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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Sep- 2018 -24 September
Hospitality sector found to have highest number of underpaid staff
The hospitality sector was estimated to have the highest number of staff who were paid less than minimum wage, accounting for 54,000 jobs. This is according to a report by HMRC as part of the government’s investigation and initiative to clampdown on employers underpaying their staff. The retail sector came…
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14 September
Government announces £70,000 funding for rural pubs
The government has announced it is to give rural pubs £70,000 in funding to provide new or expanded services. More than 30 rural communities are set to benefit from new or expanded village services from libraries, shops to post offices all delivered by their local pub. The government says the…
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12 September
JD Wetherspoon scraps Jagermeister and Courvoisier for UK and non-EU producers
Pub company JD Wetherspoon is to increase its range of drinks from UK and non-EU producers across its 880 pubs from Wednesday September 26 in the run up to Brexit. As part of this decision, the company’s pubs will stop serving German liqueur Jagermeister French brandies Courvoisier VS and Hennessy…
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5 September
Mandatory calorie labelling could cause ‘serious burden’, warns UKHospitality
UKHospitality has warned that the introduction of inflexible mandatory calorie labelling could present a “serious burden” for hospitality businesses. The warning follows reports that the government is preparing the launch of a consultation on a requirement for businesses to provide calorie labelling on menus. The Department of Health is proposing…
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Aug- 2018 -29 August
Bailiffs visited more than 200 firms daily over unpaid business rates
In the first year after the new business rates revaluation came into effect, councils sent bailiffs to more than 200 commercial properties everyday for unpaid rates. An investigation by real estate advisor Altus Group revealed that during 2017/18, over 81,000 business premises liable for rates were referred to bailiffs to…
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17 August
Business rates for English hospitality firms could rise to £50m, analysts say
Business rates for English hospitality companies could increase to £51.26m next April if inflation remains unchanged at 2.5%, according to real estate advisor Altus Group. Altus Group said next month could be “pivotal for the hospitality sector” as the upcoming Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation determines how business…
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8 August
Restaurant boss banned for fake five-star hygiene rating
A restaurant owner has been banned from running companies for five years after he falsely advertised a five star food hygiene rating in a magazine. Rushan Ahmed, 31, claimed his Moza restaurant in Derby had been awarded a five-star food hygiene rating in three adverts he ran in a local…
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8 August
Wetherspoon launches Brexit beer mats
Pub group Wetherspoon will introduce beer mats in favour of a no-deal Brexit, signed by its chairman Tim Martin, and outlining 10 points to the leaders of the three main political parties. The mats bear the headline ‘Free Trade (ie no deal) means lower prices’, and Martin said they will…
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7 August
Chinese restaurant Salmonella victims awarded £275,000 compensation
As many as 28 people who fell ill after dining in an Eastleigh Chinese restaurant in 2014 have been awarded £275,000 in compensation. The diners at The Real China restaurant who reported falling ill with sickness and diarrhoea, were represented by law firm Irwin Mitchell. Many of those who ate…
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1 August
Wetherspoon’s to cut all prices by 7.5% for ‘Tax Equality Day’
Wetherspoons has announced it is to cut all of its prices by 7.5% on Wednesday 20 September as part of ‘Tax Equality Day’. The day aims to highlight the benefits of reducing VAT in the hospitality industry. Pubs are currently charged 20% VAT, compared with supermarkets which benefit from zero-rate…
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