Trade welcomes 5% VAT rate
VAT on food and accommodation in hospitality venues is to be cut to 5% for the next six months and consumers offered discounted meals in venues as part of a raft of new measures designed to kickstart the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown
Campaign launched to end background music ban
Operators have backed a new campaign calling for an end to the background music ban in Scotland’s pubs and restaurants
Renewed calls for licence fee rebate
Renewed calls have been made for the Scottish Government to take action on annual premises licence fees as venues have been forced to close and had trading restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic
Lockdown extended until mid-February
Current lockdown restrictions covering mainland Scotland and some islands are to remain in place until at least mid-February, first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.
Recovery tops the agenda
In the build up to the election, each of Holyrood’s main parties have announced policies that would impact hospitality and tourism.
NTIA launches legal challenge to vaccine passports
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) is launching legal action against the Scottish Government’s vaccination certification scheme.
‘Ordinary just isn’t good enough’ for Gordon Ramsay’s new gin
Eden Mill Distillery has partnered with world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay to create Ramsay’s Gin, using botanicals selected from the wild coastline of Fife
Customers might visit less often – but they’ll want quality when they do
Disposable income – or lack thereof – is likely to be a big factor in hospitality in 2023, particularly in the early part of the year. With the general public facing prices increasing well ahead of earnings, there’s bound to be a knock-on effect on visits to hospitality venues – and what customers buy when visiting them.
People still prefer a Pornstar
The UK’s top alcoholic mix-up remains, by a sizeable margin, the Pornstar Martini, which accounts for 15.5% of sales – while its closest rival is the equally blush-making Sex on the Beach, at 7%.
New whisky range selected for the Scottish capital
The first wave of this new branded collection comprises three top drams from distilleries in Speyside, Islay and the Highlands, with the Speyside matured for seven years, and both the Highland and Islay whiskies matured for nine years, before bottling in Leith.
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Luke Richardson
William Woodburn
