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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Jan- 2022 -20 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Modest growth seen in new site openings during Q4
Britain’s hospitality sector witnessed “modest” growth in the last quarter of 2021, with a 1.6% increase in site numbers between September and December 2021, marking the first quarter-on-quarter growth for more than five years. According to the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners, there was a particularly encouraging…
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14 JanuaryGovernment
First minister to reveal plans to ease level 2 restrictions in Wales
A plan to return Wales to alert level 0 measures will today (14 January) be set out by first minister Mark Drakeford. The move comes as the latest public health data suggests cases of coronavirus have started to fall back from high levels. More than two-thirds of people aged 12…
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14 JanuaryBusiness
UK economy surpassed pre-Covid levels in November
Gross domestic product (GDP) has surpassed its pre-pandemic level for the first time as it grew by 0.9% in November 2021, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. In the latest release, output in consumer-facing services grew by 0.8%, mainly because of a 1.4% increase in retail…
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11 JanuaryTrade Associations
UKH calls for Platinum Jubilee extended licensing hours
UKHospitality has backed plans to extend licensing hours in England and Wales to 1am for this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations for HM The Queen. The trade association has said that the extension could give businesses “vital extra trading time” during the four-day weekend. Recent national celebrations that have seen longer…
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Dec- 2021 -23 DecemberCoronavirus
More than 400 pubs vanish in England and Wales in 2021
More than 400 pubs have disappeared from communities in England and Wales as the number calling last orders flatlined despite the toll of the pandemic, according to real estate adviser Altus Group. It revealed the number of pubs across England and Wales in 2021 was “largely unchanged” from last year.…
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21 DecemberBusiness
Greggs tops food to go brand report
Gregg’s has taken the lead as the “dominating brand” in the food to go sector (FTG) with a 10.7% share of occasions, according to the Lumina Intelligence UK Food To Go Market Report 2021. The report reveals Greggs has overtaken McDonald’s with a 1.3% increase in share of occasions in…
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Nov- 2021 -5 NovemberRestaurants
Top restaurant brands see turnover decline 20% in 2020, report finds
The top 25 restaurant groups in the UK have reported a reduced combined turnover of -20.1% year-on-year in the 2020 financial year at £2.1bn, the latest data from the Lumina Intelligence Operator Data Index revealed. The report found that the average operating profit across the leading 25 restaurant groups has…
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Sep- 2021 -3 SeptemberRestaurants
Hospitality owners report staff shortages as vacancies rise
Hospitality owners are reportedly facing staff shortages after a lack of response to job advertisements, according to the BBC. In the UK there were 102,000 vacancies in the sector from April to June 2021 – a rise of 12.1% compared to the same period in 2019. According to the BBC,…
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Aug- 2021 -6 AugustGovernment
Wales set to move into alert level zero
Wales is set to move into alert level zero from midnight 7 August, relaxing all restrictions on meeting with others and allowing all businesses to open. As part of the move, face coverings will continue to be required in most indoor public places in Wales, including on public transport, in…
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3 AugustCoronavirus
WPBA ‘urges’ Gov to stick to reopening plans
The Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) has urged the government to stick to plans to remove restrictions to enable the sector to “return to viability”. According to the group, over 150 pubs in Wales could reopen on 7 August, if the Welsh government presses ahead with the planned removal…
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