Coronavirus - Hospitality

London Essence Company launches campaign to support on-trade

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Cocktail mixer producer The London Essence Company has launched a new campaign to support the on-trade during the Coronavirus crisis.

Government postpones business rates revaluation because of pandemic

06-May-2020 By Restaurant

A revaluation of business rates due to take place next year will no longer go ahead to help reduce uncertainty for companies affected by the impacts of coronavirus, the government has announced.

SMEs risk hefty bills by overclaiming on JRS applications

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

Accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has warned that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are making errors on their applications for grants under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS).

Read the May edition of Restaurant magazine online

06-May-2020 By Restaurant Magazine

The May edition of Restaurant magazine, focusing on the chefs and restaurants – large and small – that have made the move into takeaway and delivery in order to keep thing moving during the pandemic, is now available to read online.

Coqfighter aiming to open new delivery kitchen every week until end of June

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

London-based fried chicken brand Coqfighter says it will be attempting to open a dark kitchen site every week until the end of June.

Brad Carter: "I don't like to just roll over"

06-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Birmingham restaurant Carter's of Moseley is now producing up to 140 high-end meal boxes per week for delivery locally and will soon take the service nationwide.

Good Food Guide announces it will not publish 2021 edition

06-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Good Food Guide (GFG) has said it will not publish its annual guide this year due to the ongoing impact the Coronavirus crisis is having on the restaurant industry.

United We Stand

Food4Heroes breaks £250,000 fundraising mark

05-May-2020 By Restaurant

More than £250,000 has been raised by charity Food4Heroes since its launch a month ago.

Bounce Back Loan scheme receives 100,000 applications on first day

05-May-2020 By James McAllister

Around 100,000 small businesses have reportedly applied for a ‘Bounce Back Loan’ on the first day of the scheme.

United We Stand

Fundraiser set up to ensure the future of ‘the beating heart of Soho'

05-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

A fundraising campaign to secure the future of iconic Soho establishment The French House, home to one of the UK's best rest restaurants, has reached almost £30,000 towards its goal.

Asif Muhammad: “The music stops when the cash runs out”

05-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Restaurant consultant and Macellaio RC director Asif Muhammad has advised restaurant operators to keep cash within their businesses at all costs.

Chancellor says there will be "no cliff-edge" to JRS

05-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has sought to reassure businesses by saying there will be “no cliff-edge” to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS).

Reopening restaurants during social distancing “impossible and implausible”

05-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

A number of London’s top restaurateurs have pushed back at the idea of reopening their venues while physical distancing measures designed to curb the spread of Coronavirus are in place.

NTIA and Hiscox Action Group join forces to take on insurer (updated)

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and Hiscox Action Group say they have joined forces to put pressure on Hiscox Insurance to pay out on its business interruption policies.

Holborn Dining Room teams up with butcher to support NHS

04-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Calum Franklin and his sous chef at Holborn Dining Room Nokx Majozi have teamed up with Drings Butchers to raise funds for the NHS staff at their local hospital.

Three London hotels to be temporarily converted into Coronavirus isolation centres

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

Three hotels in London are to be temporarily converted into isolation centres to accommodate patients who are recovering from Coronavirus.

“Eight weeks to save the nation’s high streets from Armageddon”

04-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

UK High Streets are on the brink of collapse as the eight-week countdown to the next quarterly rent instalment begins today.

Ireland plans to reopen restaurants in June

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants in Ireland could be allowed to reopen as early as June if the spread of the Coronavirus is controlled.

Azzurri and Prezzo draft in advisors to consider options

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

Two of the UK’s major casual dining players have individually drafted in consultants to help negotiate the fallout from the ongoing Coronavirus shutdown.

Ben Murphy: "To not know what we're going to be walking back into is heart breaking"

04-May-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Ben Murphy has described the emotional upheaval that came with being forced to close his Launceston Place restaurant.

Comment

Delivering the goods now but also for the longer term?

04-May-2020 By Ted Schama

Restaurants moving to delivery is an innovation borne through a desire to remain in business, but is one that is likely to remain a permanent feature in the new normal.

McDonald's approaches landlords seeking rent cut

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

McDonald’s is reportedly in talks with some of its landlords in the UK about cutting rent payments.

Tory MPs call on Chancellor to deliver further support for hospitality

04-May-2020 By James McAllister

A group of 85 Conservative MPs have written to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, calling for a specific support package for the hospitality and tourism sectors.

United we stand

Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

A weekly round-up of the positive action the hospitality industry is taking to fight back.

McDonald's to begin reopening sites for delivery later this month

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

McDonald’s UK CEO Paul Pomroy has announced that 15 of the fast food chain’s restaurants are to reopen for delivery on 13 May.

Rent remains core concern for hospitality owners

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

Research from the latest CGA Business Confidence survey shows confidence between restaurant, pub and bar owners in the UK is at rock bottom.

Friday Five: The week's top news

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

As the Coronavirus crisis continues to dominate the headlines, we round-up some of the main stories regarding how it has affected the hospitality industry in the past week.

Former Jamie Oliver group CEO joins TRG's newly combined leisure and concessions arm

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

Former Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group chief executive Jon Knight has joined The Restaurant Group (TRG) as managing director of leisure and concessions.

Outlook for hospitality sector remains gloomy as Government prepares to deliver plan to restart economy

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister has said the Government will deliver a “comprehensive plan” next week on how the Coronavirus lockdown may be eased, and how it intends to restart the British economy.

KERB duo: “We will see people turn to street food as a way of surviving”

01-May-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The street food sector could play an even more significant role in the UK’s dining out scene in a post lockdown world, say KERB founder Petra Barran and KERB CEO Simon Mitchell.

Pret reopens 20 more sites in the capital

01-May-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to reopen a further 20 sites in London today (1 May), having found a way to operate for takeaway and deliveries safely while the Coronavirus crisis is ongoing.

Greggs backtracks on reopening plans due to crowd concerns

01-May-2020 By Restaurant

Greggs has backtracked on its trial to reopen 20 of its bakery sites over fears that they could become overcrowded with customers.

The Lowdown: Vilnius

30-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Lithuanian capital is temporarily giving public spaces to its restaurants and bars to help them comply with physical distancing rules.

United we stand

Yard Sale's Johnnie Tate: "The focus isn’t on making money, it’s on survival”

30-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Yard Sale Pizza co-founder Johnnie Tate has described the first few weeks after the Coronavirus lockdown was announced as an “extremely hectic period” for the business.