Coronavirus

Soho House is heading to south London and Manchester for the first time

17-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

Soho House will make the move south of the river in the capital this summer with the opening of a club in Balham, south London, as well as going north for the first time with a Manchester venue.

Hospitality groups' sales rise but cost increases start to bite

14-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

The lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions helped Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups to raise sales above pre-pandemic levels in February, according to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

Majority of adults support VAT freeze for hospitality

11-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

The majority of adults believe the Government should maintain VAT at its current rate of 12.5% beyond April, according to two separate surveys.

Welsh government urged to remove working from home guidance

07-Mar-2022 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has urged the Welsh government to remove its work from home guidance in order to encourage people back onto the high streets.

UKHospitality calls for permanent pavement licences to help 'speed sector's recovery'

04-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has called on the Government to make pavement licences permanent, saying it will help Covid-ravaged businesses make a faster post-pandemic recovery.

City centres 'building back' from pandemic as hospitality sales rise

01-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in major British cities including Bristol and Manchester are 'recovering their vibrancy' as Covid restrictions come to an end, according to new research.

Corbin & King wins £4.4m insurance battle in High Court

25-Feb-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Corbin & King has won its high profile legal battle with its insurer Axa in a ruling that’s been described as “incredibly bad news for insurers”.

Scottish hospitality hails 'important milestone' as vaccine certificates scrapped

23-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Scottish hospitality groups have hailed an 'important milestone' as it was confirmed that the requirement for vaccination certification to enter late-night venues would be scrapped next week.

Trade bodies welcome Government’s Living with Covid plan

22-Feb-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Trade bodies have welcomed most elements of the Government’s Living with Covid plan, which will see an end to the self-isolation requirement for people who test positive from later this week.

UKH: Hospitality industry 'remains on a knife edge'

21-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality (UKH) has warned that the industry 'remains on a knife edge' in a call for the Government to commit to five key measures to 'help the sector rebuild'.

Two years of Covid 'does £115bn damage' to hospitality industry

17-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a loss of nearly £115bn across the hospitality sector, according to new figures from UKHospitality.

Mayor of London proposes further £10m to attract more tourists back to London

17-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced proposals to invest an additional £10m to attract more tourists back to the capital, including launching a new international tourism campaign.

Wales to scrap Covid Pass scheme

11-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

It has been confirmed that Wales will scrap its Covid Pass scheme next week as the country pushes ahead with the relaxation of some of its remaining Coronavirus measures.

Hospitality experiencing lower turnover than expected

11-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Almost two-thirds (63%) of accommodation and foodservice sector businesses reported lower-than-expected turnover in the two weeks to 23 January 2022, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

On-trade lost £5.7bn in beer sales last year

11-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

New data from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) reveals that the on-trade lost £5.7bn of revenue from beer sales alone in 2021 – equivalent to 1.4 billion pints.

Easing of Covid restrictions nudges up drinks sales

04-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Out-of-home drinks sales saw a modest revival last week after Covid-19-related restrictions were lifted, CGA’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker shows.

Drinks sales still behind pre-Covid-19 levels but Plan B easing brings boost

28-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Drinks sales continued to lag behind pre-pandemic trading last week, ahead of a much-needed lift to pubs, bars and restaurants from the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, new figures show.

Opportunities exist for restaurant sector despite bumpy road ahead, says report

20-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Opportunities exist for the restaurant sector despite a challenging backdrop, according to Christie & Co’s annual Business Outlook Report.

Tough fourth-quarter trading threatens to dent uptick in hospitality openings

20-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s hospitality sector grew modestly in the last quarter of 2021, according to the latest Market Recovery Monitor, but tough trading conditions now threaten to halt the upturn.

Hospitality renews calls for further financial support as Johnson confirms lifting of Plan B measures

19-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister has confirmed that Plan B measures including the use of so-called 'vaccine passports' will be scrapped in England next week.

Managed groups see sales dip 11% in December as Omicron hit consumer confidence

19-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups suffered a double-digit sales drop from pre-Covid-19 levels in December after widespread cancellations of Christmas celebrations, the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker reveals.

Scotland to lift hospitality restrictions next week

18-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

It has been confirmed that trading restrictions on indoor hospitality settings in Scotland will be lifted next week, with nightclubs able to reopen again following an enforced four-week closure.

Scottish hospitality calls for end to restrictions

18-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Scottish hospitality representatives have called for the current Covid restrictions on businesses to be lifted by Monday 24 January at the latest.

New grant scheme launched to support City of London businesses

18-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The City of London Corporation is launching a new grant scheme to support Square Mile businesses that have been hit by restrictions introduced in response to the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

NTIA calls for 'damaging' vaccine passports to be scrapped nationwide

17-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for so-called vaccine passports to be scrapped nationwide, saying they are 'neither proportionate nor effective' in controlling the spread of Coronavirus.

Cut to self-isolation period 'a step in the right direction'

14-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

The hospitality sector has welcomed the Government's decision to reduce the isolation period in England for those who test positive for Covid-19 from seven days to five.

