NEWS

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

Independent family brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame  is to reopen landmark Farringdon pub The Hoop and Grapes  in February following a £1.8m transformation.   The historic Grade II-listed site, a few minutes’ walk from Fleet Street, has been closed since 2019 during redevelopment of the surrounding area. Shepherd Neame began a comprehensive restoration in October, carefully designed to enhance the pub’s appeal while celebrating its rich heritage.   Housed within a five-s

The Mayor of the East Midlands has welcomed the Government taking another look at business rates for the pub industry. Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:   "I am pleased to see the Government is looking again at the business rates for the pub industry, many of which are facing rate increases in the tens of thousands of pounds. This must be done quickly to give the industry reassurance and certainty that they can continue to operate.  "Pubs are not just a place for

Responding to press reports that the Treasury is planning to announce changes to Business Rates for pubs, Andy Slee, CEO of the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) said:   “It’s welcome news that the Government appears to have finally accepted that vital changes are necessary to help our much loved community pubs. The planned alterations to Business Rates would have had a devasting impact on our pubs and breweries.   “While common sense seems to have prevaile

Emma McClarkin CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said : “News that the government is going to look again at business rates increases is potentially a huge win for pubs across the country and shows Government have not only listened to our concerns but acted. This could save locals, jobs, and means publicans can breathe a huge sigh of relief. The BBPA has worked closely with ministers on a pub specific solution that would ensure that bills are reduced in line with th

Responding to reports that the Government is set to change course and provide extra support with business rates bills for pubs in England, Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA Chairman said:     “Doing nothing and letting pubs go to the wall was never going to tolerated by pub goers, publicans or MPs. The Government must urgently end the uncertainly and announce the extra help and permanently lower bills our locals were promised and need to survive and thrive.”    ENDS About CAMRA: CAM

Belhaven has revealed it invested almost £5 million across over 20 pubs in 2025 This follows the launch of its Hive and Nest franchises, which were started by owner Greene King in England in 2021, and have now launched in its Scottish estate However, it has warned that pubs and breweries will see further steep cost rises in 2026 without an intervention by the Scottish Government on business rates in the January Budget Belhaven has confirmed it invested almost £5 million in it

Beer drinkers can now quickly spot which breweries are independent and which pubs serve indie beer, thanks to the addition of SIBA’s  INDIE BEER  mark across  the CAMRA website .   The INDIE BEER campaign, launched by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), is designed to help drinkers know who really brews their beer. Research commissioned by SIBA found that three-quarters of people feel the marketing of previously independent brands that are now in the own

Pub is The Hub may be able to offer grants of up to £6,000 to publicans in rural, remote, or deprived areas, who want to offer additional services and/or activities in their pubs to help local communities.     These can include a range of services from community cafes, village stores, and allotments, to activities such as theatre and craft workshops, to help bring people together to combat social isolation and loneliness.   The not-for-profit organisation, founded by HM King

Guild members receive a 15% discount on NCTJ courses. Please log into the Membership Area for the code. As we start 2026 you may be thinking about ways to develop your team this year. The NCTJ offers bespoke group training sessions that we create together with you to meet your organisation's needs. We can run sessions in-person at your offices or online, at times to suit you. Popular topics include media law refreshers, media training, financial journalism and podcasting.   I

Throughout January, Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery is supporting its Tap customers by cutting the 20% VAT charge on all drinks. The “No VAT in the Tap” promotion at the brewery in Tongham, near Farnham, means visitors get 20% off the usual price of drinks, with Hogs Back absorbing the tax. The offer, which runs until the end of January, extends beyond Hogs Back’s own beer to the full range on the bar, including soft and hot drinks. A pint of cask ale, including Hogs Back’s fl

CAMRA wants a rethink on business rates hikes for pubs now and not later, as issue raised at PMQs and cabinet revolt reported.     One of the UK’s most successful consumer groups, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is calling on the Prime Minister to urgently announce a rethink on business rates hikes for pubs in England due to come into force on 1 April 2026.    It comes after a cabinet revolt on the issue was reported yesterday, and the issue was a key theme of today’s Prime

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/restorebritain/pages/695/attachments/original/1767788952/Restoring_the_British_Pub.pdf?1767788952 Restore Britain today launches Restoring the British Pub: Measures for Preserving the Heart of Britain , a comprehensive policy paper setting out practical, immediately deliverable reforms to halt the rapid decline of Britain’s pubs and hospitality sector. Since 2000, Britain has lost between a quarter and a third of all pubs, with closures contin

The Guild has teamed up with drinks industry charity The Drinks Trust to offer 10 full members a free spot on its Wellbeing Champion course in 2026. Worth £250, the training is delivered online over two half-day sessions and aims to equip people to not only build their personal resilience to stress and anxiety but also to help them support colleagues who are struggling. Session One Introduction to Wellbeing The Four Pillars Understanding Stress Self-awareness Mental Health Aw

Madrí Excepcional 0.0% is stepping in to help people born in January celebrate their birthdays, after new research shows a significant proportion avoid or miss out on birthday celebrations altogether.   The research, commissioned by the brand, found that 34% of adults born in January actively avoid birthday celebrations with post-Christmas finances (56%), the cold, dark evenings (31%) and a desire to cut back on alcohol (19%) emerging as the primary reasons.   In response, Ma

YouGov survey shows continuing demand for Low and No-Alcohol drinks as more UK adults choose moderate consumption Nearly a quarter (24%) of alcohol drinkers who have tried low and no alcohol alternatives said that these products have reduced their alcohol consumption. More than a third (35%) of UK adults consume up to 5 units of alcohol per week. UK adults are more worried about British teenagers vaping, use of illicit drugs and social media than about alcohol and alcohol alt