Coronavirus

Mar- 2020 -

30 March

Restaurant and pub insolvencies rose before pandemic, says UHY Hacker Young

There were 1,452 restaurant and 526 UK pub insolvencies last year, according to UHY Hacker Young. The financial firm said that the industry was “stuck in a long-term slump” even before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 1,452 UK restaurant businesses and 526 UK pub businesses entered insolvency in…

27 March

Leon launches FeedNHS scheme

Leon has announced it is continuing its support of the NHS by launching a new scheme titled FeedNHS. The not-for-profit campaign will raise vital funds to allow the chain to deliver its food directly to key workers on the frontline in the NHS. The campaign has been launched with the…

27 March

Casual Dining Show 2020 cancelled

Event organisers Diversified Communications has announced it has taken the decision to cancel the Casual Dining Show 2020. The news, revealed in an email, comes after the scheduled event venue – London’s ExCeL – is to be converted into a makeshift hospital. NHS Nightingale as it will be called will…

27 March

Hospitality sector suffers 76.6% slowdown due to coronavirus lockdown

The hospitality sector has experienced a 77% slowdown in the past month according to new analysis which lays bare the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to income streaming provider Wagestream. The analysis reveals how the industry has been forced into a “radical decline” since but is still “soldiering on”…

27 March

Covid-19: Restaurant and pub sales fall 71% in last week of trading

Like-for-like sales in pubs, bars and restaurants nosedived 71% in the week that licensed premises were ordered to close amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Data from the CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker revealed that like-for-like trading in restaurant chains was down 75% that week. Managed pub sales fell by 67%,…

26 March

Self-employed to get 80% income grant

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the government will pay self-employed people a taxable grant based on their previous earnings over the last three years, worth up to 80% of earnings, and capped at £2,500 a month. Sunak said it will run for a minimum of three months, with scope for…

26 March

Shepherd Neame announces staffing changes

Shepherd Neame has announced a temporary change to its staffing structure and salary levels as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to unfold. In an aim to protect jobs for the long term, none of its staff are being made redundant, and all will remain employed “in the hope that the teams…

26 March

Covid-19: Banks under fire over emergency loan scheme

Banks have come under fire over government-backed emergency loans which require business owners to sign for a personal guarantee, as the UK battles with the Covid-19 pandemic. The British Business Bank (BBB) opened applications for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) on Monday (23 March), and claimed the loan…

26 March

Giggling Squid halts takeaway service

Giggling Squid has announced the temporary closure of its takeaway and Deliveroo services in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The Thai food chain had originally continued operating a takeaway service from all of its sites across the UK, but has made the decision to close all its sites entirely…

25 March

Government urges JD Wetherspoon to support employees

The government has urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his employees after reports he claimed they would face delays in payment and “should consider getting a job at Tesco instead”. Martin said the company would not cover wages from this week and employees would have to wait to…