Hospitality news

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#GiveHospitalityABreak campaign calls for lease forfeiture moratorium extension and legislation to protect hospitality tenants by deferring rent ar...

Campaign calls for legislation to protect hospitality tenants by deferring rent arrears for two years

A campaign is calling on the Government to confirm another extension to the lease forfeiture moratorium and legislate to allow hospitality tenants to defer half of arrears for two years.

Friday five: the week’s top news

We round-up some of the top hospitality stories you might have missed this week.

BrewDog's Doghouse Manchester hotel to open in mid June

BrewDog’s first hotel in England will open in mid June in Manchester having been granted planning approval by Manchester City Council.

Festivals are go as chefs sign up in droves

UK festival organisers are hoping to put on events as early as May and have already signed some of the biggest names in the industry to provide food and drink.

Nestlé Professional's Toque d’Or cooking competition returns with amended format

Nestlé Professional has changed the format of this year’s Toque d’Or cooking competition in light of the current lockdown restrictions.

Fred Sirieix's The Right Course charity to open a restaurant at HMP Wormwood Scrubs

A prisoner-run restaurant run in collaboration with Fred Sirieix's The Right Course charity will open in London’s HMP Wormwood Scrubs in April.

2021 restaurant and dining trends: part 4

With talk of the easing of lockdown and restaurants set to reopen sometime in the spring, we've finally dusted down the crystal ball to see what 2021 might bring in terms of restaurant and eating out trends. Part four: operations
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Two thirds of hospitality businesses believe April reopening isn’t viable, says poll

Almost two-thirds (63%) of hospitality businesses say it is not viable to reopen in April when outside trading is permitted, according to the latest Hospitality Leader’s Poll from Lumina Intelligence.

Admin burden on suppliers “threatens UK wine list diversity”

Major wine suppliers have penned a letter to the Government asking it to take steps to reduce the extra administrative burden on EU wine imports that has been created by Brexit.

Conservative MPs call for beer duty cut

A group of Conservative MPs have called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut beer duty in his Budget next week to help the ailing pub sector.

Table for three: Ross McPhail and Alex Pennington

The duo behind new restaurant meal kit business Finish & Feast, which is working with chefs including Tom Aikens, Ruth Hansom and Marianne Lumb, on making the makeaway market work and why it’s here to stay post lockdown.

Trade bodies warn roadmap jeopardises hospitality survival without further support

Hospitality trade bodies have written to the Chancellor warning that, unless a substantial package of support is announced at the Budget, businesses will fail before they're able to reopen.

Costa expands Deliveroo partnership

Costa Coffee is to expand its partnership with Deliveroo to 500 of its stores nationwide from Monday (1 March).

The Lowdown: al fresco April

With restaurants champing at the bit to reopen, many – particularly in the capital – are looking to make use of what outside space they have in order to unlock in April.

Various Eateries poised to scale up post lockdown

The owner of restaurant brands Coppa Club and Tavolino says it will pursue an aggressive post-lockdown expansion drive, with plans to “create a major leisure group” this year.

BrewDog achieves B Corp certification

BrewDog has become one of a small number of hospitality business in the UK to achieve certified B Corp status.

Driving engagement at Roadchef

Roadchef uses online reputation management platform Reputation to manage its entire online presence, including reviews, business listings and social media.

Chancellor considers alcohol duty cut under Budget plans

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering plans to cut beer duty rates for pubs to below that of supermarkets in his Budget next week.

2021 restaurant and dining trends: part 3

Optimism in sector grows but one in ten hospitality businesses face closure without more support

One in ten hospitality businesses will not survive if no additional support is announced in the Chancellor’s Budget next week, according to CGA’s Business Leaders’ Survey 2021.

Tom Kerridge to launch vegan fast food concept

Tom Kerridge is to launch a casual largely plant-based fast food concept within Camden’s Buck Street Market.

Mowgli eyes further expansion with sites in Edinburgh, Brighton and Preston mooted

Indian street food group Mowgli will open a site in Cheltenham this summer with expansion to other areas including Edinburgh, Brighton and Preston also planned.

Those that can, will: restaurants plan for 12 April al fresco reopening

Restaurants across the capital have opened their reservations for al fresco dining from 12 April following the Government’s announcement of its post-lockdown roadmap.

Calls grow for June bank holiday

Calls are growing for the Government to make 21 June - the day when it is hoped all final Coronavirus restrictions can be lifted - a bank holiday.

Book review: Today’s Special

Phaidon’s latest cookbook sees 20 leading chefs choose 100 emerging chefs to present a menu.

