In amongst all the chatter about January traditionally being the quietest month, let’s not forget that this month boasts one of the most important nights in the Scottish social calendar. There’s also quite a lot to shout about on the Scottish brand front, too. Jason Caddy investigates. It might be the bleak midwinter, but there’s [...]

The youth market, which is key to the success of pubs and clubs, bar and restaurants and brands, has become one of the most difficult age groups to market to. Why? Because the anti-alcohol police are determined to cut outalcohol advertising, and as a result drinks companies are bending over backwards to adhere to the [...]

Edinburgh pub operators estimate that this year’s Edinburgh Festival has been the worst on record due to the Edinburgh City Licensing Board’s decision to award an excessive number of licences for ‘pop-up’ bars, some of which have been for huge venues. 240 occasional licences in total were issued which covered all or part of the [...]

The gin category is certainly alive and kicking. Jason Caddy reports. Scotland continues to provide fertile ground for all kinds of new gin products, and in the last few years there has been an explosion in homegrown brands. Inver House Distillers launched its own Celtic Botanicals gin, the Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay launched the island’s [...]

Belhaven owners Greene King Interim Management Statement for the 37 weeks to 15 January 2012 revealed that retail like-for-like sales were up 8.2% and food like-for-like sales up 11.1%, in the last seven weeks, with core brand own-brewed volumes up 7.4% Rooney Anand, Chief Executive, said, “This was another strong performance driven by the strength [...]

AB Inbev led the way last month by cutting the ABV of Budweiser, Beck’s and Stella to 4.8% from 5%, now Molson Coors has revealed Cobra is to reduce in ABV too. The ABV of packaged Cobra is moving to 4.8% from 5%. Adrian Davey, MD of the Cobra Beer Partnership told DRAM, “The quality [...]

San Miguel is to launch its first major brand extension in the UK with Miguel Fresca. This new lager, which they suggest serving with a wedge of lime, has been developed as the result of a strategic partnership between Carlsberg UK and Mahou-San Miguel of Spain. The lager which comes in at an ABV of [...]

A Dumfries licensee could lose his licence if he trims the trees surrounding his premises that are shielding it from passing trade, along the busy A76. Ian Mitchell, owner of the town’s historic Auldgirth Inn, has been banned from trimming trees outside the building because nobody knows who the land belongs to. He told DRAM, [...]

A plan by PPL to raise fees by up to 2000% must be opposed, and licensees need to get their voices heard before the organisation puts Scotland’s night-time economy at risk. PPL have asked licensees and interested parties to respond to their consultation paper by mid October, but the trade may have to do more [...]

Imagine a country pub – all white, with lovely hanging baskets, and a great outdoor terrace… inside quirky memorabilia, stone walls, a fire, comfy seats, and defined areas for lounging, eating and relaxing, serving quality food with great service… that’s the Birds and the Bees in Stirling. It really is the perfect example of a [...]