Coronavirus

Jan- 2021 -

14 January

Closing Click & Collect could wipe £300m a month from UK takeaways

With a possible closure of Click & Collect takeaways being discussed at present as part of intensified Coronavirus protection measures, the NPD Group has warned this could wipe off over £300m a month to UK businesses offering the service. The market research company’s latest figures indicate that in the month…

13 January

Greene King extends 90% rent concessions

Greene King has announced it will be continuing its rent support for tenants during the latest lockdown, with tied tenants receiving 90% rent concessions. Following the government’s announcement of grants of up to £9,000 for individual hospitality businesses, the pub and hotel group wrote to all of its 1,000 tenants…

12 January

MPs launch inquiry into night time economy

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the night time economy has commenced an urgent enquiry into the effects of Covid-19 on the industry. The group’s inquiry is being led by Jeff Smith MP, and has asked for evidence from those involved in the industry on what challenges the sector faces…

11 January

Leading hospitality figures sign Hospitality Minister petition

A group of leading hospitality figures, led by TV chef Angela Hartnett, has come together to “champion millions of hospitality workers” and call for greater industry representation in Parliament. Prominent industry figures, including Tom Kerridge and Jason Atherton, are also among more than 200,000 people who have now signed the…

11 January

Pandemic costs D&D London £2.5m a month, owner warns

Des Gunewardena, the owner of restaurant group D&D London, has written to the government calling for greater support ahead of today’s (11 January) parliamentary debate on the hospitality industry. In a letter addressed to chancellor Rishi Sunak, Gunewardena revealed that Covid-19 is costing D&D London £2.5m per month of closure.…

8 January

Oakman CEO to return £250k grant if venues used for vaccinations

The chief executive of pub and restaurant group, Oakman Inns, Dermot King, is offering to forego the chancellor’s latest lockdown grant of up to £250,000 if he allows National Health Trusts to use Oakman Inns’ venues as vaccination centres. King who was appointed CEO of the company last August said…

7 January

Northern Ireland’s wet pubs receive £10m support package

Northern Ireland’s economy minister, Diane Dodds has announced a £10.6m relief fund for ‘wet bars’ that lost out due to Covid-19 restrictions in the summer months. The support is aimed at the “hardest hit” traditional pubs which do not serve food and were therefore forced to close between 4 July…

5 January

Chancellor unveils £4.6bn in new lockdown grants

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, the chancellor has announced. The news comes after the prime minister’s announcement that businesses will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the spread of Covid-19. This…

5 January

UKH offers industry assistance for vaccine roll-out

UKHospitality has pledged to assist the government in the roll-out of vaccines, following the news that Covid-19 restrictions will be tightening further. Yesterday (4 January), Boris Johnson announced England will return to lockdown level restrictions until, at least, the middle of February. Similar restrictions are also now in place in…

4 January

Brewdog and Loungers offer venues as vaccine centres

Brewdog and Loungers have offered their closed venues to the government to help with the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccinations. It comes after Brewdog CEO James Watt tweeted to health secretary Matt Hancock and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon that the company wanted to “help with a quick roll…