How I Got Here: Elli Jafari

The Standard hotel's London general manager on her love of hospitality, the value of hard work, and fears over what the future holds for the industry.

Westminster’s al fresco scheme to return

Westminster City Council’s popular al fresco scheme will return as restaurants, pubs and bars re-open for outdoor dining and will run until the end of September.

TGI Fridays lines up further sites for New York-inspired bar and restaurant concept 63rd+1st

TGI Fridays is planning to open three further sites under its new cocktail-led bar and restaurant brand 63rd+1st this year.

Insider information: how to use customer data effectively

Collecting data effectively and using it intelligently can have a transformational effect on hospitality businesses.

2021 restaurant and dining trends: part 2

Hospitality groups see stocks rise on back of roadmap announcement

Hospitality groups including The Restaurant Group (TRG) and SSP have seen their stocks rise following the announcement by Boris Johnson that hospitality could unlock from 17 May.

Updated: Restaurants offering nationwide meal kits

From Michelin-starred meal boxes from James Lowe, Jason Atherton, Michel Roux Jr and Simon Rogan to vegan DIY taco kits and Sri Lankan dinners, here are the latest nationwide restaurant meal kits.

Gordon Ramsay loses almost £60m of trade during pandemic

Gordon Ramsay has said his restaurant empire has missed out on nearly £60m of trade during the pandemic.

Scottish hospitality calls for UK-wide reopening of sector in May

A group of more than 80 Scottish hospitality businesses have come together to propose a full, UK-wide reopening of the tourism and hospitality sectors on 17 May.

Applying a pitta pressure: UK kebab industry gets trade body

The UK's £2.8bn kebab industry has established its first-ever trade body, the Kebab Alliance.

Scottish hospitality left 'bitterly disappointed' as Sturgeon fails offer clarity around reopening

Hospitality businesses in Scotland have been left 'bitterly disappointed' after Nicola Sturgeon failed to offer any real clarity as to when restrictions on the sector will be lifted.

Government to review issue of 'vaccine passports'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised there will be a review into the 'deep and complex issues' surrounding the potential use of so-called 'vaccine passports' to enter venues like hospitality.

Podcast: Understanding reputation management

Gary Banks and Kate Burns from Reputation on why hospitality businesses should care about what’s being said about them online.

'We're paying for the Government's mistakes' - frustration as hospitality forced to remain closed until May

Hospitality businesses have said they are 'paying the price for the Government's mistakes' after it was announced that much of the sector would remain closed until the middle of May.

Podcast: sustainability and health key trends for 2021

Sustainability and a focus on animal welfare as well as health will drive customer choices when eating out this year, according to predictions from Arla Foods.

Bone Daddies to open sister brand Wing Daddies next month

Ramen restaurant Bone Daddies is continuing with its expansion with the launch of a sister brand as well as a new south London restaurant.

SHG calls on First Minister to accelerate reopening of Scotland's hospitality sector

The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to confirm a similar reopening strategy to that outlined for England by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

PM unveils roadmap out of lockdown with much of hospitality set to remain closed until May

Hospitality venues in England will have to wait until at least the middle of May to reopen for indoor service under the Prime Minister's plan to ease lockdown in England.

Roux Scholarship set for Autumn

The Roux Scholarship is to finally go ahead in Autumn having been delayed twice due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Delving deeper into digital

It’s taken a pandemic, but hospitality operators are finally beginning to understand the power of digital and the wealth of data it generates

Hospitality supply chain businesses on verge of collapse without immediate support

The UK’s hospitality sector supply chain is facing devastation with 324,000 jobs at risk unless businesses receive immediate financial support from the Government, new research reveals.

Wild food restaurant Native to return to London for Mayfair opening

Wild food restaurant Native is returning to London this spring with an opening in luxury retailer Browns’ new Mayfair boutique.

Community project Curry Club extends crowdfund campaign

A not-for-profit cook to community project supported by chefs including Stevie Pale, Meera Sodha and Anna Jones, has extended its crowdfunding campaign to raise money to provide free meals for the people of Islington.

2021 restaurant and dining trends: part 1

Leon burning through £200k a week and could fold if hospitality lockdown drags on

Leon CEO John Vincent has revealed that the healthy fast food chain is losing £200,000 a week and could fold if lockdown restrictions on the hospitality sector drag on.

Hiscox Insurance makes initial settlement offers to business interruption policyholders

Late night leisure broker NDML has received the first offer of settlement from Hiscox for its clients involved in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) business interruption insurance test case.

Johnson to unveil 'four-stage plan' for easing lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a 'four-stage plan' for easing lockdown in England later today (22 February), which is expected to see hospitality remain closed until at least April.