Intertain launches new comedy partnership with Just the Tonic at three sites: Walkabout operator Intertain has launched its new comedy offering “The Comedy Loft” with a special event at Comedy Loft venue 6 On Broad Street in Birmingham. The new venture is in partnership with comedy producer Just the Tonic, which is run by established comedian Darrell Martin. Comedy Loft gigs will take place on Friday and Saturday nights at Intertain’s venues in Camden (Dingwalls), Birmingham (6 on Broad Street), Reading (Sub89) and Watford (Walkabout), with dates being extended throughout the week for the busy Christmas shows. The new relationship is designed to allow Intertain to provide a significantly enhanced comedy offering, with Just the Tonic working with comedians such as Johnny Vegas, Tom Stade, Reginald D Hunter, Ross Noble and Seann Walsh in the past few months alone. Comedians already booked to appear at Comedy Loft venues in the coming months include Paul Sinha, Reginald D Hunter, Tom Stade, Lee Nelson, Doc Brown and James Acaster. As part of the move, Intertain will also explore the potential for comedy at other times during the week, as well as working on becoming a home to touring shows for both big-name, established acts and up-and-coming comedians. Simon Kaye, chief operating officer at Intertain, said: “Just the Tonic is extremely well-known within the industry for sourcing the best comedians in the business. This new partnership is designed to help us build The Comedy Loft brand, becoming known for top-drawer comedy and the best possible customer experience.”

SIBA research shows demand for craft beer in coffee shops: New research from the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has highlighted consumer demand for independent craft brewed beers to be sold in coffee shops, something the trade organisation is now looking to supply via its adapted BeerFlex service. The study, carried out by independent research company M&C Allegra, showed a fifth of people in the UK would visit coffee shops more often if they sold British craft beers – something the UK’s biggest coffee companies are clearly in a position to capitalise on, having continued to extend the number of branches selling alcohol in recent years. Coffee shops overall have seen meteoric growth over the past decade, reaching 20,728 in 2015 and predicted to hit 30,000 by 2025, driven by a huge increase in the number of branded coffee chains such as Whitbread-owned Costa (1,992 sites), Starbucks (849) and Caffe Nero (620), of which there were a total of just 1,600 in 2005. SIBA managing director Mike Benner said: “Many of the UK’s large coffee chains, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Harris + Hoole – which is owned by Tesco – have already begun to look to increase the number of outlets with alcohol licences and the idea of coffee shops as all-day venues is something they are taking extremely seriously. It’s important, though, that coffee shops which pride themselves on serving high quality, expertly prepared coffee, don’t let their offering slip when it comes to beer. The UK’s craft brewing industry has never been stronger or more exciting and there is a clear fit between coffee shops and craft-brewed beer – particularly craft canned and bottled beers, which are small, light and easy to store, but offer amazing flavour and quality.” To meet the demand SIBA has adapted its BeerFlex service, which supplies the UK’s biggest pub companies with independent beer from SIBA breweries, to work for the UK’s coffee shops. SIBA said the focus of the new venture will be bottled and canned beers, which are easier to store, chill and serve – but all formats would be supplied. The “bier cafe” culture of places such as Belgium is also making an impact in the UK with beer often served in smaller stemmed glasses than the traditional pint glass associated with beer in the past. In fact when people are trying new beers 34% of people opt for a half pint glass, whereas just 26% opt for a pint glass, according to research conducted by YouGov last year.