Coronavirus

Burger King to promote independent restaurants through Instagram

Burger King has announced that small restaurants owners can promote their businesses on its Instagram, in a bid to support the hospitality sector as parts of the UK enter into tier three.  In a post on the chain’s Instagram, Burger King revealed it was “taking a break” from publishing promotional…

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Tier 3 restrictions will see 1,250 pubs close, BBPA says

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said that the government’s decision to put parts of London and the South East into Tier 3 restrictions will force 1,250 pubs to close.  It follows an announcement by UK health secretary Matt Hancock which stated that as of Wednesday (16 December),…

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Hospitality sector accounts for third of jobs lost since February

A third of all jobs which have been lost since February, during the pandemic, have been from the hospitality industry. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), job losses in the sector were the largest single contributor to the fall in employment. Redundancy figures in the UK,…

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Pub sales down 84% on first weekend of re-opening

Overall sales across pubs in the first weekend of December were 84% lower than last year, a study by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) reveals.  The trade group which has touted “tighter covid restrictions” as the reason for this slump also revealed that just four in ten pubs…

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‘No hard evidence’ behind curfew, admits Vallance

Sir Patrick Vallance has admitted there was “no hard evidence” behind the Government’s controversial 10pm curfew rule imposed on hospitality businesses under the previous tiered restriction system.  Speaking to ministers on the Commons science committee yesterday, when asked by the committee whether there was any specific modelling behind the restrictions…

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STLA slams Scotland’s new Covid measures

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has called for proper “financial compensation” for hospitality business in response to the First Minister’s decision to loosen Covid-19 restrictions.  Yesterday, the Scottish government announced that more than two million people who have been living under the strictest Covid-19 protection levels for three weeks…

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UKH: New rent moratoria will help avoid ‘immediate bloodbath’

The recent extension to the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria will help avoid an “immediate bloodbath” of business failures across hospitality, but it must be accompanied by support to resolve Covid-related rent debt, UKHospitality has warned. The trade body has welcomed today’s announcement by communities secretary Robert Jenrick that…

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Hospitality Ulster: Keeping traditional pubs closed ‘unfair and unjust’

Northern Irish trade group Hospitality Ulster has condemned the local government’s decision to keep traditional pubs closed, ahead of the county’s hospitality businesses reopening on Friday (11 December).  Earlier this month, government officials at Stormont confirmed that while restaurants and hotels that can serve a substantial meal will be able…

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Star Pubs and Bars offers licensees up to 90% rent concessions

Star Pubs and Bars has announced it is investing £5m in rent concessions this December, as its venues across the UK are still unable to operate fully due to Covid-19.  The group’s support has been devised in line with the new tiered system, with Tier one licensees being offered a…

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Slough restaurant fined for Covid breach

The Grill Garden in Slough has been fined £1000 after being found by local council officers to be open during lockdown.  According to council reports, officers from the licensing team and Thames Valley Police visited Grill Garden on 13 November 2020 and found the “business open as a restaurant” with…

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