The organisers of the London Wine Fair have reported on the 39^th show which took place this week.  Pre-show expectations were of a decrease in numbers as a result of the strategy to focus on delivering a high-quality audience; part of this was implementing a charge for some sections of the trade for the first time. 13,260 (total net) visitors attended this year, compared to 14,250 in 2018 and 12,179 in 2017. This indicates a 7% decrease on last year, but a 9% increase on the 2017.  Monday was the busiest day, with 6,165 through the door.

Following an animated and competitive Final at Berry Bros. & Rudd, No.3 Gin has crowned Will Campbell-Rowntree of Artesian the winner of its third Unlock Taste Cocktail Tournament.

This year’s Final saw six of the UK’s best bartenders compete in a series of challenges that put their knowledge, flair and creativity to the test. Using No.3 Gin, each was tasked with re-creating, re-imagining and re-inventing two of the most iconic gin cocktails – the Martini and the Gin & Tonic. A surprise cocktail ‘duel’, held in Pickering Place (the site of the UK’s last official duel at the end of the eighteenth century), also challenged competitors to create a selection of other classic gin cocktails from mystery boxes and work against the clock to deliver their creations.

In response to the current trend for ‘tapped’ and ‘draught’ cocktails, GREY GOOSE Vodka has pioneered the world’s first sub-zero draught tap system in a move that puts the super-premium vodka brand at the forefront of innovation within the drinks sector – surpassing any existing tap or ‘draught’ serve currently available on the market.

Coffee shops have become such a regular feature of our towns and cities, most of us can tell a flat white from a double espresso or a skinny frappuccino.

Now the importance of coffee to the UK’s culture and economy has been recognised with the inclusion of a vocational course in the school curriculum.

A 28-week Introduction to Barista Skills course is being piloted in East Renfrewshire by Glasgow-based social enterprise company Greenhouse Community, which aims to run it in schools across the country.

New analysis from Paymentsense suggests that the hospitality sector is set to benefit from increased consumer spending over both bank holiday weekends in May, based on 2018 data from the company’s 70,000 small business customers. Pubs, bars and nightclubs across the UK enjoyed a near two-thirds (60%) sales lift during the 2018 May bank holiday weekends.

These entertainment businesses were followed by hotels at well over a quarter up (28%). Spending on take away and fast food was close behind with a 24% increase over normal trading levels.

Rekorderlig reimagines the beautifully Swedish tradition of Midsummer with a modern twist: London’s first ever mixed reality bar*. The multi-sensory experience transports Londoners from the Southbank to Rekorder-land, a place to come together and enjoy a beautifully Swedish world.

Midsummer is one of Sweden’s most beautiful cultural exports, traditionally celebrated on the longest day with abundant floral garlands, music and dancing. Rekorderlig now brings the annual Swedish Midsummer experience to London with an extended six-week celebration that is home to Rekorder-land, as part of the much-anticipated Underbelly Festival Southbank.

Part of Britain’s perpetual charm is its ability to retain regional traditions that maintain a city’s pride. Etiquette would encourage us to dive in to a local pub in a new town and order the local delicacy, the server would even be happy to fill you in on the inception of the dish and how it revolutionised until modern day, as after all, it’s a history lesson as well as a tasty dining experience!

Here, with the help of Alnwick restaurant Hog’s Head Inn, we take a brief look at some of the country’s weird and wonderful local dishes and how they came to be.

The region of Northumberland is famed for its stunning coastlines, prolific history and numerous market towns; so, it’s no surprise that the area has been awarded a string of tourism accolades. Dog-lovers fear not, we have collated a short list of cafes, restaurants and listed manor houses to relax and enjoy some quality time with loved ones and furry friends, for the perfect staycation or days out.

Currently, we are constantly seeing endless amounts of media and headlines covering sustainability and waste management. It’s been made quite clear to use that there are blankets of plastic and other wastes floating around in our ocean and that it out populates the number of fishes in some cases. Not just that, the public are also appalled at the volumes of food that we waste, when there are so many struggling to get food on their table. With all of these views, is the hospitality sector planning to change to help manage its food waste.