SLTA ‘bitterly disappointed’ over Glasgow LEZ legal challenge outcome
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said it is “bitterly disappointed” that a long-established Glasgow family business has lost…
Scottish Licensed Trade Association Joins Forces with 35 Business Bodies in Urgent Call for Business Rates Freeze
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), representing the interests of licensed establishments across Scotland, is one of thirty-five leading business…
Hospitality trade bodies across UK and Ireland call for greater support and co-operation from governments
The United Kingdom and Ireland Licensed Trade Association, a collective group encompassing influential hospitality trade bodies, including UKHospitality, the Scottish…
Scottish Hospitality Sector Sounds Alarm Bells as Pubs and Bars Battle Economic Challenges
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a continued barrage of economic challenges’ as sector calls for increased government support to protect…
SLTA joins forces with Xpressjobs to tackle staff shortages in the licensed trade
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has joined forces with a UK recruitment firm to help tackle current staff shortages in…
SLTA Business Impact Summer Survey
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023/24? Have your say with our national Business…
A guide to responding to the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill Consultation
As the lead committee appointed to scrutinise the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1, the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government,…
Alcohol Duty Changes: Prospects for Independent Pub & Bar Owners
A major overhaul of Britain’s alcohol duty system comes into force from 1st August and could have major implications for independent…
Passion for hospitality industry is what drives new SLTA President
HEADING up a trade association is a big responsibility that needs a mixture of time, commitment and passion, and for…
Withdrawal of Night Bus Services in Glasgow Threatens Hospitality Sector, Warns SLTA
First Glasgow will cease its night bus services in Glasgow from the 31st July 2023. The change will impact 11 routes…
A Different Way of Working with Business: SLTA welcomes Scottish Government’s renewed engagement with Business.
Action on regulations and non-domestic rates, as well as closer collaboration with business on government policy, are key recommendations of…
SLTA calls for ‘grown-up’ approach to DRS – ‘leaving politics out of it’
The launch of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme will be delayed until at least October 2025 as a consequence of the…
Glasgow’s Phase Two Low Emission Zone Raises Concerns for Hospitality Sector
With the introduction of phase two of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone today the SLTA is deeply concerned about the negative…
Share Your Insights: Take Part in the Scottish Tourism Industry Survey
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has launched its latest industry survey, seeking to gather insights on the current business environment…
Deadline extended for Scottish Thistle Awards
TOURISM and EVENTS businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards, Scotland’s premier tourism and events awards. …
SLTA Welcomes Pause on DRS and Scrapping of Proposed Alcohol Advertising Ban
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Humza Yousaf the deposit return scheme (DRS)…
Enter the Scottish Thistle Awards 2023
SCOTLAND’S licensed trade businesses are being encouraged to enter this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards before entries close on May 12th. …
SLTA congratulates Scotland’s new First Minister and calls for ‘reset’ with business sector
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association), in sending its congratulations to Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s new First Minister, has called for…
Spring Budget a ‘good start’ for hospitality but more support needed, says SLTA
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade Association has welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, in his Spring Budget, that there…
Time for the Scottish Government to Reset Its Relationship with Scotland’s Alcohol Industry
Peter Lederer, Patron of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, has called for the Scottish Government to reset its relationship with…
SLTA calls for swift action on unanswered questions on DRS
The (SLTA) Scottish Licensed Trade continues to express serious concerns over the deposit return scheme (DRS) ahead of the August…
Industry Leaders Unite Against Proposed Alcohol Ad Ban
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association, along with 26 other organisations representing all sectors of Scotland's tourism and hospitality industries, have…
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme Decoded
With DRS registration having commenced on March 1st, the spotlight is now on Scotland's pubs, bars, hotels, and late-night venues.…
Act Now: Proposed Alcohol Advertising Restrictions and their Potentially Devastating Impact on Scotland’s Pubs and Bars
It can’t have escaped anyone’s attention that the Scottish Government has published a public consultation on potential alcohol advertising and promotions…
Celebrating the Best of Scottish Tourism: Winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards Announced
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is proud to have supported the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final, which took place…
Complete the Tourism Industry Business Barometer Survey
As a member of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) would like to share the…
SLTA Survey Highlights Challenges Facing Scottish Pubs and Bars
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘a tidal wave of economic challenges’ as sector calls for urgent, increased government support to…
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – hospitality guide
Guidance for businesses in the hospitality sector that sell drinks in containers covered by Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme. Under the…
Deposit Return Scheme Workshop Roadshow 2023 – Register Today
With Producer Registration well underway and Return Point Operator Registration opening in March, (includes operators of the “closed loop” scheme…
UK Government’s new Energy Bill Discount Scheme leads to vastly reduced support for struggling operators
From the 1st of April 2023 all eligible non-domestic customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see…
SLTA 2023 Business Impact Survey
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing in 2023? Have your say with our national Business Impact…
Business Rates Update
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is pleased to share an update from Gerald Eve on the Scottish Government's recent…
SLTA warns of “winter of discontent” for Scotland’s licensed trade and hospitality industry
The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has issued its strongest warning yet that the licensed trade and hospitality industry north…
Hospitality businesses ‘desperately need’ business rates support to stay viable
Scottish budget should at least match Chancellor’s support for pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels or many will not survive the…
ScotHot 2023
This year ScotHot are celebrating 50 years of providing an unmissable opportunity for businesses in the food, drink, hospitality, and…
Draft 2023 Revaluation Rateable Values in Scotland portal now live
Draft 2023 Rateable Values for non-domestic properties are now available. You can now access the information for your premises here and follow the…
Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association has expressed grave concern for the future of many hospitality businesses, stating the Chancellor Jeremy…
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’
Scotland’s pubs and bars face ‘unprecedented challenges’ as sector calls for urgent increased government support to survive winter months. The…
Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme – All You Need To Know! – Free Conference
Circularity Scotland, the body responsible for the operation of Scotland's deposit return scheme, is planning a free to attend Deposit…
Chancellor’s Mini-Budget is ‘too little, too late’
Earlier today the UK Chancellor delivered a Mini-Budget Statement and a copy of this can be found here. The SLTA released…
Scots hospitality businesses warn Energy Bill Relief Scheme ‘goes no way near enough’
The UK Government has announced an Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic energy customers to protect businesses, charities and public…
What are the biggest challenges and issues your business is facing right now?
