News
The News section on Catering Today delivers the latest updates and developments across the UK hospitality and catering industry. Covering restaurants, pubs, quick service brands, and catering groups, it reports on company announcements, market performance, government policy, and sector-wide trends. With a focus on commercial and operational impact, Catering Today’s news coverage keeps hospitality professionals informed of the events and decisions shaping business conditions and strategic opportunities across the sector.
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Sep- 2023 -19 September
UKH calls on gov to take action on business rates amid pub closures
UKH has warned the government that a commitment to extend business rates relief is essential to avoid further pub closures. New government statistics show that 383 pubs were lost for good in the first six months of 2023. That’s the equivalent of two pubs per day. Wales was the region…
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18 September
Today’s news in brief
In Q2 2023, pub closures in England and Wales surged 50%, with 77 shutting down monthly, up from 51 in Q1. The total number of pubs, including vacant ones, fell to 39,404. During H1 2023, 383 pubs vanished, slightly less than 2022’s total. Wales lost the most at 52, while…
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18 September
Pub closures up 50% in Q2 2023
The number of pubs closing for good in England and Wales has risen 50% in the second quarter of 2023, according to the latest data from Altus Group. The figures from Altus state that around 77 pubs a month closed in the quarter compared with 51 a month lost during…
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18 September
Six Baltic appoints new head chef
The rooftop restaurant on the Quayside, Six Baltic, has announced the appointment of Chris Hall as its new head chef. He takes over from Six’s former head chef Danielle Ritchie, who joined the team in 2011, and will work under food director Greg Lambert at the fine dining restaurant to…
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18 September
Drinks sales leap 16% amid September heatwave, CGA finds
Britain’s early-September heatwave helped Britain’s on premise to double-digit drinks sales growth last week, according to the CGA. CGA by NIQ’s daily drinks tracker shows average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday (9 September) were 16% ahead of the same period in 2022, as consumers flocked to…
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18 September
National Pubwatch extends free educational film series to help pubs
National Pubwatch (NPW), the voluntary organisation which works to promote safe, secure and social drinking environments, has launched its latest range of free information films to help licensees and pubwatches. The educational videos offer free advice and help on a range of challenging issues such as whether Pubwatch membership should…
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15 September
Former Starbucks CEO steps down from board
Starbucks has announced that Howard Schultz, the company’s modern-day founder and chairman emeritus, has stepped down from the board of directors as part of a planned transition. Schultz, who previously stepped down as CEO in March of this year, said: “As I reflect on my 41 years with the company,…
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15 September
UKH Scotland urges govt to cap visitor levy bill
UKH Scotland has urged politicians to agree to a cap on the number of nights a levy can be charged to mitigate the impact a levy would have on Scotland’s appeal as a visitor destination. This is in response to the local government’s housing and planning committee’s consultation on the…
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15 September
Chick-fil-A plots UK return
US fast food brand Chick-fil-A has announced that it is set to relaunch in the UK in early 2025. The move comes a few years after the company closed its UK locations following protests from LGBTQ+ groups. Chick-fil-A currently has more than 2,800 restaurants across the United States, Puerto Rico…
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15 September
UK pubs and bars backs Maui recovery by offering free kegs to venues
Breweries, drinks producers, pubs and bars across the capital are backing an initiative running from 18-22 September to get funds to Maui after the devastating wildfires last month. The news comes after the owner of Maui Brewing put out a call on social media for aid. The UK hospitality industry…
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