Coronavirus

Feb- 2021 -

16 February

JD Wetherspoon boss calls for pubs to reopen alongside shops

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has said the pub industry is “on its knees” and that pubs across the UK need to reopen at the same time as non-essential shops to save the industry and associated jobs. Martin, who oversees the operations of 872 pub venues in the UK, said the…

15 February

Over 160 hospitality CEOs urge chancellor to back sector in 2021

Over 160 CEOs from the UK’s leading hospitality businesses, employing hundreds of thousands of people, have written to the chancellor ahead of next month’s Budget. The letter, coordinated by trade body UKHospitality, calls for decisive support to help the sector survive, rebuild and drive the economic recovery and highlights two…

15 February

Brighton Pier Group receives £1.4m payout from insurers

The Brighton Pier Group has announced that to date, it has received interim payments from its insurers totalling £1.4m in respect of Covid-related losses. The group, which owns and operates Brighton Palace Pier as well as indoor mini-golf sites and premium bars, had previously lodged claims with its insurers for…

15 February

Deliveroo calls for rerun of EOTHO scheme

Deliveroo and 300 restaurant groups have urged the government to reimplement the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (EOTHO) when the hospitality sector eventually reopens. According to the delivery service, the 50% discount scheme which was first launched last August by chancellor Rishi Sunak would help support struggling restaurants that…

12 February

Scottish hospitality has <1% infection rate among staff, says SHG

Members of the Scottish Hospitality Group, who employ over 6000 people, have revealed that there have been only 32 positive cases of Covid-19 among staff since July. The group said eight of those were between July and October – the period before the Scottish tier system was introduced and in…

11 February

Hospitality should prepare for ‘turbulent year’, says Duff and Phelps

Business owners across the hospitality and leisure sectors throughout the UK need to “take stock” and prepare themselves for yet another turbulent year, says Duff and Phelps. The message comes as the financial solutions provider believes there is “no sign” of current restrictions easing. It comes as current reliefs such…

10 February

Hospitality sector attracted investment in 2020 despite Covid-19

BDO’s annual ‘Restaurants and Bars Report’ has found that despite the tough trading conditions, the restaurant, pub and bar sector continued to attract investment in 2020. According to the group, interest from investors was judged by the fact that the eventual loosening of lockdown restrictions and a successful vaccine roll-out…

8 February

Losses from top 100 UK restaurant groups rise 112% to £571m

The top 100 UK restaurants groups saw their losses soar by 112% to £571m last year, rising from reported losses of £269m at the end of last March, according to UHY Hacker Young. The firm said these losses only run up to the start of the lockdown and are therefore…

5 February

Hospitality industry’s furlough costs nears £550m a month

Furlough’s continuation is costing the hospitality industry £542m every month, according to the labour management service S4labour. While the scheme has provided a lifeline for businesses within the sector and beyond, it reportedly continues to rack up bills for firms through national insurance contributions, holiday pay, and pension costs. Despite…

3 February

IBN sets out £35bn strategy to save British hospitality

The Independent Business Network (IBN) has urged the chancellor to implement a £35bn strategy that would work to safeguard British hospitality businesses and save 500,000 jobs. The business group, which champions the needs of family-run and family-owned businesses across the UK, has called for a range of support measures to…