Cocktails

Trading update: Sarah Willingham-led Nightcap acquired The Piano Works in February 2024

Nightcap positive despite tough trading in 2024

By Gary Lloyd

Nightcap – the operator of about 50 bars under brands including The Cocktail Club, Barrio Familia, the Adventure Bar Group and The Piano Works – expects trading to continue to be tough in 2024 but is positive for the future.

Softly does it: if a drink looks attractive it is likely to entice others to purchase in your pub (credit: Getty/ViewApart)

FEATURE - SOFT DRINKS AND MIXERS

FEATURE: Find a soft spot for making money

By Emma Eversham

If you run a pub off the beaten track, or at least one with limited passing trade and you have a regular supply of customers, then congratulations, you’ve created a destination pub.

How can I increase RTD sales at my pub

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

RTD trends you need to know

By Rebecca Weller

As trends within the RTD sector shift and younger generations catch on to what the category can offer, publicans would do well to heed some expert advice.

International Margarita Day: raise your glass and toast the classic cocktail with these recipes (Credit: Getty/Svetlana-Cherruty)

Recipes to celebrate International Margarita Day

By Rebecca Weller

Celebrated on the 22 February every year, people around the world raise their Margarita glasses to toast the classic Tequila-based cocktail for International Margarita Day.

Number one: Schofield's Bar was named top cocktail bar earlier this month (February)

Behind the UK #1 cocktail bar's success

By Charli Tomney

Schofield's Bar was announced the number one earlier this month at the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list reveal, but what is behind the bar’s success?

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week's Drinks Masterclass showcases a recipe from soft drinks brand Double Dutch. Ready in less than three minutes, the Raspberry Repair is a "simple" and "versatile" cocktail that can help freshen your drinks menu, the brand...

Shifting occasions: spirits category presents growth opportunities despite tough year in 2023 (Credit: Getty/5PH)

Sales boosting trends for spirits in 2024

By Rebecca Weller

The spirits category faced a “challenging year” in 2023 but still presents plenty of growth opportunities, according to the latest CGA by NIQ On-Premise Measurement Service.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Stray cocktail bar Quarter Margarita (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Quarter Margarita

By Rebecca Weller

Co-founder of Manchester cocktail bar Stray, Ben Reilly, details how to create the venues low ABV serve Quarter Margarita.

Standing out: Little Door & Co managing director and co-founder Kamran Dehdashti (left) with director and co-founder Jamie Hazeel

OPINION

Company culture: how we can stand out from the pack

By Kamran Dehdashti and Jamie Hazeel, founders, Little Door & Co

In the current economic climate, many hospitality businesses are finding the conditions tougher than ever – margins are being squeezed across the board, and revenue is less reliable and consistent than before.

Revved up: Shaun Craven and partner Sophie Starkey at celeb hangout Le Reve

Le Rêve cocktail bar celebrates 10th anniversary

By Gary Lloyd

Independent cocktail bar Le Rêve celebrated its 10th anniversary at the weekend and has been celebrating for the entire month of September with a packed entertainment programme.

Strait up: there's a ’90s vibe at the Strait & Narrow

My Pub

My Pub: the Strait & Narrow, Lincoln

By Gary Lloyd

The Strait & Narrow is set in the centre of Lincoln and was deemed best-in-class when it won Best City/Urban Pub in the Great British Pubs Awards 2022.

Go soft or go home: there are plenty of options available to licensees in non-alcoholic drinks (credit: Getty/damircudic)

Feature – Soft Drinks

FEATURE: Soft drink sales on the rise

By Emma Eversham

According to CGA by NIQ’s Drinks Recovery Tracker, soft drinks sales in managed venues have risen during the past three months compared to the same period last year.

Great nights: the Top 50 Boutique Hotels lists the best places to stay across England, Wales and Scotland

Top 50 Boutique Hotels list in third year

By Charli Tomney

Now in its third consecutive year, Top 50 Boutique Hotels is again looking for voters to join the illustrious academy that helps choose the lists each year.

