NEWS

Social enterprise, Women On Tap CIC, has launched a pilot bursary scheme  designed to remove financial barriers for people wishing to attend local International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD)  2026 events. Applications are open now. The scheme offers bursaries of up to £100 per person  to help cover reasonable costs that might otherwise prevent attendance or add financial burden. Attending an IWCBD brew day is widely recognised as a valuable opportunity for hands-on l

CAMRA, a non-profit organisation and the biggest organiser of beer festivals in the UK, is offering beer and cider lovers free entry to all its festivals, as a game-changing new membership benefit for 2026.   CAMRA festivals are one of the best places to discover new beers from independent brewers, giving you the chance to find a new favourite, or just share your love of great beer with friends and family.   A quarter of a million people already go to CAMRA festivals each yea

Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, is launching its Spring Photography Competition for 2026, with some fantastic prizes to be won.   To celebrate a new year, the independent family brewer and pub company is once again inviting everyone to get out and capture its heartland during the changing seasons – whether that’s its natural landscapes, springtime sights, or the wonder of wildlife.    One winner will receive a top prize of a £150 Shepherd Neame gift card and four run

Belhaven Brewery, Scotland’s oldest working brewery, has relaunched its iconic Twisted Thistle IPA  with a striking new look and a refreshed recipe as an exciting start to 2026.   Twisted Thistle IPA has long been a favourite among drinkers, and the new recipe, at 4% ABV, is carefully crafted to enhance its refreshing flavour while staying true to the bold character that made the beer previously popular in Belhaven’s portfolio.   The relaunch also introduces a vibrant new vis

Fundraising for the annual sponsored bike ride challenge Pedalling To Pubs  has begun for 2026 in aid of industry charities LTC and Only A Pavement Away , with fundraisers taking on 270km  across 4 – 6 June 2026 in Norfolk.   Over the three days, 65 hospitality professionals will cycle approximately 55 miles per day, taking on routes from Norwich to Thetford, Thetford to King’s Lynn, and King’s Lynn back to Norwich.   This year’s ride steps up the distance compared to 2025’s

Since 2020, Zero Carbon Forum members have delivered real, measurable progress towards net zero including:   £5million recovered in lost profits by identifying and reducing energy waste   52% reduction  in direct energy emissions   825,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions saved (more than the annual carbon footprint of a town the size of Bath, Southampton or York)   Members are on track to meet 2030 net zero targets for direct energy emissions   The Zero Carbon Forum, the award-winni

The Hospitality Apprenticeship Showcase celebrates its 10th anniversary Wednesday 11 February , bringing the industry’s emerging talent to the heart of Westminster during National Apprenticeship Week.   Taking place from 12.30–16.40 at the Terrace Pavilion, House of Commons, the Showcase has become a flagship annual event, welcoming around 120 hospitality apprentices each year and highlighting the breadth, quality and impact of apprenticeships across the sector.   Over the pa

The deadline to submit content for this month's mailout is Tuesday 27th January. Each month, the Guild distributes a newsletter to members, industry partner representatives and the public which contains information and links to our members' latest work. Whether it is a book, an article, a broadcast or an event, this is a great way to share. To submit your work, please fill in the form found here . Guild members and industry partner representatives will automatically receive t

Greene King, the UK’s leading pub company and brewer, is putting the latest technology to the test in real-life pub environments to measure its effectiveness on customers, teams and operational excellence, as well as its money-saving potential.   Cooking, cleaning and communication tools are among innovative kit being trialled in day-to-day pub operations by team members and customers. This is part of Greene King’s new ‘innovation pub’ scheme, a programme designed to test a w

Beer + Burger Store King’s Cross, 1 York Way, London N1C 4AS | 23–25 January 2026 A new landmark event for alcohol-free beer is coming to London this January. Alcohol Free Beer Weekender , a three-day celebration of the best alcohol-free craft beer, will take over Beer + Burger Store King’s Cross (1 York Way, London N1C 4AS)  from Friday 23 January to Sunday 25 January 2026 , featuring the largest number of alcohol-free beers ever poured on tap at a single UK venue . Across t

