Whitbread reports strong performance
Whitbread has today reported that its pub-restaurants are performing “robustly” and that Costa Coffee was “outstanding” and“particularly strong” in the nine months to November 26. The group said that trade overall was improving, with the pub-restaurants achieving like-for-like sales of two per cent over the period.

Rum Fest part of London Cocktail Week
The annual Rum Fest in London is to take place slightly earlier next year when it becomes part of the new London Cocktail Week, which runs from October 11 to 17. Launched by Ian Burrell and IPBartenders in 2007, the consumer and trade show is now being talked about as the Rum & Cane Spirit Festival, reflecting the growing presence of sugar cane spirit cachaça in the UK. London Cocktail Week, co-ordinated by Diffords Guide, will feature pop-up cocktail bars, seminars, training sessions and other shows including T he Restaurant Show, which takes place from October 11 to 13 at Earls Court Two. Diffords Guide is hoping that bars and venues across London will organise their own events.

Global rise in Scotch whisky exports
More than 807million bottles of Scotch whisky were exported during the first nine months of 2009, representing a 1.5 per cent rise in global shipments compared to 2008, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. The value of these exports was down by 3.5 per cent on the previous industry record in 2008, reaching £2.11billion. However, this was still the industry’s second-best export value performance for a nine-month period.

Ad campaign launched for Tia Maria
A major Christmas advertising campaign has been launched by First Drinks for Tia Maria. It will be the first TV ad campaign for Tia Maria for six years, with a budget of £1million. Under the title of “Mix It”, it drives the key messages of t he liqueur’s mixability and versatility to consumers, featuring both men and women drinking the liqueur in a variety of ways.

Chancellor rejects call for duty cut
Chancellor Alistair Darling ignored calls last week for beer duty to be reduced when VAT returns to 17.5 per cent on January 1. In his Pre-Budget Report, he indicated that duty would remain unchanged despite the fact that duty was increased when VAT was temporarily cut to 15 per cent. The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that beer prices will increase by 6p per pint because of VAT returning to 17.5 per cent. The beer duty accelerator is also expected to see an increase in duty at the rate of two per cent above the rate of inflation in March. A study by Oxford Economics for the BBPA has found that the government makes fives times as much on the sale of a pint of beer than the brewer or the owner of the bar or pub, taking into account VAT, duties, employment c ontributions and taxes from profits.

Irish government cuts beer duty
In Ireland, the government last week announced duty cuts of 12 per cent on a pint of beer and cider, 14 per cent on a half-glass of spirits and 60 cent on a standard bottle of wine. It was made in response to the rise in cross-border shopping from people stocking up on cheaper alcohol in Northern Ireland.

Carluccio’s “robust” despite profit drop
Carluccio’s, the 45-strong restaurant group, has reported that adjusted pre-tax profits for the year to September 27 were down 16 per cent to £4.7million but added that it had performed “robustly” in a difficult market. Turnover was up by over seven per cent to £69million on the back of expansion. The group added that it was debt free and ended its financial year with a cash balance of £3.1million.

Elliott retires from Greene King
David Elliott is to r etire from his role as managing director of Greene King’s leased and tenanted division after being with the company for 11 years. During his time, the portfolio has grown from 620 sites to more than 1,300. He will be replaced from February 1 by Simon Longbottom, who was formerly at Mitchells & Butlers and most recently managing director of Gala Coral’s bingo and casino arm.

Turner retires from Fuller’s
Tim Turner is to retire from his board-level role of commercial director at London brewer and operator Fuller, Smith & Turner in March after more than 30 years at the company. Last week, Fuller’s also promoted sales and personnel director Richard Fuller to the board last week. He joined the business in 1984 and became divisional director with responsibility for sales in 1992. He has taken on responsibility for PR, which was previously overseen by Beer Company managing director John Roberts, and will take over responsibility for external affairs on Tim Turner’s retirement.

Licensees protest over pubcos
Angry licensees demonstrated outside the House of Commons last week as part of a protest against the pubco model. Although hundreds of people were expected, only 26 turned out in the wind and the rain.

Pubs ‘n’ Bars goes into administration
Pubs ‘n’ Bars, which operates 87 community pubs in London and the south-east, has gone into administration after its banks, led by AIlied Irish Bank (AIB), refused to provide the company with further backing. Adminstrators David Thurgood, Trevor O’Sullivan and Nick Wood of Grant Thornton were last week running the business, warning that they might have to close some of the pubs.

Council officers warn over live music
Nine out of 10 council licensing officers believe that a relaxation of the law around live music would lead to more noise complaints, accordin g to a survey carried out by the Local Government Association. It followed government proposals to allow a licence exemption for venues with a capacity of 100 or fewer people. But the number who thought the changes would lead to a rise in threats to public safety and an increase in crime and disorder was less than three per cent.

New on-trade team at Pernod Ricard UK
Pernod Ricard UK has confirmed a shake-up of its management team in charge of the on-trade. Former business unit controller Nick Yates has been named channel director for on-trade spirits after 11 years of commercial experience at the company. He will report directly to the recently appointed commercial director for spirits, Simon van Moppes. Lee James has been appointed channel director for wines, including champagne, across the on-trade as well as convenience, specialist and wholesale cash and carry.  Chris Ellis remains as channel director for off-trade spirits, but his resp onsibility has extended to wholesale cash and carry.

BarBands formed for bar entertainment
A new company has been formed by a team from the bar, pub and club sector to provide affordable quality live entertainment and marketing support to venues. BarBands aims to help with the use of live music and entertainment and to improve bar spend and footfall. Sales director Elliot Shand has been a bar manager and promoter in venues such as Notting Hill Arts Club, The 100 Club and the Marquee Club and managing director Ed Hartridge was previously in business development at Whyte & Mackay and as a bar manager for restaurant group Smith & Western

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