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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May- 2020 -5 MayCoronavirus
Costa reopens 29 stores for delivery and drive thru’s amid Covid-19 pandemic
Costa Coffee has reopened 12 stores for delivery alongside 17 drive-thru lanes amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The news came as Costa made the decision to open two drive-thru lanes and two stores for delivery only in line with the latest government advice. Costa said whilst the drive-thrus are open to…
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5 MayCoronavirus
MPs support #RaiseTheBar campaign
A new campaign entitled #RaiseTheBar is calling for the government to increase access to funding for struggling hospitality businesses during the ongoing pandemic. According to new research from the campaign, 54,638 businesses, including pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars are currently unable to access the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant…
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4 MayCoronavirus
Government launches new Bounce Back loans
Thousands of small firms and sole traders will be eligible for 100% government-backed Bounce Back Loans to help them make it through the coronavirus outbreak. From today (4 May), small business owners can apply to accredited lenders by filling out a simple online form, with only seven questions. The government…
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4 MayCoronavirus
Azzurri Group drafts in advisors
Azzurri Group has reportedly drafted in KPMG as advisors to help the hospitality giant navigate the ongoing coronavirus crisis. According to The Sunday Times, the owner of Zizzi and Ask Italian has become the latest casual dining chain to draft in restructuring experts, following news that both Wahaca, Gourmet Burger…
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1 MayCoronavirus
Hospitality takes on insurers over business interruption claims
Leading hospitality businesses have launched a campaign to force the insurance sector to honour business interruption policies. Headed by Rob Atkinson, a hospitality lawyer from Black and White Hospitality, which operates the Marco Pierre White group of franchised restaurants and manages a portfolio of hotels across the UK, a crowdfunding…
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1 MayCoronavirus
Chestnut to donate further 10,000 free meals to NHS key workers
Pub group Chestnut has revealed plans to donate a further 10,000 free meals for NHS key workers, bringing the total number of meals it aims to deliver over the coming months to 20,000. It comes after the group raised almost £25,000 since launching the initiative 12 days ago. So far,…
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1 MayCoronavirus
Greggs postpones reopening of stores
Greggs has reportedly backtracked on plans to reopen 20 of its sites next week, amid fears that it could encourage crowds to gather during the nationwide lockdown. The bakery chain had initially planned to 20 stores for delivery in the Newcastle area as part of a controlled trial. The trial,…
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1 MayBusiness Bites
Are we beginning to re-open anyway?
The PM says he will soon announce the reopening plan after weeks of compulsory lockdown for the UKs public and its businesses. Boris Johnson is under pressure to come up with the blueprint for restarting the economy as the list of suffering firms grows larger and more and more redundancies…
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1 MayComment
The coronavirus diaries: Piers Baker
Monday 16 March, 2020 Lunch is a normal affair, 50 lovely guests in, looked after by our brilliant team. Extra vigilance being exercised to ensure the government’s advice is being followed. A smattering of the afternoon drinkers in, numbers had been down for a week or so, understandably. At around…
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Apr- 2020 -30 AprilBusiness Bites
Coronavirus treatment hopes push stock markets up, and ‘Spoons to reopen in June
Investors are chirpy this morning amid hopes of a new coronavirus treatment that has been described as promising by the USA’s top infectious disease official, Dr Anthony Fauci. The experimental drug, called remdesivir, is produced by an American biopharmaceutical firm called Gilead Sciences, and is reckoned by US regulators to…
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