ANY SUPPORT ANNOUNCED FOR ENGLAND MUST BE 'PASSED ON IN FULL' TO SAVE PUBS The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) have responded to the Scottish Budget 2026-27, saying that the current level of support 'falls far short' of what is required to save some pubs and any further support for businesses in England must be passed on in full to the hospitality sector in Scotland.    Commenting, Paul Togneri of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association said:    "The support announced by t

Hull’s first community-owned pub and Stoke-on-Trent's Victorian time warp win Pub Saving Awards and Heritage Award   CAMRA has named the  Hull Community Pub Society , who saved the New Clarence  in Hull, as winners of its Pub Saving Awards 2025 – the first city pub to do so – and revealed the  Vine  in Pittshill, Stoke-on-Trent - which dates back to the Victorian era - as the winner of the Heritage Award.    The Pub Saving Award runner ups were Ashton Hayes Community Hub Ltd

Sheffield based Abbeydale Brewery, the UK’s first 100% employee owned brewery, has this week announced the launch of Reverence - their first low alcohol offering. A 0.5% pale ale, the beer is designed to be low in alcohol, but full of flavour, without sacrifice. Loosely inspired by Heathen, Abbeydale Brewery’s popular American Pale Ale, Reverence is hopped using Mosaic for refreshing tropical flavours and notes of zesty grapefruit. As with the rest of their releases, Reverenc

The BBPA have kindly supplied a limited number of their 2025 Statistical Handbook for Guild members. If you would like to recieve a copy, please email your postal address to secretary@beerguild.co.uk

Senior pub company execs, licensees and franchisees from 25+ pub companies will connect at KAM’s Pub Spotlight on 11 th  February . KAM will share exclusive new research from both the pub customer and publican perspective and discuss the implications for the sector with a series on panels.   Speakers confirmed so far include: Andrew Turner, COO, St Austell Julie Jolie, Central Operations & Compliance Director, Greene King Laurence Brown, Insights Director, Stonegate Steve Alt

Timothy Taylor’s has announced the appointment of Louise McLaughlin as its new Marketing Director, further strengthening the brewery’s leadership team as it continues to champion quality cask ale in the UK. Louise brings more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and brand leadership, having worked across a number of major UK and international brands including Carling, Coors, Madri, and Lee & Wrangler Jeans. Most recently, she held the role of Innovation Director at Molson C

Vault City Brewing has brought back cult favourite Buckie Bomb after renewed demand across Reddit in Scotland and Ireland. The 7.8% sour riffs on the iconic Buckie Bomb cocktail, blending Buckfast-inspired flavours with blackberry, dark fruit and bubble gum notes. The relaunch reflects a wider appetite for bold, culturally rooted Scottish food and drink. The drop is supported by new artwork from Scottish illustrator Stuart Allan and a Buckie-style BBQ glaze with Thiccc Sauce.

The BII is delighted to announce that entries are now open for the 2026 BII Licensee of the Year Award (LOYA) , in partnership with Sky Business . Great pubs are built by brilliant people, whose contribution to their businesses and communities deserves real recognition – by Government, the media and communities. Now more than ever before, it is essential to celebrate the resilience, drive and determination they bring to the sector. Returning this January, the competition is o

Hospitality trade groups have united in a call for a reduction in business rates ahead of next week’s Scottish budget, highlighting the huge disparity in rates bills for pubs north of the border over the last three years. In a joint Statement from the Scottish Beer & Pub Association , Scottish Licensed Trade Association , Scottish Hospitality Group,   Night-Time Industries Association Scotland , and UKHospitality Scotland , they said support is vital in protecting jobs and en

The BII has welcomed the news of a possible rethink on the business rates increases, placed on its already overburdened members, running independent pubs in communities across the UK. With the detail of the u-turn yet to be decided, the scale of the potential positive impact remains to be seen, with pubs already struggling with huge challenges around increased overheads, unfair taxation and the direct impact of the 2024 budget as well as ongoing Covid debts. Steve Alton, BII