Business Rates
We provide essential coverage of business rates policy and reform, and how it impacts operators across the UK foodservice and hospitality sector. From government relief schemes and revaluation updates to lobbying efforts led by UKHospitality and industry coalitions, this captures the key developments influencing site viability and cost pressures. Whether you run a single high-street restaurant or oversee a multi-site pub or catering group, we explain how changes to the business rates system affect your bottom line, and what you need to know to plan ahead.
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May- 2018 -16 MayTrade Associations
Cost pressures could risk sector jobs, UKHospitality warns
The UK’s largest hospitality industry trade association, UKHospitality, has warned the government that taxation and regulatory pressures risk undoing the job creation carried out by the hospitality sector since 2008. The warning follows the publication of data by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that shows there are 31,000 fewer…
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9 MayBusiness
Restaurants left to starve as door-to-door service bites
The UK restaurant industry is under grave threat from the growing trend of customers wanting food delivered to their door according to new research. A study by consultants Duff & Phelps found demand for food delivered to customers’ homes has grown 10 times faster than takeaway. Examples include food delivery…
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9 MayPubs and Bars
JD Wetherspoon Q3 sales grow 3.5%
JD Wetherspoon has reported a 3.5% sales increase in the 13 weeks up to 29 April 2018. The pub group’s like-for-like sales increased by 3.5% and total sales increased by 2.8%. Year-to-date like-for-like sales have increased by 5.2% and total sales have increased by 3.8%. The third quarter last year…
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3 MayBusiness
Pizza Express turnover up by 6.3%
Pizza Express has announced a turnover of £534.2m for the year, a 6.3% increase on last year’s results. Like-for-like sales for the group, which exclude new store openings and store closures, also increased, by of 1.4%. The pizza chain opened 27 new restaurants of their own overseas last year, with…
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Apr- 2018 -16 AprilBusiness
High street collapse down to higher business rates, says Colliers
Fifteen major retailers or restaurant groups have gone into CVA or administration in the twelve months since the April 2017 Business Rates Revaluation, according to Colliers International, the global commercial real estate agency and consultancy. Ten of those have happened since the beginning of this year – in the last…
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Mar- 2018 -23 MarchRestaurants
Carluccio’s seeks private equity buyer following profit drop
Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is looking for a private equity buyer after appointing advisers KPMG to assess its options. The Financial Times reported that KPMG had approached Wagamama owner Duke Street and Pret a Manger owner Bridgepoint over a possible buyout. It has also sought turnaround specialists and private equity…
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22 MarchTrade Associations
UKHospitality warns of unemployment increase
UKHospitality, new hospitality trade body merger between the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) and the British Hospitality Association (BHA), has warned the government that it must act to lower costs for businesses or risk further joblessness and loss of vital hospitality businesses. The warning follows data from the Office…
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19 MarchBeverages
Pubs face triple tax, states CAMRA
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling for a new deal for pubs in response to fresh data which reveals 18 pubs are being lost each week. The consumer group says that urgent action is needed to cut the tax burden placed on pubs. Pubs are being hit hard…
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16 MarchFood and Drink
Scottish food and drink exports reach £6bn
Overseas Scottish food and drink exports were worth approximately £6 billion in 2017 – almost £570 million more than 2016. Food exports were valued at about £1.6 billion – a rise of 15% (£214 million) during the same period. Exports of food to Europe were worth £1.1 billion after an…
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