The week in pictures

We need to talk about Majestic.

On Monday, the retailer rannounced it will close stores and rebrand as Naked Wine as it concentrates on its online business, despite CEO Gormley insisting the recently transformed Majestic business had “the potential to be a long-term winner”.

Many analysts were surprised by the unforeseen change in tack in the company’s strategy. Equity Research Analyst at Liberum Wayne Brown said there was no doubt retail was challenging on the high street, but questioned why the group would completely reshape the business, when only three and a half years ago, it thought it was an excellent idea to put these two businesses together.

“Why was it a good idea then and why is it a bad idea today?” he asked.

Our retail editor Arabella Mileham has been covering the story this week. You can read her analysis of the situation here.

Michael Stones, the producer behind the famous Carling Black Label ‘Dambusters’ advert in 1989, has died aged 75.

Stones was a producer at Park Village ad agency (which he founded with some former colleagues from Ridley Scott’s own agency RSA) and was one of the team behind the fondly remembered ad that was part of long train of ‘humorous’ beer adverts of the 1980s and 1990s, often with an historical theme.

The advert riffs on both the real 1943 events and famous 1955 film of the ‘Dambusters’ raid on the Möhne, Eder and Sorpe dams, in which the ‘bouncing bombs’ were used.

Scotch label Loch Lomond Whiskies picked up the ‘Best First Time Sponsorship’ Award at the UK Sponsorship Awards in London’s Grosvenor Hotel for its partnership with The Open, golf’s original championship.

The 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie was the first event in a five-year agreement with the Scotch producer, which also includes support of the Women’s British Open and aims to showcase Loch Lomond Whiskies’ innovative range of single malts globally.

Judges described the sponsorship as being “well thought-out” and said that Loch Lomond Whiskies “quickly established brand awareness and credibility amongst the target audience.”

Spirits industry veterans Rick Kiley and Jeff Boedges have produced and co-starred in a new web series called Collecting Dust, visiting various bars throughout Manhattan, where they inquire about bottles that have been forgotten by staff and patrons.

The four-part series sees the former Soho Experiential executives polish off said bottle with a different special guest each episode via neat pours and specialty cocktails, prepared by Elayne Duff of Bar Rescue.

Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler is partnering with Portobello Road distillery on a new gin flavoured with olive oil.

Having worked with Notting Hill residents from the culinary world on past editions of its “Local Heroes” gin range, Portobello has gone for a star from a different walk of life (sorry) by teaming up with Knopfler, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the fifty greatest guitarists of all time.

Portobello Road founder Jake Burger said the singer was introduced to us by Brett Graham. “After meeting with Mark and his management for lunch and bonding over a mutual love of music and gin, the collaboration was agreed.”

“The addition of olive oil results in a wonderfully smooth finish making it a great gin for Martinis and of course Gibsons, which of course shares its name with the iconic guitar brand.”

Spirits Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands’ Jigger Beaker Glass 2.0 reached its final stop in Leeds Banyan Bar. Guests from across the country descended on Banyan Bar for the finale of the 2.0 tour to explore ‘The Future of Mixed Drinks’, hosted by BBFB’s trade advocacy team and thought leaders including Artesian’s head bartender Remy Savage, Tristan Stephenson of the award-winning Aske Stephenson duo and industry stalwart, Craig Harper.

Image: Sydney University School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

In High-Tech Taxidermy, a drone emitting fake bird distress calls is being trialled in Australia in an effort to scare avians away from ripening grapes and reduce crop losses.

The frankly terrifying device, which is the brainchild of PHD candidate Zi Wang, mimics bird behaviour, emitting fake distress calls as it flies over the vines. In order for the birds to see the drone, Wang has attached a dummy crow to the undercarriage. At least we think it’s a dummy…

Real Estate Opportunity of the Week goes to Somerby Vineyard and Winery in Lincolnshire, set in around 12.5 acres, which has gone on the market for £800,000.

The English estate produces around 26,000 bottles of wine per year with the potential to expand the site, and is currently planted with Pinot Noir, Solaris and Rondo vines and has the potential to be planted with a further 3,000 vines. It currently supplies bottles to local Waitrose stores and has picked up awards at both the UKVA and IWC competitions.

London’s Langham Hotel in London is launching a new cookery school headed up by top chefs including Michel Roux Jr and Chris King.

Called Sauce by The Langham, the school will offer a range of classes from core skills such as knife skills, baking and sauce making to more complex techniques and masterclasses. Standard sessions start at £150.

Catena Zapata has launched a new wine documentary series – It Starts With Wine – on Amazon Prime.

Each episode has been produced in collaboration with New York-based Wine Enthusiast Media, and is hosted by Dr Laura Catena alongside a selection of celebrated winemakers, producers and chefs from around the world.

UK fizz makers Coates & Seely unveiled ‘Albion’, a renovated 1952 British Leyland bus, that co-founder Nicholas Coates uncovered in sad shape in Brussels a few weeks ago. Now an official Coates & Seely vehicle, she will tour the country going from racecourse to racecourse as part of Coates & Seely’s new partnership with The Jockey Club.