If you didn’t find time to attend this year’s Northern Restaurant & Bar show, here’s our roundup of some of the cool stuff we discovered and the trends we hope to see more of in 2023.
Return to the Wild
Foraging was a hot topic this year, with a Market Kitchen Showcase from Dominique Ashford on creating patisserie with foraged and locally sourced ingredients, and a variety of talks on fermenting, preserving and zero-waste kitchens. We even bumped into Liverpool Food Network member Daniel, founder of Foragers Fancy and creator of his own delicious locally foraged liqueurs
Innovation
It was great to see strong innovation across the drinks categories, including the brilliant TIOS Hard Tea who’ve taken Britain’s favourite drink and given it an alcoholic twist. We were also impressed with the taste of UK brand INTUNE’s sodas – sparkling fruit & botanical CBD drinks which are gluten-free, vegan, low calorie and infused with 10mg high-quality CBD.
Indulgence
We might all be too skint to go on holiday after paying our electricity bills, but affordable luxuries were a key category at this year’s show. Proof won our vote for most indulgent drink with their Lucky Sod – a truly indulgent combination of dark Irish Whiskey, smooth vanilla and toffee caramel flavours. Caviar & Cocktails were also showcasing their Adamas Italian Caviar, providing us with a little moment of luxury during an otherwise chaotic day.
Low & No
Low Alcohol and Alcohol Free drinks were popular once again, ranging from AF alternatives to our usual tipples to brand new products. Citizen Spritz were showcasing a brilliant alternative to traditional cocktails with their “just add soda” AF spritz mixes (alongside one of the strongest branding jobs we’ve seen this year!). Drop Bear Beers were on form with a range of AF beers including a very tasty stout. We even ran into Liverpool Food Network member Deanne – founder of the fiery alcohol alternative Root2Ginger – who was excited to see her category grow.
Yer Nan Goes the Disco…
…Ok, maybe she doesn’t – but she can if she wants to! Spending by those over 65 has increased by 75% in the last two decades, and by 2040 this “Golden Years” group will be responsible for spending 63p in every pound spent in the UK economy. Katy Moses of KAM Media guided us through the latest research on what different generations want from their hospitality experiences, and why the hospitality sector is at risk of alienating an aging population.
Thinking about what should be in your restaurant or bar in 2023? Why not get in touch…
