Lockdown

"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.

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.

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.

£8.2bn wiped from the pub sector in beer sales alone in "year to forget for pubs"

15-Mar-2021 By Restaurant

Around 2,000 pubs are estimated to have closed permanently and £8.2bn in value wiped from the sector in beer sales alone in the past 12 months, figures from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) show.

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.

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.

Hospitality businesses in Wales to receive additional £150m in support as lockdown continues

12-Mar-2021 By BgHospitality

The Welsh Government has pledged a further £150m to help hospitality businesses as well as other that are not yet able to open because of the pandemic.

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.

Scottish Government admits no sector-specific evidence for hospitality shutdown

08-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

The Scottish Government has admitted in a freedom of information (FOI) response that it has not produced or sourced any specific evidence to support the restrictions on Scotland’s hospitality sector.

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.

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.

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.

Two thirds of hospitality businesses believe April reopening isn’t viable, says poll

26-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Almost two-thirds (63%) of hospitality businesses say it is not viable to reopen in April when outside trading is permitted, according to the latest Hospitality Leader’s Poll from Lumina Intelligence.

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.

Those that can, will: restaurants plan for 12 April al fresco reopening

24-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Restaurants across the capital have opened their reservations for al fresco dining from 12 April following the Government’s announcement of its post-lockdown roadmap.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

UKHospitality publishes reopening roadmap for hospitality sector

18-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

UKHospitality has presented its own roadmap for the hospitality sector to emerge from lockdown and restrictions.

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.

Al fresco April opening for pubs and restaurants "not commercially viable"

16-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Potential plans by the Government to allow only outdoor drinking and dining from April have been slammed by the pub sector.

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.

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.

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.

Scottish hospitality has less than 1% infection rate among staff, say businesses

12-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

The Scottish hospitality sector has less than a 1% infection rate among staff, according to figures from members of the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG).

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Two thirds of hospitality operators want to see a return of Eat Out to Help Out scheme

05-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Almost two thirds of hospitality operators would like to see a return of the Eat Out to Help Out (EOHO) scheme, according to the latest Lumina Hospitality Leaders poll.

'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.

Dishoom: "we’re still excited about our big, beautiful restaurants"

04-Feb-2021 By Georgia Cronin

Dishoom's new delivery service has proved to be a lifeline for the business during lockdown, but the company remains confident in its large high-footfall restaurants.

MEATliquor's Scott Collins: "we're chomping at the bit to reopen"

03-Feb-2021 By Restaurant

Restaurant group MEATliquor has used the time its restaurants have been closed during lockdown to streamline its operations and make its offer stronger than ever before, according to managing director Scott Collins.

Branded restaurants see steep decline

03-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Branded restaurants experienced a 16.6% outlet decline in 2020, according to research from Lumina Intelligence’s Operator Data Index.