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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Jul- 2020 -22 July
Covent Garden owner offers rent relief for embattled tenants
The owner of Covent Garden, Capital and Counties (Capco), has offered to support its tenants through restructured lease agreements. Capco said that for certain tenants which are experiencing short-term cash flow issues, rental agreements will be linked to turnover for the second half of the year in exchange for other…
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22 July
Boxpark trials track and trace tool
Boxpark has unveiled its new digital Boxpark Black Card, a “customer-friendly” track and trace tool that collects customer data in a secure and contactless way. The dining, retail and leisure venue has appointed PassKit as its new technology partner to develop this new solution, which will be rolled out across…
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22 July
Winchester’s River Cottage Kitchen permanently closes
Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Kitchen in Winchester has announced its permanent closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement on its website, the restaurant said: “We all face unprecedented challenges from Covid-19 and with a heavy heart, we have made the very difficult and sad…
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21 July
Plans revealed for more non-smoking outdoor options at restaurants
People using pubs, restaurants and cafes will soon have greater freedom to choose non-smoking outdoor areas, following an amendment tabled today (21 July) to legislation in Parliament. The government said businesses can already make their own non-smoking policies for outside space without the need for regulations, and that the new…
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21 July
Hospitality trade bodies outline ‘road to recovery’
A new report from UKHospitality and CGA has revealed the scale of impact Covid has had on the hospitality sector, and outlines what the industry can do to recover both sales and consumer confidence. According to the trade bodies, “rigorous” safety measures, industry collaboration and government support can “speed the…
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21 July
Michelin-starred Wilks closes permanently
Bristol-based Michelin-starred Wilks restaurant has permanently closed. In a statement posted on the restaurant’s site, the restaurant said despite the announcement allowing restaurants to reopen, it decided “not to do so”. The statement read: “It has been an absolute joy running our restaurant since 2012. Wilks’s success is undoubtedly associated…
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20 July
Zizzi and Ask Italian to close 75 sites, 1,200 jobs at risk
Some 75 Zizzi and Ask Italian sites are set to close after the restaurant’s owner, Azzurri Group, was acquired by TowerBrook Capital Partners. The move has placed 1,200 jobs at risk and is the result of “unprecedented levels” of disruption in recent months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.…
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20 July
‘Wave’ of no-shows slams hospitality sector
A new emphasis on reservations has hit the sector following a “wave” of no-shows, according to the CGA’s latest Consumer Pulse survey. The survey found that only 28% of consumers visited venues with no reservations in the 10 days after the sector reopened on 4 July. Visits to venues have…
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20 July
SIBA NI voices concern on reform of liquor licensing laws
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has voiced its concerns of the proposals to reform liquor licensing laws in Northern Ireland. Last week, Northern Ireland’s communities minister, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, announced executive agreement on proposals that will “transform and modernise” the liquor licensing law. The proposals will now be…
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20 July
The coronavirus diaries: DASH
Due to open the last week of March, DASH, a vegetarian healthy fast-food restaurant, was ready to make its debut. We had our new shop windows with branded decals, our ordering counter, coffee machine and kitchen downstairs all set up — we were in the most incredible prime position just…
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