Coronavirus

Apr- 2021 -

14 April

Hospitality figures protest Covid-19 passports

Over 60 restaurant, nightclub operators and other hospitality figures have reportedly told Boris Johnson that they will not force customers to show Covid passports. According to The Telegraph, the opposers have written to the PM to show their disapproval of the Covid certification being used in hospitality settings. It is…

13 April

No hospitality spending bounce until late summer, says EY survey

There will not be a spending bounce for the hospitality sector until towards the end of summer, according to EY’s Future Consumer Index for April. The survey of 1,000 UK consumers revealed a “significant” pent-up demand for hospitality and leisure, how respondents showed hesitancy over returning to restaurants and bars…

12 April

Ice cream parlours lost £289m in 2020, study shows

Ice cream parlours and ice cream vans have been among the “hardest hit” in the pandemic losing a total of £289m in income in 2020, a study by The Ice Cream Alliance (ICA), the UK’s trade association for the ice cream sector, has found. The ICA surveyed members on the…

7 April

Scotland’s night time economy leaders call for more financial assistance

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) Scotland has published a letter, pleading with the Scottish government for greater financial support for the sector and a clearer path out of lockdown. In the letter, the trade group warned of the industry’s “Armageddon” as it criticised the “unfair treatment” the sector has…

6 April

Outdoor hospitality reopening confirmed by PM

Outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail have been given the green light to reopen on 12 April, as the prime minister announced that the government intends to keep to the next stage of the lockdown roadmap. Outdoor hospitality and “significant” parts of the indoor economy will now reopen after data confirmed…

1 April

Pubs closures will see sector lose £325m over Easter

The loss of beer sales from this Easter bank holiday weekend will result in the pub sector losing out on £325m in trade, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). With limited trading conditions still in place to limit the spread of Covid-19, the trade group has said…

Mar- 2021 -

24 March

Hospitality urged to register for free workplace Covid testing

Trade associations are urging businesses in the hospitality industry to register for free workplace Covid-19 testing. The deadline to register for free rapid lateral flow tests, which will allow businesses to test employees twice a week, is 31 March 2021. With hospitality set to partially reopen in April, trade associations…

23 March

MPs call for Pubs Code reform

A group of MPs are calling on the government to amend The Pubs Code 2016 to address consequences for businesses resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Led by Tracy Brabin MP, the group is specifically requesting change regarding Regulation 7 of the code, which allows a tied establishment to seek a…

19 March

Scottish gov extends rent irritation moratorium

The Scottish government has announced that it will be extending its rent irritation moratorium for a further six months, until the end of September. The regulation, which has been used extensively by the hospitality industry, shares similarities with England and Wales’ lease forfeiture moratorium active, which prevents landlords from repossessing…

17 March

Scottish hospitality to reopen on 26 April

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that lockdown restrictions affecting hospitality businesses in Scotland will be relaxed as soon as next month, in an announcement made yesterday (16 March). From 26 April, cafes, restaurants and bars will be permitted to serve people outside in groups of up to six from…