HRC, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, has announced the appointment of drinks expert and hospitality consultant Anna Sebastian as drinks ambassador for 2026.
Anna Sebastian
She will help shape content and experiences for HRC’s expanded drinks offering, which will include the launch of a dedicated drinks section and a new Future of Drinks Stage.
Designed to spotlight the full breadth of the beverage industry — from premium spirits to low and no — the new area will provide a platform for brands, operators, and hospitality leaders to connect, discover trends, and share expertise.
Anna will curate a dedicated space for innovative British drinks producers to come together, as well as lead a high-level industry discussion on the Future of Drinks Stage.
• Cornish Inns, which operates six pubs in Cornwall, has closed four of them, all St Austell Brewery-owned venues. Cornwall Live reported that staff were told: “Unfortunately, winter trading has continued to impact cashflow and there is not enough capital left to continue safely and responsibly. Closing these sites now means we are acting while there is still structure in place and some funds available to manage the process properly rather than allowing things to deteriorate further.”
The company has two other pubs – The Weavers Inn, in Bodmin, and the Loom Room cocktail bar, in Wadebridge, which remain open.
• Three Cheers Pub Co, which has 10 venues in London, saw revenue dip from £12,516,669 to £12,199,852 in the year to 31st March, 2025. Pre-tax profit was down from £1,391,219 to £1,364,648.
• J D Wetherspoon is to open a franchise pub in partnership with the University of Surrey this spring. The venue, on the main campus, in Guildford, will be named after Sir Ronald Wates, whose family funded and constructed the building.
