Scotch Whisky is trapped in a tax riddle August 21, 2025 The UK's nonsensical spirit tax regime is an own goal that punishes industries like Scotch Whisky, writes Mark Kent.
Rachel Reeves to raise ‘stealth and sin’ taxes to cover black hole August 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves is set to hit British consumers with extra “sin taxes”, leading forecasters have predicted, which are widely seen as regressive taxes that could hit people on lower income. The Chancellor faces having to raise £20bn in taxes at this year’s Autumn Budget to restore her “already paltry” margin of £9.9bn in headroom, according [...]
Here’s why the Simmons bar was never going to last August 6, 2025 It should have worked. On every level. Millennial pink neon art, reliably late opening hours, chugging cheap cocktails to disco playlists. Who doesn’t like disco playlists? And yet, after taking the “tough decision” to close four bars, Simmons has gone into administration, owing millions to the bank and tax collectors. When Simmons launched in 2013, [...]
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to lift ban on drinking alcohol in stands July 24, 2025 Football fans will be able to drink alcohol in the stands during Women’s Super League games at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United next season. They are among 14 clubs from the top two divisions of English women’s football who have signed up to the second phase of a trial, following a successful [...]
One pub to close every day in 2025, new data reveals July 10, 2025 Small pubs are being forced to close in the face of unsustainable costs pressures, according to new data. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, amounting to more than 5,600 job losses. The industry body pointed to the heavy pressure of [...]
Beer we go: Football alcohol ban could be reviewed as MPs prepare to vote July 8, 2025 MPs could be asked to vote today on proposals to review the ban on football supporters consuming alcohol in the stands at matches. Fans have been prohibited from drinking in view of the pitch in the top five tiers of English professional football for the last 40 years. But that legislation could be reviewed as [...]
Profit at The Macallan whisky owner slashed as sales slide July 2, 2025 Profit at Edrington, the owner of whisky label The Macallan, slumped by more than a quarter during its latest financial year as its sales slid, new figures have revealed. The Glasgow-headquartered group, whose brands also include Highland Park and Glenrothes, has posted a pre-tax profit of £274.4m for the year to 31 March, 2025. The latest [...]
Glengoyne whisky maker suffers worst decline in decades as demand falls June 24, 2025 Profit at the group behind spirts such as Glengoyne whisky and Edinburgh Gin has been slashed in half as it suffered the largest decline “in decades”. Edinburgh-headquartered Ian McLeod Distillers has posted a pre-tax profit of £15.6m for the year to 30 September, 2024. The total comes after the business achieved a pre-tax profit of £33.8m [...]
Thwaites ‘extremely nervous’ Rachel Reeves will raise taxes in Autumn Budget June 17, 2025 Beer brewer Thwaites is “extremely nervous” about the possibility of Chancellor Rachel Reeves raising taxes further in her Autumn Budget. The Lancashire-headquartered group, which also owns pubs and hotels, added its industry is “under tremendous pressure” from Reeves’ first Autumn Budget due to the increases in the National Minimum Wage and the employer’s National Insurance [...]
Reeves’ tax hikes lead to spike in pubs going bust June 16, 2025 The series of tax hikes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget last year has contributed to a spike in pubs going bust across the UK in April, according to new figures. A total of 67 pubs closed down during the month – the highest number since July 2024 when 75 entered insolvency [...]