The latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking reports that business confidence in Scotland rose six points during August to 34%, with the full easing of lockdown restrictions signalling a boost for businesses, with overall confidence in the economy also rising by 20 points to 43%.
The barometer questions 101 businesses in the Scotland out of a total of 1,200 UK businesses every month with the overall ‘balance’ of opinion weighing up the percentage of firms that are positive in outlook, against those that are negative.
Companies in Scotland also fed back fractionally lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down eight points at 25%, with 20% of businesses expecting to increase staff levels over the next year, up seven points on last month.
Overall UK business confidence rose six points in August, reaching 36% – the highest level recorded since May 2018. When asked about their overall trading prospects, UK businesses reported a six-point increase on July’s reading at 34% and firms’ confidence in the economy also increased six points to 39%.
The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards judges have been busy whittling down all your nominations to finalists in each category that will be revealed in your August DRAM, out shortly. The standard this year has been as high as ever and thanks to everybody that went to the trouble of nominating and many thanks to all our sponsors. We’re really excited about this year’s event on 7th of September at Glasgow’s Cranside Kitchen and the Radisson Red because it’s an inside/outside awards with a festival flavour!
We also pushed the envelope last year when we celebrated with our hybrid awards – probably the most stressful night of our year – but each and everyone deserved their accolades and we are so glad we did it and visited you all with your awards.
It seems only right with everyone having to adapt that we too adapt the awards, for this year, to recognise that many people will not feel comfortable in a formal environment. But that doesn’t mean to say you can’t put your glad rags on, just that it will be accessible to everyone, and many thanks to all our sponsors
Of course, there will our usual surprises not least our Lifetime Achievement Award.
So book your tickets now by emailing accounts@mediaworldltd.com.
The Eat Out to Help Out scheme helped push the UK’s inflation rate down to a five-year low in August says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The VAT cut in the hospitality sector from 20% to 5% was also a factor.
Consumer prices rose by 0.2% in annual terms in August, the smallest increase since December 2015 and a sharp slowdown from July’s 1.0% increase. The ONS said this was unprecedented for August, which is usually the peak month of the holiday season.
Eat Out to Help Out ran from Monday to Wednesday in August, offered 50% off food up to the value of £10, and discounts for more than 100 million meals were claimed.
Prices in restaurants and cafes were down 2.6% compared with August last year, their first fall since records began in 1989.
Caledonian Brewery steadily releases a seasonal guest ale each month for the on-trade and it’s July and August line-up includes ‘Road to Rio’ a 4% ABV ale.
The beer has been created to feed the excitement of the biggest sporting event of the year, Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Games.
The limited edition beer is brewed from a mixture of both English and southern hemisphere hops and is a very suitably gold coloured brew with both “soft fruit aromas” and “a generous hint of lemon and a gentle maIt finish.”
Craig Steven, Caledonian’s Beers Manager and Beer Academy Sommelier, says, “We wanted to create an ale that feeds into the excitement of the biggest sporting event of the year. Brewed using hops from England, New Zealand and America, the result is a soft, fruity ale with a punchy citrus finish. Available to the on trade throughout the competition, Road to Rio is the perfect complement to the variety of sport we’ve got ahead of us!”
Heineken-owned Birra Moretti has signed a deal which will see the brand sponsor Summer Nights at the Bandstand at Kelvingrove, Glasgow, for the next three years. This year’s event, which takes place across two weekends in August, (4-7 August and also 11-14 August) has a line-up which includes Van Morrison, Eddie Reader, The Waterboys, Lloyd Cole & The Leopards and Will Young.
Concert goers can enjoy the new Birra Moretti Village which will offer up its finest beers along with a selection of Italian street food.
John Gemmell, Scotland Trading Director at Heineken, comments, “We feel that the sponsorship of Summer Nights will help drive awareness and trial of Birra Moretti. Birra Moretti is seeing fantastic growth in Scotland, particularly in a packaged format with a YOY growth of 76%1. “
He continued, “We are really excited at the incredible line up delivered by Regular Music this year and look forward to serving ice cold Birra Moretti throughout this brilliant event.”
Tickets are now on sale for the Summer Nights series of concerts. The full line-up is as follows:
VAN MORRISON plus special guest THURSDAY 4 AUGUST
IDLEWILD & C DUNCAN plus special guests FRIDAY 5 AUGUST
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS plus special guest SATURDAY 6 AUGUST
LLOYD COLE & THE LEOPARDS
& SUNDAY 7 AUGUST
JUSTIN CURRIE & THE PALLBEARERS
THE WATERBOYS MONDAY 8 AUGUST
PRIMAL SCREAM plus special guests THURSDAY 11 AUGUST
ELECTRIC HONEY SESSIONS FRIDAY 12 AUGUST
EDDI READER & FRIENDS SATURDAY 13 AUGUST
WILL YOUNG plus special guests SUNDAY 14 AUGUST
Mark Mackie said: “We are delighted to be returning to the Kelvingrove Bandstand for the third year, bringing with us such a varied selection of world class performers to this truly unique setting right in the heart of Glasgow.”
2015 sees the DRAM celebrate 20 years of hosting the DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards. (Hard to believe!) This year the awards are being renamed The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards. As well as all the trade coverage in the magazine, for the first time nominations will be invited from consumers, as well as sales reps, critics and such like.
The awards will utilise fully social media, local newspapers and nationals, radio and our own publications to invite people to vote.
The aim is to raise awareness of all the positive contribution the licensed trade makes to the Scottish economy, to employment and to tourism. Says DRAM Editor, Susan Young, “I wanted to move the awards forward and believe after 20 years it is time for a step change. I have discussed this with various key operators and companies and they fully back the new format.”
She continues, “We’ve got a great story to tell, some excellent operators and some amazing bars and pubs and in 2015 we will be celebrating this with the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
The 2015 Awards will take place on 11th August so put the date in your diary!