Government

Scottish Government to bolster outdoor dining by streamlining planning processes

12-May-2022 By James McAllister

Outdoor restaurant seating could be permitted without a planning application in Scotland under new proposals designed to support the hospitality industry.

Queen's Speech 'a missed opportunity' for night time economy

11-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has said yesterday's (10 May) Queen’s Speech was a 'missed opportunity' as far as the night time economy is concerned.

Ban on exclusivity clauses for lowest paid 'positive for hospitality'

10-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Government's decision to widen its ban on exclusivity clauses to include those earning less than £123 a week has been welcomed as 'positive for businesses and workers in hospitality'.

Government set to make pavement licences permanent

09-May-2022 By James McAllister

The Government is to make pavement licences permanent under legislation set to the be announced in tomorrow's (10 May) Queen's Speech.

'Disappointment' as Government shelves plans for tipping legislation

06-May-2022 By James McAllister

Plans to introduce legislation prohibiting hospitality firms from taking a proportion of staff tips or service charge have been shelved, with one industry body describing the move as 'disappointing'.

Scottish Beer & Pub Association calls for late-night economy champions

28-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has recommended that new ‘hospitality and late-night economy champions’ should be appointed in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Co-ordinated approach needed to combat drink spiking, MPs find

26-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The Government should consider a support package for night-time industries to boost security measures and help combat drink spiking, MPs have said.

Enhanced CMA powers announced to help cut fake reviews

20-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

The Government has announced plans to improve consumer protections, including reforms to boost competition and to make it illegal to post or host fake reviews.

Government looks to rejuvenate high streets by forcing landlords to let out vacant units

19-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Vacant retail units could be repurposed as leisure or hospitality premises under Government plans to 'breathe new life' into Britain's high streets.

Face masks no longer required in Scottish hospitality from 18 April

14-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Face masks will no longer be required to be worn in hospitality businesses in Scotland from next week, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

Failure to tackle labour shortages will 'stifle' hospitality's recovery

07-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned that Government failure to tackle 'chronic' labour shortages in hospitality will stifle the sector's pandemic recovery, echoing the wider conclusions of a new report from MPs.

£330m in Omicron grants 'unspent by councils'

04-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

More than half of the grant money promised to hospitality and leisure businesses in England in the wake of the Omicron variant has yet to be distributed by councils.

'Get ready for another difficult year' - restaurants reflect on VAT rise

01-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs are being told to 'get ready for another difficult year' as hospitality grapples with the impact of VAT returning to its pre-pandemic level of 20% from today (1 April).

National Living Wage rise comes into effect

01-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

The National Living Wage rise comes into effect today (1 April), alongside increases to the other rates of the National Minimum Wage.

'Catastrophic' VAT rise to mean double-digit price increases for consumers

31-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has warned the impending increase in VAT for hospitality businesses will give operators no choice but to pass on costs to consumers, with double-digit price rises expected.

Hospitality businesses urged to make the most of extended licensing hours over Jubilee weekend

30-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses are being urged to 'make the most' of extended licensing hours over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, with UKHospitality saying it represents an opportunity to boost the sector's recovery.

Government launches survey to assess impact of new commercial rent law

28-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

The Government has launched an online survey to help understand 'the context and impact of a new commercial rent law, which came into effect last week.

New law introduced to resolve remaining commercial rent debts as moratorium ends

25-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

The lease forfeiture moratorium, which has protected commercial businesses from eviction during the pandemic, has now expired and been replaced by a law to help resolve remaining rent debts.

High streets 'face £3bn rates rise' next month

24-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses in England face a ‘dangerous cost of doing business crisis’ with high street business rates set to rise £3.1bn on 1 April, according to Altus Group.

Disappointment for hospitality as Sunak fails to offer fresh support for businesses in Spring Statement

23-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality businesses have been left disappointed after Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to offer fresh financial support in his Spring Statement to help firms weather rising cost inflation pressures.

Sunak mulls VAT cut extension as hospitality presses for more support

22-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a freeze in VAT for hospitality businesses at the current reduced rate of 12.5% beyond April in his Spring Statement tomorrow (23 March).

Government confirms plans to extend licensing hours for Queen's Platinum Jubilee

22-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Pubs, clubs and bars will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours over the extended bank holiday weekend for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Business rates 'present a clear and present threat' to pubs with 20,000 at risk, MPs warn

21-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) of MPs has warned that a failure to reform business rates could leave around 20,000 UK pubs at risk.

Parliamentary inquiry recommends VAT for hospitality stays at 12.5%

17-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

An inquiry by a group of influential MPs has recommended that VAT for the hospitality and tourism sectors stays at 12.5% beyond March.

