Coronavirus

Welsh operator launches crowdfund to challenge Government over hospitality reopening

25-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

A street food operator in Wales is looking to mount a legal challenge against the devolved government's failure to provide the country's hospitality sector with a reopening date.

'Vaccine passports' for pubs 'repressive' and 'unworkable'

25-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Prominent voices from the hospitality industry have dismissed suggestions that publicans could require guests to have a so-called 'vaccine passport' to enter their pubs as 'repressive' and 'unworkable'.

UKHospitality calls for business rates relief cap rethink

24-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality analysis shows almost 8,000 venues, employing about 343,000 people will be paying full business rates in July, despite Budget measures to soften the acute rates burden.

Time Out jettisons London Waterloo market

23-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Time Out Group has confirmed it will no longer push ahead with plans to open a food market in London Waterloo, due to the financial hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local authorities urged to target grant support at 'forgotten' businesses

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Updated guidance on the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) has urged local authorities to ensure businesses previously ineligible for grant support are targeted.

Government urged to allow ordering at the bar from May

22-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

The Government is being called on to allow people to be able to order at the bar from the indoor opening of restaurants and pubs on 17 May, and for customers to be allowed to consume drinks while standing outdoors.

Sadiq Khan to invest £6m in campaign to get people back into central London

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that £6m will be invested in directly supporting the reopening of London’s economy once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

More than 7,500 of Britain's licensed premises 'lost to Covid'

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Britain has 7,592 fewer licensed premises than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, according to a new report by CGA and AlixPartners.

Hospitality venues given greater flexibility to provide more outdoor space for diners

22-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses will have greater flexibly to set up marquees and provide more outdoor space for diners as restrictions ease, the Government has announced.

Left out in the cold: operators grapple with alfresco regulations

19-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Operators that have invested in alfresco dining spaces are being caught out by changes to rules on what constitutes an outside space as well as inconsistent enforcement by local authorities.

Hospitality recruitment grows by nearly 40% as sector prepares for reopening

19-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Recruitment across the hospitality sector has grown by 39% in the last month as the sector prepares for reopening, according to data from job search engine Adzuna.

Wetherspoon posts half-year loss as restrictions hit

19-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

JD Wetherspoon has posted a pre-tax loss of £46.2m for the six months to 24 January, as the 'ever-changing Government guidelines' took their toll on takings.

Scotland extends rent moratorium

18-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Scottish Government has extended its rent irritation moratorium for a further six months until the end of September.

Stonegate reports loss of £746m as a result of the pandemic

18-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Stonegate Pub Company, the UK's largest pub company, has reported a loss before tax of £746m for the full year to 27 September 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Punch invests £1m on outdoor spaces ahead of al fresco reopening

18-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Punch Pubs is investing £1m on its beer gardens and outside spaces ahead of the unlocking of outdoor hospitality settings on 12 April.

Sacha Lord legal challenge against delayed hospitality reopening date heads to High Court

18-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Sacha Lord is taking his legal challenge against the Government's decision not to allow hospitality to reopen for indoor service until five weeks after non-essential retail to the High Court.

Government urged to show basis of lockdown restrictions imposed on hospitality

17-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

The Government is being urged to publish the data that underpins its decisions on the restrictions imposed on the hospitality sector, according to a new report published by the House of Commons’ Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

"At least we now have a plan" - Scottish hospitality reacts with relief to lockdown roadmap

17-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland say they are relieved to finally have indicative reopening dates, but remain frustrated about the level of operating restrictions they will face as they unlock.

Consultation launched to combat city and town centre slump

17-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The All Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism is launching a written consultation into what can be done to address the decline in town and city centres that has been accelerated by the pandemic.

Hospitality in Scotland to continue facing significant restrictions as it emerges from lockdown

16-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Scottish hospitality will face significant operating restrictions until at least June under the country's roadmap out of lockdown, which will allow pubs and restaurants to begin reopening from late April.

Government calls for evidence as it considers impact of 'vaccine passports'

16-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Government has published a call for evidence as it considers the role of so-called 'vaccine passports' in the country's recovery from the pandemic.

Greggs plans for expansion despite reporting first loss in 36 years

16-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Bakery chain Greggs has posted its first annual loss since becoming a listed business 36 years age, with sales falling by a third amid the impact of the Coronavirus crisis.

Star Pubs & Bars looks to ease rent concessions as sector unlocks

15-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Star Pubs & Bars is to extend its 90% rent reduction for pubs on core leased & tenanted agreements until mid May, before easing the concessions as the sector unlocks.

Number of UK breweries grew 7.5% in 2020 despite pandemic

15-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The Coronavirus’ devastating impact on pub, bar and restaurant beer sales hasn’t put entrepreneurs off launching new brewing businesses, with the total number of UK breweries increasing by 216 last year.

