Legislation

Hospitality venues removed from list of mandatory return points under revised Deposit Return Scheme

26-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality venues will no longer be required to host a return point under the Government’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), the roll out of which has been further delayed until 2027.

Implementation of Tips Bill delayed until October

23-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

The implementation of a new tipping law has been pushed back from July to October to allow more time for businesses to introduce any changes required.

Apprenticeship reforms a ‘benefit for both businesses and employees’

18-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has described a new major package of reforms to support businesses to deliver more apprenticeship places as being ‘very positive’.

"An empty budget": hospitality reacts to Hunt's Spring Budget

06-Mar-2024 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector has reacted with criticism to the Spring Budget after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt failed to announce a much-needed reduction to VAT or business rates.

Business leaders and MPs increase calls for industry support ahead of Budget

29-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Hospitality business leaders have signed an open letter urging the Chancellor to take immediate action at the Budget to support the sector.

MPs call on Government to ‘listen to the hospitality sector’ and back VAT cut

01-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

MPs from across the political divide including the Conservative’s Tobias Ellwood and former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron have voiced their support for measures to support the hospitality sector.

“This is an emergency": industry figures unite to call for VAT reduction

30-Jan-2024 By Restaurant

MasterChef winner Simon Wood and Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, have joined a host of Manchester chefs and operators calling for a cut in VAT to 10% for the hospitality sector.

Scottish hospitality pleads for rates support as 10,000 businesses ‘hang in the balance’

18-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

New analysis shows that thousands of Scottish hospitality businesses will be left unsupported if rates relief isn’t included in the Scottish Budget tomorrow (19 December).

Government publishes tipping code of practise

18-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

The Government has published a draft code of practice on the fair and transparent distribution of tips, which will come into effect on 1 July 2024.

Relief for hospitality as rates relief extended, but operators left wanting by Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have voiced frustration at the Chancellor’s failure to announce any additional support measures for the sector in his Autumn Statement, beyond those already in place.

Chancellor extends business rates discount for hospitality as he delivers Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that the business rates discount for hospitality businesses will be extended for a further year, with the multiplier for small premises also frozen.

Sector pleads for support as leaders warn wage increase could be ‘death knell’ for many

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Industry leaders have warned an increase in the National Living Wage could be a ‘death knell’ for smaller hospitality businesses without targeted tax cuts in today’s (22 November) Autumn Statement.

New minimum service level regulations to ensure 40% of trains run on strike days

07-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

The Government is to introduce new minimum service level regulations to mitigate disruption and ensure public services continue to operate if strikes are called.

350 hospitality businesses respond to Ofgem's energy consultation

06-Sep-2023 By Restaurant

More than 350 hospitality businesses have responded to Ofgem’s consultation, urging the watchdog to take swift action to improve the energy market.

UKHospitality makes fresh call to freeze business rates amid warning of £220m bill rise

21-Aug-2023 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has made a fresh plea for the Chancellor to freeze business rates, amid warnings a hike in bills could dent investment and leave many small firms ‘on the brink’.

Five things restaurateurs must consider ahead of the new Tips Bill

05-Jul-2023 By Restaurant

A new law ensuring hospitality staff receive all money left to them in tips is coming. Here’s what you need to know.

‘Relief’ for Scottish hospitality as Deposit Return Scheme delayed until October 2025

08-Jun-2023 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has said businesses across Scotland will be ‘breathing a huge sigh of relief’ after it was announced the country’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) would be delayed until October 2025.

UKHospitality Scotland demands ‘new approach’ to business rates system

19-May-2023 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Scotland has pushed back against the Scottish Government’s claim that restaurants have seen a decrease in their overall rateable value, saying it ‘doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground’.

Tips Bill expected to come into force in 2024

03-May-2023 By James McAllister

A new law designed to ensure hospitality staff receive all the money left to them in tips by customers will likely come into force in 2024, the Government has announced.

Tips Bill to become law after clearing House of Lords

24-Apr-2023 By James McAllister

A private member's bill intended to ensure hospitality staff receive all the money left to them in tips by customers is set to become law after clearing the House of Lords.

Government looks to ‘modernise’ business rates system with new bill

30-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

The Government has introduced a new bill that aims to ‘modernise’ the business rates system by incentivising property improvements and supporting more frequent revaluations.

Budget ‘falls short’ as Chancellor overlooks calls for further hospitality support

15-Mar-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality business have been left frustrated after the Chancellor failed to offer the sector any significant concessions in his spring Budget.

Hospitality sector counting on Chancellor for support in Budget

15-Mar-2023 By Georgi Gyton

Support on energy, business rates, VAT and the labour market are among the key areas the hospitality sector is calling for the Government to address in today's Budget (14 March).

Trade urges Scotland’s new First Minister to halt proposed ban on alcohol advertising

27-Feb-2023 By Restaurant

The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has published an open letter calling for Scotland’s new First Minister to halt the Scottish Government’s proposed ban on alcohol advertising and promotion.

UKHospitality calls for reform of apprenticeship levy

06-Feb-2023 By Georgi Gyton

UKHospitality has called for the reform of the Government’s apprenticeship levy, claiming the current system is 'too inflexible'.

