Carlsberg is to reduce the alcohol content of Tuborg lager from 4.6% ABV to 4% ABV. They say the taste will not be affected. Draught Stella Artois, Becks, and Carlsberg Export have all recently moved from being 5% ABV to 4.5% ABV. Call us cynical, but we reckon the move has been brought about probably as a way of offsetting duty costs and not, as the marketing blurb says, to make it "more accessible" to drinkers
This year's Good Food Guide regional award winners have been announced with Delifonseca in Liverpool scooping the Best North West title and going forward to the final for the best in the country on June 19th. ~ 21 May
Quality restaurant and bar chain Brown's Brassiere is set to open a branch this Spring in Liverpool One. Brown's is the oldest restaurant group in Britain, first established in London back in 1973, and boasts a nearby branch in Manchester. The new Liverpool venue will be situated on Paradise Street located between Harvey Nichols’ Beauty Bazaar and John Lewis in the former Zavvi store. Opening early in the morning for breakfast and closing late at night, the popular restaurant serves simple, classic and freshly prepared dishes ~ 23 Jan
Leading hospitality industry representatives have united to fight new proposals from Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL), the music licensing company who collect royalties on behalf of 5,750 record companies and 45,000 musicians. PPL are wanting a huge increase in the Specially Featured Entertainment Tariff, which covers the playing of music at DJ events in bars, pubs, nightclubs, hotels, restaurants and similar premises. The move only effects those events where music is played as the main attraction, rather than in the background, although also covers lap dancing and roller discos. ~ 20 Oct
Suffolk brewer Greene King are to release a new lower strength 2.8% ABV ale called Tolly English Ale. Citing research which shows drinkers want a better choice of lower strength and non-alcoholic beers, Greene King expects Tolly to appeal to lunchtime and after work drinkers, together with real ale fans looking to cut down on their alcohol intake. The lower strength means that the duty paid to the Government is also 50% lower, although it will be the landlord's choice if this saving will be passed onto consumers. ~ 14 Oct
For the past 50 years, Maker's Mark have only ever made one whisky (apart from the occasional special release) until last year, when they introduced Maker's 46 to Duty Free stores. Now, the 47% ABV Kentucky straight Bourbon, which takes its name from the number of different recipes tried before getting the drink just right, has been released to the UK market. Matured in barrels containing toasted new French oak staves, the resulting smooth taste is of vanilla, cinnamon and spices. ~ 8 Oct
Polish premium vodka Belvedere is to launch a special edition red bottle and donate half of the profits to global charity (RED) to help fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (RED) partners with the world's most iconic brands, who contribute 50% of their profits to the Global Fund. (BELVEDERE) RED is quadruple distilled, completely additive-free and diluted with water from their own artesian well. It represents the pinnacle of the Polish vodka-making tradition and is said to be the world's first super premium vodka. R&B star Usher will feature in the advertising campaign for the bottle. ~ 26 Sep
Cigarette vending machines will be banned from public areas in bars, pubs and restaurants when the the law changes on 1st October. The ban was originally passed by the previous Labour goverment with the new Health Bill in October 2009 but comes in to effect at the end of this month. Whilst it will be illegal to sell cigarettes in any public area, they can still be sold over the bar. 4th Sep
Dutch distillery Toorank BV is set to launch its famous Sloane's Premium Distilled ‘London style' Dry Gin in the UK. The 40% ABV proof spirit has won numerous global awards with each of the nine botanicals used to make it individually distilled and blended together one at a time to create a unique layered flavour. They use only fresh whole botanicals instead of dried peels to ensure the juniper, orange and citrus flavours are captured. It is named in honour of Sir Hans Sloane, the Royal Physician & Botanist who introduced juniper, orange and lemon peel to the UK. 4th Sep 2011
The average cost of a pint of lager in the UK now sits at £3.08 according to the British Beer & Pub Association. Bitter is cheaper at £2.69, around 10p more than last year. Despite the additional cost, consumption has risen slightly (0.6%) with 8.4 litres supped per person per year, the same level as ten years ago and one of the lowest in Europe with only Sweden, Italy, Finland, Greece, Holland and Ireland drinking less. Britain's tax rate on beer and wine is the second highest in the EU (fourth highest on spirits). 26th Aug
Liverpool based drinks manufacturer Halewood International has introduced a ready-to-drink rum mixed with spicy ginger. Aimed at 18-25 year old men, Lazy Jack's is an alternative to bottled lagers, ciders and sweet-tasting alcopops.
