Free trade drinks suppliers, compared in one place
If your pub, bar or restaurant buys on the free trade, you can buy your drinks from any wholesaler you like — so why settle for one price? Tender your drinks list anonymously and let every supplier in your area compete for your order.
Free forever for venues · no card required
What does “free trade” mean?
In UK hospitality, a venue is on the free trade when it is free of tie — not contractually bound to buy its drinks from a particular brewery or pub company. Free houses, the vast majority of bars and restaurants, hotels and many leased pubs can source their beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks from any wholesaler they choose.
That freedom is worth money — but only if you use it. Most venues build a relationship with a single supplier and rarely re-compare, so they have no idea whether they are paying a fair price. A free trade drinks supplier wants your business; the trick is getting several of them to quote at once.
How it works
Compare every free trade supplier in your area
Upload your drinks list
Add your products, volumes and current prices — or upload a recent invoice and we'll build the list for you. It takes minutes.
Suppliers compete anonymously
Every free trade wholesaler that delivers to your postcode quotes on your list. Your identity stays hidden, so they compete purely on price and service.
Compare and switch
See every quote side by side, line by line, with your total saving calculated automatically. Pick the supplier that's right for you.
Why free trade venues use Liquid Market
- Compare beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks suppliers in one place
- Stay completely anonymous — no sales calls until you choose to make contact
- See your exact saving per product before you switch
- Unlock independent and regional wholesalers you may never have found
- Re-tender whenever you like to keep your prices honest
- Completely free for venues — no subscription, no card required
Every category, every supplier
Whatever your venue pours, there's a free trade supplier ready to quote for it.
Draught & keg beer
Lager, ale, cider and stout — compare wholesale keg prices across suppliers.
Wines & Champagne
House pours to fine wine, by the case, priced competitively.
Spirits & liqueurs
Gin, vodka, whisky, rum and cocktail ingredients for your back bar.
Soft drinks & mixers
Post-mix, bottles and cans — often free-of-tie even in leased pubs.
Free trade drinks suppliers: FAQs
What is a free trade drinks supplier?
A free trade drinks supplier is a wholesaler that sells to venues which are not tied to a particular brewery or pub company. Free-of-tie (or 'free trade') pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels can buy their beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks from any wholesaler they choose — which means they can shop around and compare prices to find the best deal.
How do I find the cheapest free trade drinks supplier?
The only reliable way to find the cheapest free trade supplier is to compare several quotes for your actual product list at the same time. Liquid Market lets you submit your drinks list once and receive competing quotes from every wholesaler that delivers to your area, side by side, so you can see exactly who is cheapest line by line.
Can I switch drinks supplier if my pub is tied?
If your pub is fully tied to a brewery or pub company, your supply terms are usually set by that agreement. Many leased and tenanted pubs, however, have partial ties or 'free-of-tie' products (often wines, spirits and soft drinks) that you can buy on the free trade. Free houses and most bars, restaurants and hotels can switch freely.
Is Liquid Market free for venues?
Yes. Liquid Market is completely free for venues — there is no subscription and no card required. You only ever pay your chosen wholesaler for the drinks you order. Wholesalers pay to take part, which is what keeps the platform free for hospitality operators.
Which drinks wholesalers can I compare?
You can compare every wholesaler and route-to-market supplier that delivers to your postcode and signs up to quote on your tender — from national names to independent regional suppliers. Your identity stays anonymous throughout, so wholesalers compete on price and service without knowing who you are.
Want the bigger picture? Read the Liquid Magazine or see how it works for wholesalers.
Stop overpaying on the free trade
Tender your drinks list once and let every supplier in your area compete. Free for venues, no card required.
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