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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Jan- 2021 -11 January
Leading hospitality figures sign Hospitality Minister petition
A group of leading hospitality figures, led by TV chef Angela Hartnett, has come together to “champion millions of hospitality workers” and call for greater industry representation in Parliament. Prominent industry figures, including Tom Kerridge and Jason Atherton, are also among more than 200,000 people who have now signed the…
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11 January
Sodexo sees 27% total group revenue decline
Sodexo has reported that for the first quarter fiscal 2021, total group revenue declined 27% to €4.4bn (£3.2bn) from €6.07bn (£4.5bn) for the same period last year, attributed to the impact of Covid-19. Founded by Pierre Bellon in 1966, the company operates in 64 countries and serves 100 million consumers…
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11 January
Pandemic costs D&D London £2.5m a month, owner warns
Des Gunewardena, the owner of restaurant group D&D London, has written to the government calling for greater support ahead of today’s (11 January) parliamentary debate on the hospitality industry. In a letter addressed to chancellor Rishi Sunak, Gunewardena revealed that Covid-19 is costing D&D London £2.5m per month of closure.…
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11 January
37 pubs closed every month in 2020
Around 37 English and Welsh pubs closed every month in 2020, according to analysis of official government data by real estate adviser Altus Group. The research showed that the overall number of pubs in England and Wales, liable for business rates, including those left vacant and being offered to let,…
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8 January
Grant Thornton faces £200m lawsuit over Patisserie Valerie audits
Mid-tier accountancy firm Grant Thornton is reportedly set to face a £200m lawsuit from the liquidators of former bakery chain Patisserie Valerie. According to the Financial Times, the liquidators are moving forward with a legal challenge after claiming alleged negligence over Grant Thornton’s audits of the firm between 2014-2017. Patisserie…
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8 January
Lockdown forces further borrowing for Arc Inspirations
Arc Inspirations, a bar group in the north of England, has been forced to borrow an additional £1m as the UK enters another lockdown, according to the BBC. Martin Wolstencroft, CEO at the chain that operates over 17 venues across the country, had already taken out £4m in loans to…
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8 January
Oakman CEO to return £250k grant if venues used for vaccinations
The chief executive of pub and restaurant group, Oakman Inns, Dermot King, is offering to forego the chancellor’s latest lockdown grant of up to £250,000 if he allows National Health Trusts to use Oakman Inns’ venues as vaccination centres. King who was appointed CEO of the company last August said…
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8 January
CAMRA calls on government to reconsider alcohol takeaways
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called on the government to give struggling pubs financial support by allowing them to be able to sell alcohol for people to take away. The current lockdown rules have prohibited the use of takeaway alcohol from venues which has meant that whilst shops can…
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8 January
Marston’s Q1 trading ‘materially disrupted’ amid festive sales slump
Marston’s has announced that its trading in the first quarter of this year was “materially disrupted” due to continuous Covid-19 restrictions. In its latest update, the pub chain revealed total revenues came in at £54m over the three-month period, compared with sales in 2019 of £1.17bn. With pubs remaining closed…
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8 January
Star Pubs & Bars invests £4m in lockdown rent concessions
Star Pubs and Bars will continue to offer all its leased and tenanted pubs a 90% rent reduction during the weeks in which hospitality businesses are required to close in England, Scotland and Wales. Its pubs will receive the concession regardless of whether or not they choose to operate a…
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