Sacha Lord warns night-time economy faces 'new period of darkness'

14-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester's night time economy advisor, Sacha Lord, has warned that the UK's nightlife industry faces a 'new period of darkness' amid the cost of living crisis.

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.

Keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital, UKHospitality tells Government

09-Mar-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has told a Government select committee that keeping VAT at 12.5% is vital to the sector, describing it as the only industry in a position to deliver post-pandemic jobs, growth and investment at speed.

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.

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'.

Hospitality leaders call for VAT freeze to 'help curb inflation'

08-Feb-2022 By Restaurant

More than 250 leaders from hospitality and leisure have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022.

New agreement struck to ensure supplies of CO2

02-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

The carbon dioxide industry has come to an agreement to ensure UK businesses have access to a sustainable supply of CO2.

UKHospitality urges Government to enhance duty reforms to boost sector’s recovery

01-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has called on the Government to expand its planned reforms to the alcohol duty system to help further support beleaguered businesses as they recover from 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.

Johnson accused of 'throwing hospitality under the bus' as Covid curbs return

09-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of 'throwing hospitality under the bus to save his own skin' as he announced the introduction of tougher Covid curbs including 'vaccine passports'.

NTIA calls for night time economy advisors in every major UK city to 'save sector'

02-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) have launched a campaign calling for night time economy advisors to be established in every major UK city.

Government introduces new laws and code in bid to resolve commercial rent disputes

09-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

New laws and a Code of Practice are being introduced by the Government in the hope it will resolve disputes between landlords and commercial tenants over rent arrears.

Listed companies to be required to publish net zero transition plans

03-Nov-2021 By James McAllister

Listed hospitality companies will be among those required to publish net zero transition plans that detail how they will adapt and decarbonise, under proposals announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Businesses 'at risk of insolvency or takeover' as trade bodies plead for rent support

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

The Government has been warned that hospitality businesses could be put 'at risk of insolvency or takeover' if forced to pay rent arrears accrued during the pandemic.

British Takeaway Campaign accuses Government of small business snub on Hospitality Council

30-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The British Takeaway Campaign (BTC) has accused the Government of showing 'very little consideration' for small, independent businesses on its newly-formed Hospitality Sector Council.

Government assembles Hospitality Council to guide sector recovery

29-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, Hawksmoor co-founder Will Beckett and Mowgli’s Nisha Katona are among the industry leaders to join the Government's Hospitality Sector Council.

Legislation to be introduced to ban hospitality operators from keeping staff tips

20-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

The Government is set to bring forward legislation this week that will ban restaurants and pubs from keeping tips meant for staff.

Covid vaccine certificates to be compulsory for crowded venues in England from later this month

06-Sep-2021 By James McAllister

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed that Covid vaccine certificates will be required for entry into nightclubs and other mass indoor venues in England from the end of this month.

Restaurants urged to get ahead of tax deadline

26-Aug-2021 By James McAllister

Restaurants and takeaways are being urged to make their taxes digital before the legal deadline as part of a initiative by the British Takeaway Campaign (BTC).

Restaurant and delivery groups join Government initiative to help drive vaccine uptake

02-Aug-2021 By James McAllister

Restaurant and delivery groups including Pizza Pilgrims, Deliveroo and Uber Eats are taking part in a Government initiative to further drive Covid-19 vaccine uptake in young people.

Opposition mounts over 'vaccine passports' plan

22-Jul-2021 By James McAllister

Opposition is growing within Westminster to the Government's plan to make so-called 'vaccine passports' compulsory to enter crowded venues such as nightclub from the autumn.

Johnson reluctant to impose food taxes

16-Jul-2021 By James McAllister

Boris Johnson has signalled he is reluctant to introduce a Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax, as recommended by Henry Dimbleby in his newly published National Food Strategy (NFS) report.

Government launches hospitality strategy to aid sector's reopening and recovery

16-Jul-2021 By James McAllister

The Government has launched a new hospitality strategy to 'support the reopening, recovery and resilience' of England’s pubs, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs.

'Freedom Day' guidance urges hospitality to retain restrictions and consider use of Covid-status certification

15-Jul-2021 By James McAllister

Official guidance published ahead of England's 'Freedom Day' on 19 July urges hospitality businesses to retain most Coronavirus restrictions and consider checking customers' Covid-status certification as a condition of entry.

National Food Strategy calls on Government to break the country’s ‘Junk Food Cycle’

15-Jul-2021 By James McAllister

Henry Dimbleby has called for the introduction of a Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax to help the country break free from what he describes as a vicious ‘Junk Food Cycle’.

'Freedom Day' to go ahead on 19 July, but Government urges caution

12-Jul-2021 By BigHospitalit

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed that England will move to Step 4 of its plans to ease Coronavirus restrictions on the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ of 19 July, but that businesses and large events will be encouraged to use vaccine passports.