Coronavirus
We reported extensively on the impact of coronavirus across the UK foodservice and hospitality sector, from the initial lockdowns and emergency legislation to the reopening phases, staffing challenges, and long-term recovery. This brings together our coverage of how restaurants, pubs, cafés, bars, and catering firms navigated one of the most disruptive periods in industry history. From furlough and financial support to operational pivots, supplier disruption, and shifting consumer behaviour, our reporting offers critical context for hospitality professionals reflecting on the crisis and preparing for what comes next.
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Feb- 2025 -18 FebruaryFood and Drink
D2 acquires Almost Famous
D2, the team behind Liverpool’s PINS Social Club, has announced that it has acquired burger restaurant Almost Famous. The group has acquired both the Manchester Northern Quarter and Liverpool sites, due to reopen Friday 21 and Monday 24 February respectively, and the Almost Famous branding. The deal has been led…
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Jan- 2025 -28 JanuaryFood and Drink
Almost Famous burger chain confirms closure
Burger chain Almost Famous has announced that it is set to close after financial pressures became “stacked against” it. The company said that the closure was due to lingering debts from the coronavirus pandemic, rising costs and fewer people being able to afford eating out. The brand started in Manchester’s…
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Oct- 2024 -24 OctoberBusiness
UKH appointed sole business voice to Covid-19 inquiry
UKHospitality has been appointed a core participant in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry in London today (23 October 2024), as the preliminary hearing into the economic response to the pandemic began. Chief executive Kate Nicholls and deputy chief executive Allen Simpson were in attendance as the sole private sector representatives at…
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Jan- 2023 -5 JanuaryCafes and Coffee Shops
Greggs sales surge 23% in FY22
Greggs has announced that its FY22 sales were £1.5bn, an increase of 23.0% compared with the equivalent period in 2021 (£1.2bn). During the 52-week period, like-for-like sales in company-managed shops were 17.8% higher than sales seen in 2021, with fourth quarter like-for-like sales in company-managed shops growing by 18.2%. It…
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Aug- 2022 -11 AugustPeople
Steven Kenee to leave Oakman Group
Oakman Group PLC has announced that Steven Kenee is to leave his role as chief investment officer at the firm. Kenee joined Oakman three years ago from Downing where he said he had “grown to admire the company” whilst managing Downing’s investment into the business. The group owns and operates…
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Jun- 2022 -9 JunePubs and Bars
Fullers returns to profit as revenues recover to £253.8m
Fuller, Smith and Turner (Fullers) has revealed it has returned to profitability after seeing revenues recover to £253.8m, up from £73.3m in 2021 despite the impact of coronavirus closures and restrictions. For the year to 26 March 2022, the pub group reported adjusted profit before tax returning to growth at…
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May- 2022 -18 MayPubs and Bars
Inflation hits 40-year high
UK inflation has hit its highest level in 40 years during the month of April, driven by the rising cost of energy bills. The figure, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), was up from 7% in March. The ONS said that around 75% of…
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Mar- 2022 -14 MarchRestaurants
Restaurant insolvencies rise to 354 in Q4
Restaurant insolvencies jumped by a fifth to 354 in the last quarter of 2021, rising from 296 in Q3, according to UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group. UHY Hacker Young said “despite the end of coronavirus restrictions, the sector faces considerable challenges”. The invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions…
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4 MarchRestaurants
UKH calls for permanent pavement licences
UKHospitality has said it believes making pavement licences permanent will “help the Covid-ravaged hospitality sector make a faster post-pandemic recovery”. It comes as outdoor drinking and dining areas have become popular over the past two years, which UKH said has “in some cases ensured the survival of those hospitality businesses…
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Feb- 2022 -15 FebruaryRestaurants
UK restaurant market to recover to 94% of 2019 value in 2022
The UK restaurant market is set to recover to 94% of its 2019 value in 2022, according to the new Lumina Intelligence UK Restaurant Market Report 2021/22. The report indicates that the UK restaurant market grew +25.9% or £2.3bn in 2021 to a total value of £11.2bn. Coronavirus restrictions in…
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