Coronavirus

Feb- 2021 -

2 February

Labour warns 650,000 hospitality business at risk of collapse

The Labour Party has accused the government of “economic negligence” as it has estimated 650,000 hospitality businesses could collapse in the next three months amid reports of the current lockdown lasting until May. New analysis by the opposition party, based on the latest ONS data, has revealed an “underlying cash…

2 February

Isle of Man hospitality reopens

The Isle of Man has exited lockdown after a 25 day ‘circuit break’ worked to stop the community spread of Covid-19. The island’s government said that life can now “return to near normal”, with no requirement for social distancing and no recommendations that the public wear face coverings. The move…

1 February

Two Nottinghamshire venues shut down for Covid breaches

Two businesses in Nottinghamshire have been shut down by police after owners ignored lockdown laws by serving alcohol to customers inside. The owners of the Wheatsheaf Inn in Cropwell Bishop and Indian Nights in East Bridgford were issued £1,000 fines in January and also have received a prohibition notice, ensuring…

1 February

UKH calls for VAT and rates support after ‘worst year on record’

UKHospitality has called for a further extension of VAT and business rates support from the government after the “worst year of trading on record” has left enormous swathes of the hospitality sector on the “verge of collapse”. The plea follows recent figures from UKHospitality’s quarterly sales tracker, in partnership with…

Jan- 2021 -

29 January

Scottish Hospitality Group calls for more ‘immediate support’

While the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has welcomed new support measures announced in yesterday’s Scottish Government budget, it has warned that financial aid for hospitality “doesn’t go far enough” to support or meet increasing property and staff costs. The measures unveiled yesterday by Kate Forbes include a three-month rates relief…

29 January

Manchester City footballer raises money for local restaurants

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan has launched a campaign to help support local Manchester hospitality businesses hit by the pandemic. Gündogan is now auctioning off items such as personal ‘meet and greets’ and signed jerseys – with all proceeds going to restaurants and cafes. The footballer said he was inspired…

28 January

Pandemic cost hospitality £200m a day in 2020

The pandemic and ensuing lockdowns cost the hospitality sector nearly £200m a day or £8m per hour in lost sales last year, with turnover less than half of 2019 levels, according to new data from UKHospitality and CGA. The latest edition of their quarterly tracker reveals that sales across restaurants,…

26 January

Unemployment rises 5% to 1.7m

The UK unemployment rate rose by 5% in the three months to November with over 1.7 million people now out of work, according to the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Since February 2020, the number of payroll employees has fallen by 828,000, however, the ONS said larger falls…

26 January

Deliveroo reveals consumers takeaway spending habits

65% of customers are spending more on takeaways as “something to look forward to” during lockdown, research by Deliveroo reveals. The figures come as part of a report the delivery app has published to help “restaurants understand how to adapt their business to meet the growing demand for food delivery”. …

22 January

New ‘cash cocktail’ urgently needed, says UKHC

UKHospitality Cymru has urged the Welsh government to find a “new and potent cash cocktail of financial support” to help the hospitality sector survive. The plea comes hours before first minister Mark Drakeford is set to give an updated coronavirus briefing regarding the level of infection rates today (Friday 22…