Trade Only Tasting is an invitation-only, one-day buying fair created for drinks-industry professionals who need to discover, compare and order new wines, spirits, sakes and low/no-alcohol products in time for the critical autumn and winter selling season. Held each September in the expansive, naturally lit halls of the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, the event positions itself as the UK’s most tightly curated off-trade tasting: every exhibitor is pre-screened to ensure that what is poured is either not yet listed in the UK market or being shown to the trade for the first time under a new vintage, label or packaging format. Buyers from national and independent merchants, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, restaurants, bars and contract caterers attend by requesting an invitation through the show’s website; media, educators and investors are admitted on a discretionary basis.

The 2023 edition ran from 09:30 to 18:00 and was organised into four self-contained zones: Still Wine, Sparkling & Champagne, Spirits & Liqueurs, and Sake & Low/No. Each zone offered continuous walk-up tasting tables, supplemented by 20-minute focused masterclasses led by Masters of Wine, spirits writers and brand ambassadors. Topics included “Navigating 2021 Burgundy”, “Agave Beyond Tequila”, “English Sparkling Vintage Comparison” and “Sake for Wine Lists”. A central “Trends Hub” staged hourly lightning talks on consumer behaviour, label design and sustainable packaging, while a quiet “Buyers’ Lounge” provided portfolio planners, pricing spreadsheets and private meeting pods. Admission, Wi-Fi, catalogue and cloakroom were complimentary; the organisers capped attendance at 1,200 to keep aisles uncrowded and conversations productive.

The fair is staged by the same team responsible for London Wine Fair and The Whisky Show, giving it access to an established database of suppliers. Exhibitors pay a flat fee that covers stand build, glass hire, ice, spittoons and evening storage, removing hidden costs that often deter smaller producers. Post-event analytics supplied to exhibitors include scanned-badge lead data, buyer feedback forms and a six-month stockist tracker. No consumer tickets are sold and no media filming is permitted before 16:00, allowing buyers to negotiate terms discreetly.