Halewood have also expanded their Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer range with Crabbie's Black, a new stronger variant targeted at a slightly older male audience. 26th Aug
Targeted at both men and women, Irish cider maker Magners has introduced a new
range of flavoured ciders. Magners Specials are a mix of Magners Original cider and Magners Pear cider with added flavours like rhubarb, honey and infused spices. Comparable to the more sugary
Kopparberg
and
Rekorderlig
ciders from Sweden, they will be available in three bottled blends: Pear & Ginger, Spiced Apple & Honey and Spiced Apple & Rhubarb. ~ 16th Aug
Heineken is to launch a two-thirds pint glass, or a 'schooner' as it's affectionately known in Australia. The Heineken, Amstel and Tiger branded glasses will hit Liverpool's bars in November after the Government's new Weights & Measures Legislation comes into force on 1st October. It's hoped that the move will boost sales of draught beer. Amongst other brands, the Dutch giant also brew Fosters, Kronenberg 1664, Strongbow, John Smiths and Bulmers. Danish giants Carlsberg have announced they'll follow suit with their
Staropramen, Mahou and Poretti lagers. 14th Aug
Bacardi has launched a new smoky spiced rum called Bacardi Oakheart, targeted at male drinkers. Available from September it will be promoted with an ‘Oak and Coke' campaign. Bacardi claim that Oakheart will fill a gap in the market for a smooth spiced rum with a distinctly masculine, smoky edge, appealing directly to guys that know life is about the experiences they share with friends." ~ 12th Aug 2011
Manchester's multi-award winning East Z East Indian restaurant has come to Liverpool, with its lavish Kings Dock branch opening on 11th August. This is the fourth opening from the self-proclaimed 'Home Of Punjabi Cooking', with two others in Manchester city centre and one in Preston. With room for 400 customers, it is their biggest unit so far. ~ 11th Aug 2011
'Something For The Weekend' Liverpudlian chef Simon Rimmerwas held at knife point at 10am on 8th August at his Greens Restaurant in Manchester. Walking through the front door of the West Didsbury vegetarian restaurant, the thieves forced the TV chef to lie on the ground whilst holding a knife to Head Chef Barry Heath's head. The would-be robbers escaped empty handed though when they realised that the keys to the safe were not kept on the premises." ~ 9th Aug 2011
The De Vere group have sold Warrington-based gin distiller G&J Greenall to its management team for £7.5m. The company, which celebrates its 250th anniversary in September, produces more than 50% of the UK's own label gin and vodka, together with its own Greenall's Gin and, under licence, Bombay Sapphire. De Vere itself grew out of the old Greenall's brewing company before selling its brewery and pubs division in the 1990s. With the sale of G&J Greenall, and that of catering company Searcys last year, they will now concentrate solely on their hotel group." ~ 9th Aug 2011
There are rumours abound that Gordon Ramsay plans on launching a new mid-market chain of barbecue restaurants in the UK after he trademarked the name 'Fat Cow'. We can't see any substance behind the rumours, other than the name and the fact steakhouses seem to be fashionable at the moment. A spokesman for his company has also played down the news, claiming it's common practice to register names and there are no plans to use this one at present. Read into that what you will. ~ 8th Aug 2011
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White has followed up the launch of his new Governor Ale, which is brewed by JW Lees, with a hazy cider version. Produced by Westons of Herefordshire, the 4.8% ABV cider will be available in draught and bottles from the end of September. The Governor is named after Marco's family greyhound, which was rescued by his father and went on to break the track records at Stainforth, Doncaster and Keighley. The logo is of San Marco, the lion of Verona, after which his Italian mother named him. It will be available in Punch Taverns." ~ 5th Aug 2011
London burger chain Byron Burger are set to open their first branch in the North West at Liverpool One in part of the unit vacated by Zavvi on Paradise Street. ~ 24th Jan
TGI Fridays are coming to Liverpool with a 7,650 sq ft development space on the plaza level of the huge new Central Station extension, which will also feature new openings from Chiquito, Coast To Coast American restaurant, Cosmo pan-Asian restaurant and Zouk Tea Bar & Grill. ~ 24th Jan
Liverpool's Viva Brasil has done so well in its first year of trading on Castle Street that they are to open a second branch in Glasgow. It will have 237 covers, compared to Liverpool's 120. ~ 4th Sep
Optimum Coffee Services, are set to open
their fifth Costa Coffee franchise at the Port Arcades Shopping Centre in Ellesmere Port. ~ 25th Aug
The Heywood House Hotel on Fenwick Street has been upgraded from 3 star to 4 star staus by Visit Britain thanks in part to the
"fresh, homemade and local produce" in its
Noble House restaurant. ~ 25th Aug
Noticing the popularity of Venetian-style tapas dining in recent months, Italian restaurant Zizzi are to launch a new cichetti menu. The small dishes will be available at Liverpool One from September. ~ 15th Aug
The hundred or so pubs making the shortlist for The Great British Pub Awards has been announced with only The Church View in Widnes from the region. It's up for 'Best Cellar', one of the top awards. ~ 12th Aug
The Coffee Republic franchise in Exchange Flags has been rebranded as
Gourmet Coffee and will sell high quality, fair-trade espresso blend, teas, frappes and freshly made ciabattas and sandwiches. ~ 8th Aug
The landmark Scarisbrick Hotel
in Southport has been bought by the Manchester-based Britannia group, who also own the Adelphi. It was controversially put into administration ahead of the £3.25m deal. ~ 4th Aug
Malmaison has sold five properties, including Manchester but not Liverpool, and will lease each hotel back in long term agreements for upto £6m a year. The deal will reduce the company's £272m debts. ~ 20th Jul
