Coronavirus

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

25-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Calls grow for June bank holiday

24-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Hospitality groups see stocks rise on back of roadmap announcement

24-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Gordon Ramsay loses almost £60m of trade during pandemic

24-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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

24-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Government to review issue of 'vaccine passports'

23-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

23-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

23-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

23-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

22-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Hospitality supply chain businesses on verge of collapse without immediate support

22-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

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

22-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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

22-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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

22-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

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.

Friday Five: the week's top news

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

This week's main hospitality news stories include HMRC clearing TiPJAR for use; plans to extend the lease forfeiture moratorium; and Alyn Williams winning his unfair dismissal case against The Westbury.

Chancellor to delay ‘fundamental’ review of business rates

19-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Rishi Sunak is to delay the publication of the Treasury’s ‘fundamental review’ of business rates until Autumn.

Mayor announces £5m plan to support safe reopening of central London hospitality

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Sadiq Khan has announced proposals to invest £5m to support the eventual reopening of hospitality in central London.

Ramsay urges Sunak to extend VAT cut and furlough for hospitality

19-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Gordon Ramsay has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the VAT holiday and furlough for struggling hospitality businesses at his Budget.

Hospitality expects to face long term operating restrictions, survey finds

18-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality operators expect increased trading restrictions to be in place for the foreseeable future, according to new research by workforce management specialist Bizimply.

Night time economy at risk of ‘extinction’

18-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Night Time Economy has warned that the sector is at risk of ‘extinction’ unless the Government takes urgent action.

City Corporation extends outdoor dining measures

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

The City of London Corporation has agreed to continue issuing pavement licences free of charge for 'suitable' premises until the end of September.

New report argues hospitality not significant area of Covid transmission

17-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A new report on the safe restart of hospitality argues that businesses in the sector should be prioritised for reopening as they are not significant areas for Covid transmission.

Scottish Government extends hospitality rates relief for a further year

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in Scotland will pay no rates during the 2021/22 financial year under proposals outlined today (16 February) by the Scottish Government.

Scottish trade bodies slam 'alarmist and wholly inaccurate' report questioning Covid safety in pubs

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Trade bodies in Scotland have slammed a report published by the University of Stirling that questions whether pub operators can effectively and consistently prevent Covid-19 transmission.

PM hints that rapid testing could be route to reopening nightclubs

16-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested the use of rapid testing could be the key to reopening the night-time economy.

Pub bosses pull out of talks with business minister

15-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

The bosses of some of the UK’s largest pub groups are withdrawing from discussions with Government on reopening citing “a lack of interest and respect”.

JD Wetherspoon's Tim Martin calls for pubs to reopen at the same time as non-essential retail

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has called on the Government to reopen pubs at the same time as non-essential retail shops.

Mitchells & Butlers to raise £350m from shareholders

15-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

Harvester and All Bar One operator Mitchells & Butlers has made strides to ease its significant lockdown cash burn through an equity raise and unsecured revolving credit facility.

Deliveroo leads call for second Eat Out to Help Out scheme when restaurants reopen

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

More than 300 major restaurant brands have signed a letter from Deliveroo CEO Will Shu that calls for second Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme when restaurants reopen.

Business leaders call on Chancellor to back hospitality sector in 2021

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Over 160 hospitality CEOs have called on the Chancellor to extend the VAT cut and rates holiday, and provide a decisive package of financial support in next month’s Budget.

MPs demand hospitality be allowed to open by Easter

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A group of Tory MPs have written to the Prime Minister demanding that pubs and restaurants be given the go-ahead to reopen by Easter.

Lease forfeiture moratorium to be extended beyond March

15-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Ministers are drawing up plans to extend the lease forfeiture moratorium beyond the end of March.

GDP figures highlight damage to sector but also bounce back potential

12-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

GDP figures published by the Office for National Statistics reiterate the economic importance of the UK’s hospitality sector, and the urgent need for it to be supported by Government as it reopens.

Friday Five: the week's top news

12-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

This week's main hospitality news stories include Cain International acquiring Prezzo; Gordon Ramsay launching a cooking academy in Woking; and remembering Theatreland restaurateur Joe Allen, who has died aged 87.

Hospitality accounts for over half of commercial closures in the City of London in 2020

11-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Hospitality and leisure accounted for more than half of commercial business closures in the City of London last year, according to research by the Local Data Company.

Prezzo to close 22 restaurants with 216 jobs lost in pre-pack deal

10-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Italian casual dining chain Prezzo is to permanently close 22 restaurants after being bought out of pre-pack administration by private investment firm Cain International.

Hospitality cash reserves run low

10-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

More than half of hospitality firms now have less than three months of cash reserves left, according to data from the think tank Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Pub beer sales down nearly £8b in 2020

10-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Beer and pub sector leaders are pressing the Government for a reopening date as data reveals that trading restrictions and lockdowns caused sales of beer to plummet by 56% in 2020.

Elystan Street launches prize draw in aid of FOH team

10-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Chelsea restaurant Elystan Street has launched a prize draw to support its front of house team.

Sacha Lord legal challenge heads to High Court

09-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

A legal challenge by Greater Manchester's night time economy advisor Sacha Lord against the restrictions placed on hospitality by the Government will be tried in the High Court.

McDonald’s sets out plan to reopen walk-in takeaway

09-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

McDonald's intends to begin reopening its restaurants across the UK and Ireland for walk-in takeaway from 22 February.

Treasury extends terms of Pay As You Grow facility for Bounce Back Loan borrowers

08-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Small businesses that have taken out a Bounce Back Loan will now have greater flexibility over repayments, the Treasury has announced.

Caffè Concerto to launch CVA

08-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

London-based patisserie chain Caffè Concerto is launching a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in an effort to reduce its rent debt after facing legal action from one of its landlords.

Losses at top 100 UK restaurants groups up 112%

08-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

New figures reveal that losses at the top-earning 100 UK restaurants group increased 112% to £571m last year, rising from reported losses of £269m at the end of last March.

Friday Five: the week's top news

05-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

This week's main hospitality news stories include Government's plan to reopen the economy under national, not tiered restrictions; and landlord Criterion Capital launching legal action against hospitality tenants over unpaid rent.

Casa Cruz licence suspended for six weeks after lockdown breach

05-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

The Notting Hill restaurant that hosted singer Rita Ora’s birthday party during England’s second national lockdown has had its premises licence suspended for six weeks following a review.

Furlough costing hospitality 'over half a billion a month'

05-Feb-2021 By Joe Lutrario

Furlough is costing the UK Hospitality industry in excess of £542m a month during lockdown.

'Substantial meal' rule to be scrapped when pubs reopen

05-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Rules demanding pubs in England only be allowed to open if they serve a 'substantial meal' are set to be scrapped as and when the sector is able to unlock.

The Halal Guys to permanently close flagship Leicester Square restaurant

04-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

US-founded fast casual chain The Halal Guys will not reopen its flagship London restaurant in Leicester Square.

Treasury signals further rates help is on its way

04-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

The Treasury has signalled that further business rates support could be coming after a minister advised councils not to issue bills until after the March Budget.