Coronavirus

Jul- 2020 -

21 July

Michelin-starred Wilks closes permanently

Bristol-based Michelin-starred Wilks restaurant has permanently closed. In a statement posted on the restaurant’s site, the restaurant said despite the announcement allowing restaurants to reopen, it decided “not to do so”. The statement read: “It has been an absolute joy running our restaurant since 2012. Wilks’s success is undoubtedly associated…

20 July

‘Wave’ of no-shows slams hospitality sector

A new emphasis on reservations has hit the sector following a “wave” of no-shows, according to the CGA’s latest Consumer Pulse survey. The survey found that only 28% of consumers visited venues with no reservations in the 10 days after the sector reopened on 4 July. Visits to venues have…

17 July

Hospitality sector sees rise in confidence

The quarterly tracking study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance examined the percentage of small businesses that actually predict growth in the next three months. It found that the proportion of UK small businesses predicting growth had almost doubled in just three months – from 14% to 27% – giving one…

17 July

Weekly sales down 40% across pubs and restaurants

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups that operated in the first week of openings saw collective like-for-like sales down by 39.8% against the year prior. According to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data, in the week beginning 6 July, 55% of group-operated sites had reopened for inside service, up…

16 July

Pizza Express set to fall into hands of its lenders

Pizza Express is reportedly set to fall into the hands of its lenders, possibly as early as this month, which could lead to the possibility of store closures. According to the Financial Times, its lenders are in talks with its Chinese owners Hony Capital for a debt-for equity swap with…

16 July

UK payroll numbers plummet by 650,000

The number of people on UK company payrolls fell by 649,000 between March and June 2020, new research from the ONS has revealed. When compared with May, there were 74,000 fewer people in paid employment. Early estimates for June 2020 also indicate that the number of paid employees is expected…

14 July

UK GDP slumped 19.1% in three months to May

GDP fell by 19.1% in the three months to May 2020, as government restrictions on movement dramatically reduced economic activity. According to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this was driven by falls in nearly every industry, most notably by food and beverage service activities, which fell…

13 July

Businesses must remain Covid-secure, warns HSE

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses that they must ensure they are Covid-secure as lockdown measures ease across the UK. According to the authority, inspectors will be “out and about”, spot-checking employers that they are complying with health and safety law. HSE defines “Covid-secure” as being “adaptable…

13 July

Hospitality Action launches ‘Invisible Chips’ campaign

Hospitality Action has launched a new fundraising campaign in a bid to “harness the UK’s goodwill and affection” for the hospitality industry. The ‘Invisible Chips’ campaign allows customers to show their support for the industry , and participating venues will be asked to add Invisible Chips to their menu, priced…

13 July

Delayed Saffron Summer restaurant to finally open

Saffron Summer, a sister restaurant to the eponymous Indian fine dining restaurant in Chessington, is to open in Reigate in Surrey tomorrow (14 July). The restaurant which occupies the site of the former Clove restaurant at 15 Church Street in Reigate, had originally been due to open in March, before…