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 -14 AprilCoronavirus
Petition for Tronc payments to be included in furlough wages hits 6,000 signatures
A petition launched on change.org calling for the government furlough scheme to include tronc payments for hospitality staff has hit over 6,000 signatures. Currently, under the Job Retention Scheme, tronc payments such as tips and gratuities are not not included in the amount paid to furloughed workers. The petition, created…
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14 AprilCoronavirus
Bella Italia to provide 1,000 free meals to NHS staff
Bella Italia has announced its commitment to provide 1,000 free meals to NHS staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic this month. The dining chain has now reopened its South Kensington branch in order to begin preparing pasta and pizza dishes from its spring menu to be delivered to…
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14 AprilCoronavirus
Feed the NHS campaign reaches £1m target
The ‘Feed the NHS’ crowdfunding campaign has reached its £1m amid the coronavirus pandemic. The campaign, which was launched by actors Damain Lewis, Helen McCrory and Matt Lucas last month, was created to help feed NHS workers one “hot healthy meal” each day during the Covid-19 crisis. At the time…
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9 AprilCoronavirus
Greggs taps £150m from government
Greggs will receive £150m in funds from the Bank of England amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the bakery chain has confirmed. The group confirmed that it is now eligible to issue paper under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme. Through the scheme, available credit will “meet the company’s liquidity…
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9 AprilCoronavirus
UKHospitality welcomes licensing flexibility during Covid-19 lockdown
UKHospitality has welcomed the Government’s recommendation of “additional flexibility” for licensees affected by Covid19. The Home Office has written to local authorities recommending “flexibility when safeguarding the licensing objectives”. The letter recommends a “considered and pragmatic approach should be taken to breaches of licence conditions and procedural defects caused by…
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9 April
Leon launches Feed Britain initiative
Leon has announced the launch of Feed Britain, a new online delivery service that provides customers with fresh grocery essentials and ready meals amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Whilst Feed Britain is designed in the long run to be a commercial enterprise that makes it possible for suppliers to sustainably…
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9 AprilCoronavirus
AAB calls on government to enhance support for businesses
Accountancy firm Anderson Anderson and Brown (AAB) has called on the UK Government to implement a series of “wide-reaching” measures aimed at helping businesses to survive the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Lyn Calder, managing partner and also the firm’s head of deals for the Central Belt in Scotland,…
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9 AprilPubs and Bars
CAMRA urges pub owners to cancel rents amid Covid-19 crisis
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is urging pub companies to cancel rents for their tenants, while coronavirus pandemic keeps pubs doors closed. Ei Group, Punch, Greene King, Star and Marstons are some of the companies being called out by the group as it wants rent payments to be cancelled…
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8 AprilComment
Covid-19: A pragmatic, proactive and positive response through PR
Few of us will ever forget March 2020 as the month that almost everything we thought we knew about the world and business changed substantially, and possibly forever. The Coronavirus ‘crisis’ grew so rapidly that the background news agenda changed from Brexit to Covid-19, almost overnight. All of the Suzanne…
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8 AprilCoronavirus
Coronavirus cleaning taskforce launched by phs group
Hygiene services firm PHS Group has announced the launch of a new cleaning service for organisations affected by coronavirus. The emergency-response service will ensure that premises in contact with the virus can be deep cleaned and sanitised by theInterclean taskforce, a specialist cleaning division of PHS Group. Where there have…
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