Boris Johnson
Coverage examines the political decisions, public health measures, and economic policies introduced during and after this leadership period, with a focus on their impact across the UK hospitality and foodservice sector. Reporting includes lockdown rules, business support schemes, reopening strategies, and commentary on legacy effects, offering context and analysis for operators navigating policy-driven shifts in trade and operations.
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Apr- 2021 -9 AprilFeatures
An al fresco reopening is a tail of two fortunes
The time is nearing for Boris Johnson’s roadmap to recovery to finally facilitate the reopening of the hospitality industry, with outdoor venues once again allowed to return to trading on 12 April. The easing of restrictions is without doubt greatly anticipated by all involved, but does the four-staged strategy perpetuate…
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6 AprilGovernment
Matt Hancock called to High Court to explain pub closure reasoning
Health secretary Matt Hancock has been called to give evidence at the High Court following a legal case brought forward by Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, Sacha Lord. The summons follow former Pizza Express boss Hugh Osmond and club operator Lord’s decision to launch a legal challenge which suggests the government…
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6 AprilCoronavirus
Outdoor hospitality reopening confirmed by PM
Outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail have been given the green light to reopen on 12 April, as the prime minister announced that the government intends to keep to the next stage of the lockdown roadmap. Outdoor hospitality and “significant” parts of the indoor economy will now reopen after data confirmed…
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Mar- 2021 -15 MarchCoronavirus
Hugh Osmond joins legal battle to reopen indoor hospitality
Hugh Osmond, the current director of Various Eateries, has joined Sacha Lord’s legal challenge against the government to reopen indoor hospitality at the same time as non-essential retail next month. Osmond, founder of Punch Taverns and former Pizza Express director, wrote to Boris Johnson about the prime minister’s “irrational decision”…
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9 MarchFeatures
Government signals sunny days ahead for the hospitality industry
Over the past two weeks the government has shone a ray of light upon what was building towards a foreboding number of months ahead for the hospitality sector. However, do Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” to recovery and Rishi Sunak’s budget announcement entail a season of Spring sunshine or April showers ahead…
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3 MarchFeatures
An insight into the pub sector’s investor interest
Following a spate of high profile investment rounds and acquisition rumours within the UK’s pub sector, a number of questions have been raised. Why has investor interest recently spiked within the industry? Why are a number of high profile deals falling through? And more simply, what do these kinds of…
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3 MarchComment
Is enough being done to upskill the UK’s hospitality sector?
On 22 February Boris Johnson announced the government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England. The plan, which he described as a “one-way road to freedom”, came almost exactly 11 months after the UK became submerged in a national lockdown that disrupted life as we know it. For business…
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1 MarchCoronavirus
Chancellor to unveil £5bn support package
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to offer over 700,000 retail, hospitality and other businesses grants of up to £18,000 as part of a £5bn rescue package to be included in his Budget speech on Wednesday (3 March). The new ‘Restart Grants’ will be directly distributed from local authorities from April…
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Feb- 2021 -24 FebruaryCoronavirus
Chancellor expected to extend furlough until May
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a further extension to the government’s furlough scheme until May in his Budget speech next week. According to The Times, the move is expected after Boris Johnson promised not to “pull the rug out” from businesses when restrictions eventually begin to ease under…
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22 FebruaryCoronavirus
PM outlines ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown
Prime minister Boris Johnson has set out his four-step “roadmap” to guide the nation out of lockdown “cautiously but irreversibly”, calling the plan a “one-way road to freedom”. Step one will begin from 8 March, when all schools will be allowed to open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed.…
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