Guinness Index: How much is a pint of the black stuff in your borough? March 25, 2026 While the ONS has added hummus and dog grooming to its sample shopping basket in a bid to move with the times when tracking inflation – Morning Wire prefers a cooler metric: the Guinness Index. Nothing encapsulates British consumer habits like Guinness’ meteoric rise: taking stout from the preserve of grey-haired aficionados to an ever-present [...]
Fevertree takes Environment Agency to court over green packaging tax March 24, 2026 Fevertree has launched a legal challenge against the Environment Agency over its application of a sustainability packaging tax, which is charged on glass bottles. The premium drink mixer brand claims the glass used in some of its products should be classified as non-household packaging and be exempted from the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) levy, and [...]
Virgin wines looks to Gen-Z wine-lovers for growth after suffering loss March 17, 2026 Online retailer Virgin Wines turned a loss but remains confident a surge of Gen-Z drinkers who no longer view wine as “elitist” will push the firm into the black. The wine seller made a £400k pre-tax loss in the first half of the year, down from a £1.3m profit last year, but saw revenue grow [...]
Gen-Z swaps pints for gym memberships, fitness boss claims March 11, 2026 Gen-Z fitness fanatics are opting for gym memberships over pints as social media trends drive young Brits to socialise at the pull-up bar rather than the nightclub bar, the boss of The Gym Group has claimed. Will Orr, chief executive at the only London-listed gym provider, told Morning Wire his gyms have seen a surge [...]
Majestic Wine blames Reeves’ tax hikes as profit slashed January 7, 2026 Majestic Wine has blamed Rachel Reeves and her tax policies for its profit almost slashing in half during its latest financial year. The Watford-based business said the “economic environment became more challenging” during the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, especially after the general election and the Chancellor’s first Budget. The chain added that these [...]
Spencer Matthews: My biggest challenge this Dry January, and why I hate mocktails January 1, 2026 Former Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews founded the Clean Co alcohol-free drinks company in 2019. He talks to Morning Wire about his Dry January challenges, both personal and professional. What does Dry January mean to you personally? I see January as a chance for people and for society to reflect on their relationship with [...]
Dry January 2026: 7 of the best alcohol free events in London December 31, 2025 Whether you’re going totally alcohol free, trying a ‘damp January’ by moderating your intake or purely interested in the latest initiatives to do with sobriety, here are five interesting-sounding activities to try out this Dry January. Dry January events to book now CBD cocktails at The Alchemist Alchemist bars around the UK will be partnering [...]
Jeremy Clarkson rakes in millions from Hawkstone brewery December 17, 2025 Profit at Jeremy Clarkson’s brewery Hawkstone has surged during its latest financial year after its sales almost tripled, it has been revealed. New accounts for the business behind the Cotswolds brewery show the firm’s total equity jumped from £432,512 to just over £3m in the year to 31 March, 2025. Total equity is the overall [...]
Laurent-Perrier: King’s champagne supplier blames private school VAT for sliding sales December 9, 2025 Labour’s introduction of VAT on private school fees contributed to profit at Laurent-Perrier, which supplies King Charles III with champagne, being significantly cut during its latest financial year. The division of the French giant has said its sales were impacted not only by the Labour government extending VAT to school fees but also higher interest [...]