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 -2 July
1 Lombard Street appoints Mark Hix as director of food and drink
Restaurant 1 Lombard Street has announced the appointment of Mark Hix as director of food and drink, ahead of its relaunch on 20 July. Hix will work alongside executive chef Robin Freeman to develop the current menu and introduce food and drink producers from the British Isles. The restaurant said…
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1 July
Upper Crust owner SSP set to cut 5,000 jobs amid dwindling demand
Some 5,000 jobs at Upper Crust owner SSP could be axed as the company faces dwindling demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. SSP said the impact on passenger travel arising from Covid-19 resulted in the closure of almost all of its units in the UK. It added that its intention…
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1 July
Investment into hospitality sector tumbles as coronavirus hits
Business investment in hotels and restaurants has fallen by more than 6% in a year as coronavirus “ravages” the sector, analysis by specialist tax relief consultancy Catax shows. Total business investment in the sector fell by 6% to £1.26bn in the first quarter of 2020, down from £1.34bn for the…
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1 July
Leon outlines ‘industry-first’ sustainability commitment
Leon has announced it is the first business in the restaurant industry to sign up to all 14 commitments put forward by the Council for Sustainable Business (CSB), which calls on businesses to do more in their efforts to be sustainable. The movie will see Leon join a virtual meeting…
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1 July
Castle Terrace to close due to Covid-19’s ‘devastating effect’
Edinburgh-based restaurant, Castle Terrace, has announced it will not reopen post-lockdown, attributing the Covid-19 pandemic as having a “devastating effect on the hospitality industry”. The restaurant, which opened 10 years ago by chefs Domonic Jack and Tom Kitchin, revealed the news via an Instagram post. Jack said: “Sadly today [30…
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Jun- 2020 -30 June
Government confirms changes to ‘flexible’ furlough scheme
The UK government has confirmed the latest set of changes to its “flexible” furlough scheme – dubbed CJRS V2 – ahead of its launch of the 1 July. HM Revenue and Customs has set out the new guidance as the current version of the Coronavirus Job retention Scheme (CJRS) ends…
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30 June
Britain’s foodservice spend was down 80% in April 2020
Global information company The NPD Group has revealed weekly spend in British foodservice in April 2020 was just over £200m, compared to April 2019’s weekly spend level of around £1bn – a fall of 80%. In addition, the decline in British out-of-home (OOH) foodservice visits in April 2020 was almost…
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30 June
Byron set to appoint administrators
Byron has reportedly filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators after it “teetered on the brink of financial collapse” following Covid-19. According to Sky News, the burger chain is now looking to secure a takeover of the group, and is holding “detailed” talks with three unnamed potential buyers in…
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30 June
Caffè Nero to reopen 400 stores to eat in from 4 July
Caffè Nero has announced it will reopen 400 stores for eat-in from the 4 July. The stores will open with protocols in place to ensure its employees and customers remain safe and in accordance with government advice and social distancing guidance. The stores will offer Caffè Nero’s coffee and other…
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30 June
Revised ONS data reveals greater GDP drop in Q1 2020
The UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) in volume terms fell by 2.2% in Q1 2020, which has been revised downwards by 0.2 percentage points from the Office for National Statisitic’s (ONS) first quarterly estimate. The ONS said it is the largest fall in UK GDP since Q3 1979, when it…
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