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association is inviting all licensees to take part in our Business Impact Survey on the unprecedented…
Hospitality businesses need urgent help amid soaring energy costs, warns SLTA
Following the announcement today that the domestic energy cap is to rise by 80% to £3546 and with the likelihood…
Edinburgh hospitality sector takes centre stage as festival season gets under way
With both the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe about to get under way, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association…
BofE interest rate increase could be ‘final straw’ for some hospitality businesses
With the hospitality sector continuing to face a slow recovery from the pandemic and more recent challenges presented by the…
Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut
Scottish Licensed Trade Association calls for VAT cut to support hospitality businesses as inflation soars. As prices continue to rise…
Don’t be caught out by rates deadline
Billing authorities are now enforcing strict payment deadlines with business rates. Whereby, if payment is late in consecutive months or…
Assessor Information Notices
The Scottish Assessors have been issuing Assessor Information Notices (AINs) since summer 2021 in order to obtain information they require…
Rail strike will contribute to a ‘perfect storm’ for Scottish hospitality businesses this summer
With a UK-wide rail strike scheduled to take place next week, the Scottish licensed trade is warning that the impact…
How to achieve net zero emissions in your business 10 step checklist
Get insights from a team of sustainability specialists on what it takes to reach net zero and read the 10-step…
Chancellor must do more to support struggling businesses, says SLTA
The announcement by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlining measures to address the rising cost of living is good news for…
Single-use plastics: new laws come into force in June 2022
The new regulations on single-use plastics/expanded polystyrene cups are coming into force on 01 June 2022. After this date, the…
Mental Health Awareness Week resources
This Mental Health Awareness Week don’t forget that there is advice and support available to hospitality and tourism businesses. For…
STA Launches most comprehensive study into economic conditions of Scotland’s Tourism
The Scottish Tourism Alliance launched their most comprehensive study into the challenges and opportunities for the sector ahead of this…
Scottish Thistle Awards 2022-23
The Scottish Thistle Awards are returning for 2022-23 to recognise and honour the very best individuals, businesses, partnerships and events…
New Covid Guidance Notes Following the Lifting of Restrictions
The Scottish Government has produced two new guidance notes following the lifting of Covid restrictions on the 18th of April. Guidance…
Scottish Government COVID-19 Adaptations Survey
In response to the positive steps taken by businesses and other organisations during the pandemic and the need for them…
Lifting of Scottish face covering laws confirmed
Final confirmation face coverings no longer a legal requirement to wear in most indoor public spaces and on public transport…
Calorie Labelling on Menus – Government Launches Consultation
The public and business are being invited to have their say on plans to add the number of calories to…
Hospitality 50% Commercial Rates Relief – you MUST apply for this Rates Relief
On the 9th of December Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, announced that the licensed trade and…
14th March deadline for Chef Management & Leadership Training Programme applications
The deadline for applications for a new Chef Management & Leadership Training Programme is fast approaching. The programme is offering…
Zero Waste Scotland Talent Competition Launch
A survey, released, shows just 24% of food and drink businesses in Scotland think food waste is a significant contributor…
VisitScotland unveils next phase of #ScotlandIsCalling campaign
A multi-million pound global marketing campaign is set to bolster the recovery of Scotland’s valuable tourism and events industry by…
Scottish Tourism Month underway
Scottish Tourism Month is now underway, with a packed programme to engage, connect and inspire tourism businesses and organisations across…
Non-Domestic Rates for the 2023 Revaluation in Scotland
This week marks one month before the 2023 Revaluation Tone date and 13 months before the commencement of the new…
SLTA supports the Long Live the Local Campaign
Long Live The Local originally launched in July 2018 to raise awareness of the high number of pub closures across…
Nicola Sturgeon announces dates for the end of vaccine passports and face masks in Scotland
Today the Scottish Government published an updated Strategic Framework giving a new staged approach to easing protective measures which will help…
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2022
There are a series of free one hour employer events available during the Scottish Apprenticeship Week, from 7th – 11th March to support employers of all…
2022/23 Non-domestic tax rates and new potential fines
From 1 April 2022, there will be 3 different rates poundages. Basic Property Rate - 49.8 pence. Intermediate Property Rate - 51.1 pence paid by…
Disability Inclusion in Tourism and Travel
Between 22nd February and 21st April 2022, Inclusion Scotland, a national Disabled People’s Organisation, is offering free training workshops to…

Press Enquries
Paul Waterson, SLTA Media Spokesperson, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Scottish Licensed Trade Industry. For any press or media enquiries email info@theslta.co.uk