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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Apr- 2020 -30 AprilRestaurants
KFC announces reopening of 80 UK sites amid Covid-19 crisis
KFC has announced it is to reopen 80 more of its stores this week amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The news comes as, earlier this month the fast food chain reopened 11 of its sites for takeaway orders, following the decision to temporarily close its doors last month “protect the wellbeing…
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29 AprilCoronavirus
Sodexo signs up to C-19 Business Pledge
Sodexo has signed the C-19 Business Pledge created by former Cabinet minister, Rt Hon Justine Greening and entrepreneur David Harrison. The national scheme encourages employers to join the coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities during this crisis. Signatory organisations give their backing to the three…
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29 AprilRegulations & Policies
New insurance group established for hospitality sector
An action group has been established to hold insurance companies accountable for payouts arising from the nationwide lockdown and coronavirus-related losses. The new Hospitality Insurance Group Action (HIGA) will now represent hospitality businesses across the pub, restaurant, hotel and bar sector that have been forced to shut. The group will…
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29 AprilCoronavirus
McDonald’s trials reopening of sites
McDonald’s has announced it is “working through a potential and limited reopening” following a nationwide closure during the pandemic. The group had initially closed all sites on 23 March as the coronavirus crisis continued to escalate, but is now trialling how sites may reopen with social distancing measures in place. …
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29 AprilComment
The coronavirus crisis: The importance of adapting and reacting
Weathering the storm of the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge for businesses of all sizes and the situation is continuing to change by the day. The food, hospitality and leisure sectors have been hit hard by the need to close restaurants and there is widespread concern over how these businesses…
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28 AprilCoronavirus
Fifth of SMEs in the hospitality space denied a rent holiday, survey finds
The financial hardship created by the lockdown is “being compounded” by a lack of help from landlords, with almost a fifth (19%) of British SMEs in the hospitality space having a rent holiday declined, according to Law firm Buckworths. The figure comes from the firm’s survey of over 500 UK…
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28 AprilCoronavirus
Greggs to reopen 20 stores for delivery amid lockdown
Bakery chain Greggs has revealed plans to open 20 of its stores for delivery in the Newcastle area as part of a controlled trial, as the UK Covid-19 lockdown continues. According to the BBC, stores would operate at reduced hours and offer a limited product range. The trial is set…
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28 AprilBusiness Bites
Job support to be wound down, M&S dividend suspended, ventilator production slows, property market halts
Chancellor Rishi Sunack says he will wean the economy off his support schemes in a “gradual” wind-down, to help prevent soaring unemployment on ‘expiration day’. His announcement, made to MPs, came in response to concerns that a definite cut-off date would produce an explosion in redundancies and layoffs. Currently, the…
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27 AprilCoronavirus
Chancellor announces 100% guarantee on small business loans
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the launch of a new ‘bounce back’ emergency loan scheme for small businesses, which will offer 100% guarantees on emergency loans. Today (27 April) Sunak told the House of Commons that the scheme would begin next week, offering SMEs loans of up to £50,000. The…
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27 AprilPubs and Bars
‘Huge blows’ to pubs as government fails to defer Beer Duty payment, says BBPA
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has said the government’s failure to defer beer duty is a “huge blow” to pubs and brewers, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has rejected the call for a blanket deferral of beer duty payments relating to beer produced in March, despite the…
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