Government
The latest news and updates on government policy, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.
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Jul- 2025 -28 July
Govt to fast-track new cafes and bars with planning reforms
The government has announced that cafes, bars and music venues could soon replace empty shops under its new plans to relax licensing and planning rules, in a bid to revive town centres. The reforms, which were announced on Sunday (27 July), will form part of the forthcoming Small Business Plan,…
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May- 2025 -20 May
UKH urges UK and EU to agree on flexible youth experience scheme
UKH has urged the UK government and the European Union to pursue a youth experience scheme with “maximum flexibility” for critical cultural exchange and economic benefit. The call comes as the UK and the EU have recently announced a new deal which includes a number of measures intended to improve…
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12 May
London Mayor unveils new £300,000 ‘Summer Streets’ fund
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new £300,000 Summer Streets fund to boost al fresco dining and extend opening hours for pubs, restaurants and venues, in summer 2025. The fund will be delivered in partnership with councils across the city to support restaurants, cafes, small nightlife venues,…
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Apr- 2025 -7 April
Gov launches initative to cut red tape to boost British nightlife
Pubs, clubs and restaurants are set to be released from red tape which has stifled business as the government ‘backs the British night out’, after revealing its new Plan for Change initiative. Action includes moves to improve the application of licensing laws and strengthen businesses’ competitiveness, giving diners, pub and…
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1 April
UKH urges Gov to work with hospitality as ‘eyewatering’ £3.4bn costs hit
UKHospitality has urged the government to work with hospitality to help bring growth and jobs back to the sector on the day (1 April) that £3.4bn of new annual costs hit the sector. It comes as hospitality businesses will now face an additional £1.9bn in wage costs, £1bn of employer…
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Mar- 2025 -26 March
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
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12 March
UKH calls for delay to employer NICs threshold changes
UKHospitality has called for the government to delay the reduction in the employer NICs threshold after hospitality business confidence hit a two-year low. Only 14% of businesses feel optimistic about the hospitality market, according to research from CGA by NIQ’s Business Confidence survey. UKH claimed that the change to employer…
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Feb- 2025 -27 February
Over 30 restaurants urge govt to include delivery drivers in new Crime and Policing Bill
Over 30 leading UK restaurants and supermarkets with more than 3000 sites across the UK have written to the Home Secretary calling for greater protections for delivery drivers in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill. The joint letter forms part of Deliveroo’s Right to Ride Safely campaign, which launched in…
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Dec- 2024 -24 December
UKH calls on gov to rethink approach to NIC changes
UKHospitality has called on the government to “rethink its approach” to upcoming changes to National Insurance contributions, warning that proper consultation and engagement is needed before the changes are implemented next year. It comes as revised figures from the Office for National Statistics yesterday showed that the UK economy had…
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18 December
Inflation hits eight-month high of 2.6% in November
Inflation has risen for the second month in a row, rising to 2.6% in November, up from 2.3% the previous month, marking the highest level of inflation in eight months. According to the Office for National Statistics, the main drivers behind the rise were fuel and clothing, where prices rose this…
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