Scottish hospitality trade bodies propose route out of lockdown

15-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Trade bodies in Scotland have called on the Government to follow England's roadmap out of lockdown 'as closely as possible' and set out recommendations to ease restrictions on hospitality.

Pret to grow retail range ahead of suburban expansion

15-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Pret A Manger is to grow its retail range and begin selling a range of bake-at-home croissants through supermarket giant Tesco.

Hugh Osmond joins legal challenge against delayed hospitality reopening date

15-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality entrepreneur Hugh Osmond has joined an ongoing legal challenge against the Government's decision to not allow hospitality to reopen for indoor service until five weeks after non-essential retail unlocks.

Industry trade bodies offer reopening support to hospitality businesses

12-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Leading trade bodies from across the hospitality sector are encouraging businesses to take advantage of the support on offer to ensure they prepared for reopening.

Pandemic pushes takeaway and delivery sales to more than triple

12-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Sales of deliveries and takeaways from the UK’s leading hospitality groups have more than tripled over the last 12 months, CGA's new Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals.

Hospitality leaders plan recruitment drive

11-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Three quarters of business leaders will be looking to recruit new staff members and grow their teams in 2021 as hospitality prepares for the easing of lockdown.

Operators warned over cocktail home delivery without license

11-Mar-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Operators are being warned that they need a license from HMRC to sell pre-mixed cocktails for consumption at home as delivery services boom under lockdown.

Government looks to assess progress of commercial rent negotiations as moratorium extended

10-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Government has confirmed another extension of the lease forfeiture moratorium and is to launch a call for evidence to help it monitor the overall progress of commercial rent negotiations.

The Restaurant Group looks to raise £175m to grow its Wagamama and pub brands as reopening beckons

10-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

The Restaurant Group (TRG) is looking to raise £175m as part of its ‘Restructured, Recapitalised and Ready for Relaunch’ plans.

Wales extends lease forfeiture moratorium

10-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Welsh Government has extended the lease forfeiture moratorium until the end of June, as calls continue to grow for a permanent solution to the hospitality sector's growing rent debt.

Domino's plans 200 additional sites as it continues to grow delivery business

09-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Domino's UK and Ireland is planning to open an additional 200 sites as part of a new strategic plan to accelerate the growth of its delivery business.

Punch Pubs expands virtual brand

09-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Punch Pubs is to expand its dark kitchen burger concept Bull & Bird across more of its estate, with a second virtual brand currently in development.

Oakman acquires six former Seafood Pub Company sites

09-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Six former Seafood Pub Company sites have been acquired from administrators by the Oakman Group, with its founder Joycelyn Neve joining Oakman to oversee a new Seafood Pub division.

Comment

Comment - The Budget provides much-needed relief, but what good is it without a rent solution?

05-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Sunak’s Budget delivered the some desperately needed support for hospitality this week, but without a solution to the sector’s growing rent debt, businesses remain on a cliff edge.

Test and Trace 'barely used' check-in data from pubs and restaurants

05-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Data from 'hundreds of millions' of check-ins by people who visited pubs and restaurants before lockdown was 'barely used' by the Test and Trace system.

UKHospitality: business rates cap 'could threaten the survival of jobs and businesses'

05-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned the £2m cap imposed on business rates relief in Wednesday’s (3 March) Budget 'could threaten the survival of jobs and businesses in the sector'.

Government increases State Aid cap

04-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The State Aid cap has been increased to more than £10m, giving larger hospitality businesses greater access to Government-backed grant schemes.

Cautious Northern Ireland pathway out of lockdown leaves hospitality fearful of more business failures

03-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland have 'a genuine fear' more firms will collapse after the Executive's pathway out of lockdown failed to confirm when the sector can unlock.

Government urged to pursue 'active measures' to address issue of growing rent arrears

01-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

A Government report has said more must be done to address the issue of growing commercial rent arrears, warning that business indebtedness remains a major barrier to recovery.

Budget to include £5bn 'restart' grant scheme for hospitality and High Street businesses

01-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will unveil a £5bn grant scheme in his Budget this week, which will give hospitality businesses access to payments worth up to £18,000.

Sacha Lord to challenge hospitality reopening date

01-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester's night time economy advisor Sacha Lord is to challenge the Government's decision to not allow hospitality to reopen for indoor service until five weeks after non-essential retail unlocks.

Licensed premises closing at a rate of more than one an hour

01-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Nearly 12,000 licensed premises have closed in Britain since December 2019, new data from CGA and AlixPartners reveals — an average of around 30 a day.

Trade bodies warn roadmap jeopardises hospitality survival without further support

26-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

The Lowdown: al fresco April

25-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

25-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Chancellor considers alcohol duty cut under Budget plans

25-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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