Be Inclusive Hospitality launches its 2023 Inside Hospitality Survey

31-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are being encouraged to take part in Be Inclusive Hospitality's 2023 Inside Hospitality Survey, which launches today (31 January).

The Lowdown: The new tipping bill

27-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

After years of political back-and-forth, legislation intended to ensure hospitality staff receive all the money left to them in tips by customers is now closer than ever to becoming law.

Tips Bill moves closer to becoming law as it clears Commons

20-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

A private member's bill intended to ensure hospitality staff receive all the money left to them in tips by customers is closer to becoming law after clearing the Commons.

Breweries to benefit from increased bill support as energy and trade intensive industry

10-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Breweries will benefit from an increased rate of support under the Government's new Energy Bills Discount Scheme having been recognised as an energy and trade intensive industry.

Government extends alcohol duty freeze until August 2023

20-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

The Government has extended the alcohol duty freeze for a further six months in what's been described as a 'much needed Christmas present' for hard pressed hospitality businesses.

Welsh businesses to get £460m in rates support

13-Dec-2022 By Steve Farrell

Businesses in Wales will get rates support worth £460m over the next two financial years, the Welsh Government will announce in its upcoming draft budget.

Chancellor commits to business rates and energy support but hospitality remains fearful for the future

17-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has confirmed that business rates relief and support with rising energy bills will continue for firms beyond April 2023 in his Autumn Statement.

Protesters target parliament in third demonstration

15-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

Hospitality operators from across the UK gathered in Parliament Square this week, in a bid to raise awareness of the sector’s challenges with the Government.

Government set to announce living wage rise

15-Nov-2022 By Georgi Gyton

The Government is expected to announce a significant rise in the national living wage, from £9.50 an hour to around £10.40 an hour.

Hospitality sector faces £900m business rates increase

14-Nov-2022 By Restaurant

Hospitality businesses are facing a £900m increase in business rates next April, if current relief ends and rates increase in line with inflation, UKHospitality has warned.

Cost of doing business 'completely out of control' for pubs as alcohol duty freeze reversed

18-Oct-2022 By James McAllister

Trade bodies have warned the Government's decision to scrap the planned freeze on alcohol duty has 'critically compromised' thousands of businesses and workers across the hospitality sector.

Tip deductions costing UK hospitality workers £200m a year, Labour claims

17-Oct-2022 By James McAllister

Labour has pledged to 'stamp out' unfair tip deductions, claiming that hospitality and leisure workers are missing out on around £200m a year.

Estimate your business energy bills with our price cap calculator

22-Sep-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the Government’s announcement about a discount on wholesale gas and electric prices, we’ve created a handy calculator to help you estimate what your new energy bills could be.

Hospitality demands 'urgent clarity' on energy support as businesses face 'financial cliff edge'

20-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality trade bodies have written a joint letter to the Chancellor ahead this week's planned fiscal statement warning a lack of clarity on energy support could be fatal for businesses.

Government to set out details on business energy support at mini-budget next Friday

16-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

The Government is set to deliver a mini-budget on Friday 23 September, which will include details of Prime Minister Liz Truss's plan to support businesses struggling with soaring energy costs.

Hospitality employers urged to prepare for new right to work checks

15-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality employers are being urged to prepare for new right to work checks, which are set to come into force from 1 October 2022.

Menu calorie counts could be scrapped as Government reviews anti-obesity strategy

14-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

Larger hospitality businesses in England may no longer be required to display calorie counts on menus after Government ministers ordered an official review of its anti-obesity strategy.

Business leaders calls for clarity over energy support

13-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Business leaders have urged the Government to set out further detail over the extent of support firms will receive to pay soaring energy bills.

The Lowdown: Liz Truss

09-Sep-2022 By Joe Lutrario

What might the appointment of the new Prime Minister mean for the beleaguered hospitality sector?

Liz Truss unveils six-month energy support plan for businesses

08-Sep-2022 By Restaurant

Businesses are to get a six-month support package to reduce their energy bills, Prime Minister Liz Truss has announced.

Businesses told to invest in UK workforce as hospitality staff shortage petition dismissed by Government

06-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

The Government has dismissed a petition calling for EU nationals to be permitted to come to the UK to work in hospitality, telling businesses to invest in the UK’s domestic labour force instead.

Economic Affairs Committee launches new inquiry on labour shortages

29-Jul-2022 By James McAllister

The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has put out a call for written submissions to its new inquiry on recent trends in the UK labour market.

UKHospitality responds to business rates consultation

21-Jul-2022 By Joe Lutrario

UKHospitality has called for reductions under reformed business rates to be reflected in bills ‘as quickly as possible’.

UKHospitality welcomes second reading of 'Tips Bill'

15-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

A private members’ bill that would require employers to ensure all tips and service charges they receive are paid to workers in full has had its second reading in Parliament.

Menu calorie counts are changing dining habits, says research

11-Jul-2022 By Restaurant

Calorie counts on menus are having an impact on diners’ eating habits and dish choices, new research has found.