Relief as Wales prepares to ease restrictions

14-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Wales is set to gradually move back to Alert Level Zero by the end of the month, removing trading restrictions that have been in place since late December.

'Frightful festive trading figures' leaves hospitality facing £3bn hit

13-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Figures show the hospitality sector saw a 40% drop in sales overall for the month of December versus the same period in 2019, reflecting a £3bn hit to the industry.

One third of tourism and hospitality businesses in Scotland predict failure in 2022

13-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

One in three tourism and hospitality businesses in Scotland have said they are likely to fail in 2022, according to a recent survey conducted by the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA).

Hospitality hopes 'torpedoed' as Scotland extends restrictions

12-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland will continue to face tight restrictions on indoor trading for at least another week, with the sector accusing the Scottish Government of leaving it 'in limbo'.

Losses at UK's top 100 restaurant groups rose to £673m last year

12-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Losses at the top 100 grossing restaurant groups in the UK increased 174% in 2021 to £673m, up from a loss of £246m in September 2020.

Calls for further relaxation of self-isolation rules as staff shortages continue to cripple sector

10-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

A leading hospitality trade group has called on the Government to further relax England's self-isolation rules, as businesses continue to wrestle with crippling staff shortages.

Significant e-commerce offering pushes profits close to £1m at Stein group

07-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Rick Stein's hospitality group has seen its profits rise to close to £1m, boosted by the sucess of its significant e-commerce offering that was launched during the pandemic.

Businesses encouraged to apply for Omicron grants as Government delivers funding to local authorities

07-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in England are being urged to engage with their council and apply for funding by the Government after it delivered £700m worth of grants to local authorities.

Hospitality 'on a knife edge’ as numbers self-isolating rise

07-Jan-2022 By Georgi Gyton

Absences by staff on self-isolation have been rocketing in recent weeks with operators losing thousands of pounds in revenue.

Hospitality jobs in Scotland 'hanging in the balance'

06-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality jobs and livelihoods in Scotland are 'hanging in the balance' as businesses continue to face tight restrictions on trading with no certainty on when they may ease.

Poor festive trading leaves Welsh hospitality 'in peril'

05-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Cymru has warned that an immediate increase in financial support and the lifting of trading restrictions is urgently needed to prevent Welsh hospitality businesses closures and job losses.

Consumers urged not to desert pubs during 'dry January'

04-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Leading industry voices have urged consumers not to desert their local pub during 'dry January', warning that businesses will struggle if people stay away.

Hospitality counts cost of second lost Christmas

04-Jan-2022 By James McAllister

Pubs, bars and restaurants lost £10,335 on average in the week leading up to Christmas with takings on Christmas Day down 60% compared to 2019, according to figures from UKHospitality.

£40m support package agreed for hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland

24-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

A £40m support package has been agreed to help hospitality businesses affected by Northern Ireland’s upcoming Covid restrictions.

NTIA: ‘Let us dance on New Year’s Eve’

24-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has penned a last-minute letter to the Prime Minister requesting that he ends uncertainty about post-Christmas Covid restrictions.

Nightclubs in Scotland to close for three weeks as part of new Covid restrictions

23-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Scotland's Deputy First Minister has confirmed that nightclubs in Scotland are to close for three weeks from 27 December.

Menus remain smaller than pre-pandemic

23-Dec-2021 By Helen Gilbert

Menu options have shrunk by 18% as operators look to minimise disruption to kitchens and consumers amid supply challenges, the latest insights from Lumina Intelligence show.

Hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland plea for financial support as new Covid restrictions announced

23-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Nightclubs in Northern Ireland will be closed and gatherings in pubs and restaurants will be limited to six people under new Coronavirus curbs set to be introduced from Boxing Day.

'Rule of six' to return in Wales as Covid restrictions set to be strengthened

22-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Wales will once again be required to follow social distancing and collect customer details under tough new Covid restrictions set to come into force on Boxing Day.

TiPJAR relaunches 'Hospitality Worker’s Emergency Fund'

22-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Cashless tipping platform TiPJAR has relaunched it’s ‘Hospitality Worker’s Emergency Fund’, enabling the UK public to donate ‘tips’ to support hospitality sector staff that are vulnerable and in need.

“Too little, too late” - sector reacts to Omicron grants

22-Dec-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Chancellor’s Omicron support package, which includes grants of up to £6,000 per site and the return of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, has been met with a lukewarm reception by the hospitality industry.

Johnson commits to no new Covid restrictions before Christmas in England

22-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed there will be no further Coronavirus restrictions introduced in England before Christmas, but warned that curbs could be imposed after 25 December.

2021: Review of the year in hospitality

22-Dec-2021 By Restaurant

A look back at another tough year for hospitality, which begun with businesses facing deep uncertainty in the face of Coronavirus restrictions, and ends the same way.

Scottish hospitality hit with 'knock-out blow' as Covid rules tightened once again

22-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland have been dealt a 'knock-out blow' after it was announced that tougher Coronavirus restrictions will be reintroduced after Christmas.