Drinks Masterclass: How to make a Sway in the Morning cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Sway in the Morning cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

Closing this latest series of The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks Masterclass, Pennyroyal general manager Liam Jones shares how to make the bars Sway in the Morning cocktail.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Bananarita cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Bananarita cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass showcases a Bananarita cocktail from Bristol-based bar, Filthy XIII.

Green focus: The Milk Thistle bar manager Sebastiano Fileccia created the idea behind the event

Shaking Up Sustainability in bars

By Charli Tomney

Last Tuesday (27 June) the Top 50 Cocktail Bars teamed up with current number 43, The Milk Thistle, for an exclusive event at the venue all about sustainability in bars.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Champagne Pina Colada (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Champagne Pina Colada

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, London-based cocktail bar manager Andrei Marcu shares how to make a Champagne Pina Colada.

Drinks Masterclass: How to make an Opium Parlour Fortnuella Sour cocktail (Credit: Getty/ SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Fortunella Sour cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass features a Fortunella Sour cocktail from London-based Opium Cocktail Bar & Dim Sum Parlour.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Little Door & Co Crimes of Passion cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Crimes of Passion cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, London-based multiple operator Little Door & Co’s operations manager, William Russell, shares how to make the company’s Crimes of Passions cocktail.

Extra flavour: NQ64's Shoreditch opening is its first site to offer food

Inside drinks and gaming bar NQ64's 10th site

By Gary Lloyd

Arcade bar NQ64 has launched its biggest site to date and the first of its 10 locations to offer food. Here are some pictures to show you what to expect there.

MONIN competition to £1,000 a week over 9 weeks

Promotional content

Win £1,000 every week this summer with MONIN

By MONIN

MONIN, the global beverage flavour expert, has launched an exciting competition offering outlets the opportunity to win £1,000 wholesale credit, every week for 9 weeks throughout June and July!

Personnel change: David Haworth is to be replaced by Julia Massies from September this year

Pernod Ricard UK MD to retire

By Nikkie Thatcher

Managing director of Pernod Ricard UK David Haworth is set to retire later this year after a career of more than three decades at the business.

Diageo md reflects on first year in job

Big Interview

The undercover boss

By Ed Bedington

There won’t be many captains of industry that look to stay close to the coalface, but for one top boss, playing an undercover role behind the bar is key to understanding his business.

Delicious balance: how to make a Mango Martini using Belgrove Hazelnut Rum (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Mango Martini

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, Belgrove Rum founder Edmund Wood shares how to create a Mango Martini (11% ABV) using the brand’s Hazelnut Rum.

In the club: Stonegate's Clubhouse 5 sports bar opened on Thursday 5 May

Record GBPA winner moves to Stonegate’s Clubhouse 5 site

By Gary Lloyd

Multi-award-winning pub operator Paul Eastwood – whose Famous Three Kings site has scooped Best Pub to Watch Sport at the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) an incredible FIVE times – has taken over new site Clubhouse 5.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make Milk Thistle bar's Lady in Red cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Drinks Masterclass

How to make a Lady in Red cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass showcases a Lady In Red cocktail (22% ABV) from Bristol-based cocktail bar the Milk Thistle.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make mango a Margarita (Credit:SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Mango Margarita

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, Present Company general manager Carey Hanlon explains how to make the venues Mango Margarita cocktail (18.7% ABV).

Great flavours: how to make a Fox and Chance Funky Town cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a 'Funky Town' rum cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, West Midlands cocktail bar Fox and Chance co-founder Blaise Bachelier shares how to make the venues Funky Town cocktail (10% ABV).

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 76 Winning ways! Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year Scrum down to the pub: the Albany in Twickenham is an England and Harlequins favourite pre and post matches My Pub: the Albany Pub & Dining Room, Twickenham, Surrey The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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