News-In-Brief

Jan- 2025 -

28 January

Today’s news in brief – 28/01/25

Urban Pubs and Bars saw a “record-breaking” rise in EBITDA of 26% to £8.7m for the year ended 28 April 2024. The group also reported a 16% rise in turnover to £60.5m and a 4% uplift in like-for-like sales in the period. Over the Christmas trading period, which took place…

27 January

Today’s news in brief – 27/01/25

Tasty expects to report lower sales for FY24 after a challenging H2. Although the group’s restructuring plan, sanctioned on 4 June 2024, will enable the return to profitability and should “secure the company’s long-term future”, the resultant closures of part of the group’s estate has had a “negative impact on…

24 January

Today’s news in brief – 24/01/25

Stonegate Group has reported that LFL sales rose 9.7% over the festive season, with the group’s Craft Union business seeing record sales numbers over the Christmas week. Across the group’s managed estate, some 234 sites reported record-breaking sales weeks – with 217 locations reporting record-breaking sales days. KFC UK&I has…

23 January

Today’s news in brief – 23/01/25

Wetherspoon has reported that LFL sales rose 5.1% in the first half, having benefited from a 6.1% uplift in LFL sales for the main Christmas period between 16 December and 5 January. However, the pub group is bracing for debt levels to be in the range of £680m and £700m,…

22 January

Today’s news in brief – 22/01/25

Knoops has welcomed Lush co-founder Andrew Gerrie to the board amid a sales uplift of 22% like-for-like during the five-week period to 29 December 2024. The company’s revenue growth of 79% year-to-date is also on track to deliver the business plan for the year ending March 2025, with annual UK…

21 January

Today’s news in brief – 21/01/25

A fifth of hospitality staff workers will enter the new employer NICs threshold for the first time, according to new analysis from UKH. The trade body warns that the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions will hit hospitality hardest due to the high number of employees working part-time or flexible…

20 January

Today’s news in brief – 20/01/25

The latest Scottish budget will leave more than 2,500 businesses ineligible for support, UKH claims. The new measures outlined in the budget will provide 40% business rates relief for venues with a rateable venue up to £51k. The trade body fears that these measures entrench Scottish hospitality’s lack of competitiveness…

17 January

Today’s news in brief – 17/01/25

Deliveroo has achieved the upper end of its earning guidance of between £110m-130m range. It comes as Deliveroo has seen a 7% rise in GTV year-on-year to £1.97bn and reported that revenues rose by 6% to £545m in Q4. In Q4, the group’s orders also increased 3% YoY and its…

16 January

Today’s news in brief – 16/01/25

Individual Restaurants has reported “record” Xmas sales growth of 14% across its portfolio of brands Piccolino, Riva Blu, and Restaurant Bar and Grill. Like-for-like sales for the group increased by 8% in December, whilst covers increased by 4% year-on-year. The year has been fuelled by strategic investments across its portfolio…

15 January

Today’s news in brief – 15/01/25

Some 27,951 venues closed their doors between March 2020 and September 2024 at a rate of 119 per week, according to data from CGA. However, 12,767 have opened during that time, either in vacated premises or in converted or new-build sites. The net result is that the estate of licensed…