Coronavirus

UKHospitality calls for investigation into hospitality energy market

11-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has written to the Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng MP calling on the Government and Ofgem to investigate unfair practices in the energy market.

More than 10.5m Eat Out to Help Out claims made in first week

11-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Treasury has said that diners used the Eat Out to Help Out scheme more than 10.5m times in its first week.

Hospitality Ulster seeks rescue package for Northern Ireland's wet-led pubs

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Trade body Hospitality Ulster is calling on the the Northern Ireland Executive to create a rescue package for wet-led pubs, which have been told they can’t open until 1 September at the earliest.

22,000 restaurant jobs axed this year with fears worse is yet to come

10-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The number of jobs lost across the embattled restaurant sector in 2020 is already nearly double the amount shed during the whole of 2019 with experts fearing that the worst is yet to come.

Cub closes its doors permanently

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Cub, the restaurant and bar opened by award-winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) in partnership with Silo chef owner Douglas McMaster, has announced it will not reopen.

PizzaExpress announces next wave of reopenings

07-Aug-2020 By Georgia Cronin

PizzaExpress is set to reopen a further 63 sites next week, taking its total reopen estate to over 300.

UK footfall reaches 50% of pre-lockdown levels

07-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The footfall on UK high streets has returned to 50% of pre-lockdown levels, according to the latest data from Wireless Social.

Mandatory calorie counts strongly opposed by hospitality bosses

07-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The hospitality industry is strongly opposed to mandatory calorie counts on menus and alcohol point of sale material, according to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence.

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Technology’s role in hospitality’s future success

07-Aug-2020 By Richard Carter

OrderPay co-founder Richard Carter on how why a frictionless customer experience will be critical to retaining existing customers and capturing next-generation loyalty.

Wetherspoon could axe nearly a third of head office roles

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than 100 head office roles at JD Wetherspoon are at risk of redundancy.

Dhruv Mittal: “If we were to reopen, the restaurant would die within a week”

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

DUM Biryani and Lucknow 49 chef patron Dhruv Mittal has spoken of his heartbreak at having to place both London sites on the market.

Restaurateurs call on Sadiq Khan to do more to champion the capital

06-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs including Angela Hartnett, Yotam Ottolenghi and Michel Roux Jr have signed an open letter to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, demanding he do more to champion the capital.

APPG Inquiry into Coasts and Waters enters second phase

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The second phase of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism’s (APPG) 'coasts and waters' inquiry has opened.

Dishpatch partners with restaurateurs to launch meal kit platform

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Delivery platform Dishpatch is partnering with several chefs and restaurateurs to create bespoke feasting menus that will be available for home delivery nationwide.

Pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen ordered to close as local lockdown imposed

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has ordered all pubs and restaurants in Aberdeen to close again after imposing a local lockdown in the city.

One in three pubs unable to break even

05-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than a third of UK pubs cannot break even one month after reopening, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Over three-quarters of UK hospitality businesses at risk of insolvency

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than three-quarters of hospitality businesses in the UK are at risk of falling into insolvency within the next 12 months, according to UKHospitality.

Disabled people fear exclusion due to Covid-19 precautions

04-Aug-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Disabled access review website Euansguide.com is imploring restaurants to ensure their Covid-19 precautions don’t make venues less accessible for disabled people.

Low footfall forces Oklava Bakery + Wine to close indefinitely

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Selin Kiazim has announced that the recently reopened Oklava Bakery + Wine in London's Fitzrovia has been closed 'for the foreseeable future'.

Minister shuns suggestions of shutting restaurants and pubs as ‘trade-off’ to reopen schools

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The Housing Secretary has quelled speculation that restaurants and pubs could be ordered to close again as part of a ‘trade-off’ to allow children to return to classrooms in September.

Eat Out to Help Out launches with over 72,000 restaurants signed up

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

More than 72,000 restaurants across the UK have now signed up to participate in the Government's Eat Out to Help Out initiative, which launches today (3 Aug).

Byron to shutter 30 sites following pre-pack deal

03-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

Burger chain Byron has been sold in a pre-pack deal that will more than half of the group's 51-strong estate closed permanently.

Restaurants and pubs in Wales finally get confirmed restart date for indoor service

31-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and cafés in Wales have been told they can finally begin indoor service from next Monday (3 August).

Restaurants in northern England count cost of last minute Coronavirus rule changes

31-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurants in parts of northern England have seen a flurry of cancellations following the Government’s announcement of new Coronavirus rules late last night.

Branded operators report “steady improvement” in sales

31-Jul-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Branded restaurant, pub and bar operators are seeing a steady improvement in sales as more sites reopen across the country - but collective like-for-like sales in trading sites are still down 28.5% on the same week last year.

