10 London restaurants to look forward to in 2021
While London restaurants remain shuttered, we’ve rounded up 10 new openings we’re looking forward to this year, from seafood sanctum Manzi’s to the Batman-themed Park Row.


Warwick bar launches online pick ‘n’ mix gin shop
That Gin Company, developed by a small bar owner in Warwick, West Midlands, has launched a pick ‘n’ mix gin shop online, enabling customers across the UK to create their own flavours.

Hospitality industry responds to ban on single-use plastics
The UK government has announced a ban on single-use plastics in hospitality and on-trade venues in England. Set to come into effect in October 2023, WLC spoke to operators and restaurateurs about their reactions to the proposed ban.

Energy support for hospitality ‘unsustainably expensive’, says Chancellor
The current level of energy bill support is “unsustainably expensive” and cannot continue at its current rate, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has told business groups.

Punters pushed to visit pubs this Dry January
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is urging people to ease their January blues by heading back into the pub to assist businesses “that urgently need help to survive” despite cost-of-living woes, chief executive Emma McClarkin has said.

The Drinks Trust launches wellbeing day for hospitality workers
UK non-profit The Drinks Trust has teamed up with bar group Vagabond Wines to launch Hospitality Covered, a wellbeing day for the hospitality industry, in light of the pressures of the last few years.

UK drinks sales equal to last Covid-free Christmas
On-trade drinks sales in the week to 10 December were up 15% on figures from 2021, but trading has dipped below the marker of 2019, the last Christmas without Covid-19 issues.

People forced to sleep in pub overnight due to snow
A Christmas miracle or an icy nightmare? Around 40 people were forced to seek refuge in a pub on Sunday night after becoming stranded due to the snow.

Qatar World Cup bad for UK bars and restaurants
It’s no surprise that pubs saw the biggest benefit from the World Cup tournament in November, leading sales at bars and restaurants to falter.

England in World Cup quarter final could mean £6m boost for pubs
England is through to the quarter final of the World Cup after a 3-0 win against Senegal, which could provide a lifeline income boost for pubs as punters head out to watch the game.

Four in five bars to increase range of no and low alcohol drinks
More than 80% of bars plan to capitalise on a healthy drinking trend among consumers by increasing their range of no and low alcohol drinks in 2023, new research shows.

London’s top 10 Christmas events to get you in the holiday spirit
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when the Christmas lights make city streets glow and we all have one-too-many glasses of eggnog. To spark some festive joy, here is WLC’s list of top 10 Christmas events happening in London this December.