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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Sep- 2020 -1 SeptemberComment
The coronavirus diaries: Andrei Lussmann
I decided to open the estate gradually to enable us, as a team, to understand the market now; how people were feeling about dining out and how operationally we have been able to adapt to new measures. We opened St Albans and Harpenden on 4 July and have since followed with…
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Aug- 2020 -21 AugustCoronavirus
Accommodation and food service sectors see 53% drop in insolvencies
The accommodation and food services sectors have seen a 53% drop in insolvencies from May to July 2020, compared to the same period in 2020. According to RSM, some 597 insolvencies were recorded by the Insolvency Services for May to July 2019 and 279 for the same period this year.…
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18 AugustUncategorized
CBILS – Why it’s important to the hospitality sector and how it could help you
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, delivered through 60+ British Business Bank accredited lenders, is designed to support the continued provision of finance to UK smaller businesses (SMEs) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The scheme enables lenders to provide facilities of up to £5m to smaller businesses across the UK who…
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17 AugustComment
The coronavirus diaries: Liam Dillon pt. 2
Before lockdown, The Boat Inn was well and truly on its way to turning the corner on what has been quite a tough 3 years of trading. We’d gone from gammon egg & chips to tasting menus and handbag stools. Like many other business operators in this sector, I found…
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13 AugustBreweries and Distilleries
SIBA backs reverse tax rise petition
A petition launched earlier this week, which calls on the government to reverse the proposed tax rise for small independent breweries, has received over 7,000 signatures in its first 24 hours. The petition was launched by Jack Hobday, one of the founders of Anspach and Hobday Brewery in Bermondsey, which…
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12 AugustCoronavirus
Manchester pubs flouting guidance, undercover report finds
Pubs and bars in a Manchester borough are ignoring Covid-19 guidance and potentially endangering customers, an undercover Sky News investigation has found. A team of undercover reporters posed as walk-in customers at a range of pubs and bars in a Greater Manchester suburb, and discovered the majority of sites were…
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12 AugustCoronavirus
UK in recession following 20% GDP slump
The UK economy has entered into a “technical recession” following a “record” fall in gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter of the year. According to the Office for National Statistics, GDP slumped by 20.4% between April and June 2020, compared with the 2.2% drop seen during Q1 2020…
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7 AugustComment
The right menu for reducing bacterial transmission
Studies have shown that some of the ‘germiest’ things on a menu may literally be the menu itself! Indeed, a study* by Charles Gerba from the University of Arizona revealed that menus carried the most amount of germs, with an average count of 185,000 bacteria. He claimed that there are…
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6 AugustBreweries and Distilleries
CAMRA urges PM to cut the price of a pint to boost pub jobs
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on the PM to cut tax on pints served in pubs to boost jobs and spending, following a recent survey which has found that 42% of people are visiting the pub less often than they did before lockdown. The survey of nearly…
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5 AugustBusiness
CMA clears Amazon’s Deliveroo investment
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved Amazon’s 16% investment in Deliveroo, after finding that it will not “substantially lessen competition”. Under the deal, Amazon will acquire 16% of Deliveroo as the lead investor in a $575m (£438m) funding, which was first announced last year. At that point the…
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