The Lowdown: Eat Out to Help Out

30-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Next week sees the launch of the Chancellor’s month-long Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which it hopes will lure diners back into restaurants.

UK footfall dips for first time since reopening

29-Jul-2020 By Georgia Cronin

This week, Saturday footfall declined for the first time since the reopening of hospitality, according to the latest data from Wireless Social.

Balans 'optimistic' for the future as it prepares for reopening

28-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Balans founder David Taylor says he is 'optimistic' about the longer-term future of the London-based group as it prepares to reopen the majority of its estate.

'Overwhelming number' of consumers satisfied with safety steps in restaurants and pubs

28-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

More than 90% of those who have visited pubs, restaurants and bars in England in the two weeks since reopening were satisfied with the safety steps in place.

Lockdown leads to £30bn in lost revenue across hospitality sector during second quarter

28-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

The hospitality sector saw a 'catastrophic collapse' in revenue during the second quarter of 2020 with sales plummeting 87%, according to UKHospitality's latest quarterly Tracker collated by CGA.

Hugh Osmond: Casual dining chains have "no future”

27-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality entrepreneur Hugh Osmond has said that high street casual dining chains have “no future” after Coronavirus.

Face mask announcement underlines safety of hospitality venues

24-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has hailed the wide-ranging exemptions for hospitality venues as 'a tribute to the robust nature of the sector’s Coronavirus safety measures'.

Calls for Government to extend insolvency bill

23-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Consulting and advisory firm RSM has called on the Government to urgently consider extending the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act beyond the end of September.

Over 32,000 restaurants sign up for Eat Out to Help Out

23-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

More than 32,000 restaurants across the UK have so far signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, according to the HMRC.

A third of furloughed hospitality staff 'at risk of redundancy', warns PricewaterhouseCoopers

23-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

A new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has warned that a third of furloughed workers in UK hotels, restaurants and cafes could lose their jobs by the end of the year.

Face masks will be mandatory when buying takeaways from cafés and restaurants in England

23-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has said it will be compulsory for people to wear face masks when buying takeaway food and drink from cafés or restaurants in England.

Operators band together to launch Restaurant Kits platform

23-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

A group of independent restaurant operators led by Mac & Wild co-founders Andy Waugh and Calum Mackinnon have joined forces to launch an e-commerce site delivering restaurant meal kits nationwide.

Landlords offer move to turnover rents

22-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Capital & Counties Properties PLC (Capco), the management company for the Covent Garden estate, says it is offering some tenants the opportunity to move to a turnover-linked rent agreement.

James Cochran launches Around the Cluck franchise scheme

22-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Chef James Cochran says he is hoping to help a select number of pubs boost their profits through the launch of an Around the Cluck franchise scheme.

David Moore: “People will come back to fine dining”

22-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Pied à Terre owner David Moore says he is confident his restaurant will be able to weather the Coronavirus crisis, providing it isn’t hit with another enforced lockdown closure.

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Nilco helps to create one of the safest restaurants in the UK

22-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Nuovo restaurant in Northampton is using Nilco’s range of cleaning and sanitising products to ensure its safe reopening after lockdown.

James Sommerin's Michelin-starred restaurant forced to close after landlord eviction

22-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

James Sommerin's eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in the Welsh coastal town of Penarth is reported to have closed after the landlord told the chef to vacate the premises.

Majority of operators see like-for-like sales plummet after reopening

21-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

A survey of the Hospitality Professionals Association’s (HOSPA) membership shows that, since reopening, two thirds of operators have seen their revenue plummet by more than 50% on the previous year.

Only A Pavement Away launches 'jobs board'

21-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Hospitality charity Only A Pavement Away has launched a 'jobs board' to support those in the industry who have lost their job and are seeking new employment.

River Cottage permanently closes Winchester restaurant

21-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Kitchen in Winchester has closed permanently as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.

Wagamama announces double closure following business review

21-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Wagamama is to permanently close two of its London sites, including its 'noodle lab' in Soho.

Michelin-starred Wilks in Bristol closes permanently

20-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Bristol's Michelin-starred Wilks restaurant has announced it will not reopen.

Sector outlook remains gloomy as consumers exercise caution

20-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

Consumers are 'returning cautiously' to hospitality with many industry leaders saying the outlook for the sector remains gloomy, according to the latest Future Shock report from CGA and UKHospitality.

Government amendment asks operators to ensure outdoor areas include smoke-free sections

20-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

An amendment to the Government's Business and Planning Bill will demand that pubs, cafes and restaurants operating outdoor dining and drinking spaces make 'reasonable provision' for smoke-free seating.

New powers for local authorities to shut down businesses introduced

17-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Local authorities will have the power to close premises and stop events, including those run by hospitality businesses, if they believe they pose a threat to public health.