knowledge of brewing techniques, recommending appropriate beer and food pairings, and the correct identification of of

Royal Crown General Manager Tom Crackett gets involved at a Restart a Heart Day Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame is extending its successful partnership with current Charity of the Year, Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) into 2026.   The partnership, which was launched in July 2024, has seen Shepherd Neame’s team members and pub partners already raise more than £80,000 for the life-saving charity.   KSS is the local air ambulance charity f

Registration is open for America’s premier beverage alcohol industry conference Boulder, Colo. • December 2, 2025 — The Craft Brewers Conference®(CBC) & BrewExpo America® will take over the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, April 20-22, 2026. The Brewers Association (BA) announced today that registration is open, and industry members are encouraged to secure their attendance at America’s largest gathering for beverage alcohol producers. Pennsylvania is home to

Hospitality leader Rob Hattersley, founder and managing director of Longbow Venues, has warned that the 2025 Budget delivers “yet another attack on pubs, restaurants and hospitality businesses already at breaking point”, after discovering that the rateable value on one of his Peak District pubs has surged from £49,000 to £205,000 - a 318 per cent increase.   Rob, who has appeared on Times Radio and BBC Breakfast this week to discuss the growing financial pressures on hospital

The Drinks Trade Regatta has announced a new partnership with The Drinks Trust and Only A Pavement Away for 2026. The Drinks Trade Regatta is an annual sailing event for the hospitality trade whereby brewing, wines and spirits companies compete with on-trade retailers, restaurants and suppliers for a memorable team building and hospitality event. Established for 10 years, the annual event has raised over £125,000 for charities to date. The 2026 event will be supporting two

Admiral Taverns, the UK’s leading community pub group with c 1,350 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, is pleased to announce that the Group has been awarded the ‘Best Recruitment Strategy’ at the British Institute of Innkeeping’s 2025 National Innovation in Training Awards (NITAs). The Awards took place on Thursday 20 th  November at Porchester Hall in London.   This year’s NITAs brought over 300 industry professionals together to celebrate those who go the extra mile t

Exclusive 20L Keg to be Served at Beer Merchants Tap on Thursday 18th December Cave Direct and Beer Merchants Tap are proud to announce a historic first for the UK beer scene: the arrival and pouring of Celly Drippins, an ultra-limited beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., never before served outside of their taprooms in Chico, California and Fletcher, North Carolina. Celly Drippins is brewed using the drippings from the dry hop bags used to produce Sierra Nevada’s iconic annu

Photos taken during the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards 2025 can be viewed by clicking the link below. Thanks to Cath Harries for being our photographer on the night. British Guild of Beer Writers Awards 2025 Photos

Independent breweries are brewing incredible beer. But all too often, their brands are the thing holding them back. That’s where Branding for Breweries comes in,  a new book by creative strategist, beer branding expert and podcast host Tim (The Brand) Weaver, out to buy on amazon today! "Branding for Breweries: The Essential Playbook to Stand Out, Sell More Beer, and Build a Brewery Brand People Love" is a practical, plain-speaking (and occasionally cheeky) guide for brewery

Celebrated restaurateur and author of Unreasonable Hospitality to headline CBC’s opening session Boulder, Colo. (December 1, 2025) — The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers—announced today that hospitality entrepreneur and bestselling author Will Guidara will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America® (CBC®), taking place April 20–22, 2026, in Phi

We are delighted to announce the launch of the 14th annual Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, which celebrate the achievements of the UK's leading and emerging writers, broadcasters, photographers and creators recognised for their varied cultural influences, culinary traditions, and storytelling.   An independent panel of expert judges, led by Angela Hartnett OBE, select the winners in 12 categories from work published or broadcast in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ire

Showerings, the Somerset-based fine cider producer, is celebrating what experts are calling one of the sweetest harvests in recent memory, with over 2,700 tonnes of Dabinett apples collected this season, almost triple last year’s 1,000 tonnes. Weeks of summer sunshine across southern England have concentrated sugars in the fruit, echoing the conditions described by orchard master Bob Wadey, who noted that this year’s apples are smaller but significantly sweeter. The result is

Stirchley’s own Attic Brew Co. brought a dose of festive cheer and local love to King’s Heath on Friday 28th November by surprising drinkers at The Hare and Hounds - buying everyone in the pub a pint. The spontaneous giveaway was part of a celebration of Attic’s flagship pale ale, Intuition , a Great Taste award-winning beer known for its easy-drinking, vibrant character and its place at the heart of Birmingham’s craft beer scene. Attic’s team arrived unannounced at the belov

Winners at the 2025’s edition of the British Guild of Beer Writers Awards - Credit Cath Harries Taking place last night at Big Penny Social in London, The British Guild of Beer Writers celebrated the best work from beer, pub and cider journalists, bloggers, broadcasters and all-around communicators. Work was entered into 14 separate categories for a chance to win an esteemed award and prize money, with judges reviewing 214 pieces of work. All entries were judged by the Guild’

2025 cask now rolling out across Fuller’s pubs, with limited bottles launching online 9th December London, November 2025;   Dark Star Brewing Co. is pleased to announce the return of Prize Old Ale, now available in cask as part of its annual release programme, with a limited run of 500ml bottles of the 2025 vintage launching online on Tuesday 9 December. Prize Old Ale (POA) has been brewed for over a century and continues to be one of Dark Star’s most anticipated yearly relea

Hook Norton Brewery is proud to announce the brewing of a special beer, JB’s Journey, created to help raise awareness of the former Banbury Rugby Club captain and coach John Baker, who sustained a serious injury last November. John’s wife Tina, daughter Georgina, and close family friend Paul Jackson joined brewer Robin Underwood at Hook Norton Brewery to take part in the full brewing process. Together, they spent the day crafting JB’s Journey, a beer dedicated to supporting J