Monthly Archives: March 2012
Ceilidh-Donia is calling you
Capital hotel enjoying soaring occupancy rates comes on to market
AN Edinburgh hotel that’s said to be enjoying a particularly buoyant trading period is up...
Pub tax burden must be lifted
THE pub trade can no longer afford to cough up any more in tax if it’s to remain viable, the boss of one of...
Leckie issues plea for quality drive
OPERATORS of tourism businesses must up their game when it comes to the quality of accommodation and experiences offered to visitors if Scotland’s tourism...
Getting to Noe the bourbon biz
THE bourbon category is only scratching the surface of its potential global appeal, according to the master distiller of one of Kentucky’s oldest brands.
Fred...
Our top spirits bar in the north
THE freedom to experiment was credited last week as a key factor in the success of Edinburgh cocktail bar 56 North.
The outlet, named the...
Ministers in licence U-turn
The Scottish Government was forced last week to hastily review its verdict over how the 2005 Act has affected premises licence numbers in Scotland. As it published its liquor licence statistics for 2010/11, the government initially said the tally of premises licences suggested the “implementation of the Act has had little impact on the long-term trend” of a 4% fall every three years. But it quickly emerged that the decline was much higher.
Minimum price moves closer
Minimum pricing moved a step closer last week after the proposal was backed by the Scottish Parliament. A U-turn by the Conservatives saw the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) Bill passed at stage one by 86 votes to nil, with 32 Labour abstentions. The Tories agreed to back the Bill with the proviso that a so-called ‘sunset clause’, which would allow Parliament to review the legislation after five years, was introduced.
Retailers count cost of licensing
Convenience retailers in Scotland are £4000 worse off under current licensing legislation – while more than 40% of local authorities have made a profit from administering the new system. That’s the damning conclusion of a report by the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), which claimed the 2005 licensing Act has cost Scotland’s 5600 convenience stores a total of £22.4 million since it went live on September 1, 2009.
How about that then?
MIDLOTHIAN’S Howgate Restaurant & Bistro flew the flag for Scotland at a major awards ceremony in Manchester last month.
The business was named Best Scotland...
Planning matters for new pubco lessees
SCOTTISH & Newcastle Pub Company has introduced a business planning process that will be compulsory for all new lessees.
The system requires all new lessees...
Columns
Luke Richardson
William Woodburn
