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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Mar- 2020 -26 MarchRestaurants
Pizza Hut delivery remains open despite restaurant closures amid coronavirus crisis
Pizza Hut has announced the temporary closure of all its UK dine-in restaurants amid the Covid-19 virus outbreak. In an email to customers, Pizza Hut’s general manager Neil Manhas reassured customers Pizza Hut’s ‘delivery huts’ are still open despite closures in dine-in restaurants and stopping collection and takeaway options. Manhas…
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26 MarchBusiness Bites
Wetherspoons’ boss was right to withhold wages
The media and the Twitterati have had a field day vilifying the founder and owner of pub chain Wetherspoons over his decision not to pay his staff in light of the coronavirus restrictions. Tim Martin had sent an email to his 43,000 staff saying he could not afford to pay…
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26 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Banks under fire over emergency loan scheme
Banks have come under fire over government-backed emergency loans which require business owners to sign for a personal guarantee, as the UK battles with the Covid-19 pandemic. The British Business Bank (BBB) opened applications for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) on Monday (23 March), and claimed the loan…
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26 MarchPubs and Bars
JD Wetherspoon boss bows to pressure and agrees to pay staff
The boss of JD Wetherspoon has bowed to public pressure, including calls from over a 100 MPs, and has agreed to pay his staff before his company receives financial support from the government’s wage reimbursement scheme. Yesterday (25 March) the government urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his…
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26 MarchCoronavirus
Giggling Squid halts takeaway service
Giggling Squid has announced the temporary closure of its takeaway and Deliveroo services in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The Thai food chain had originally continued operating a takeaway service from all of its sites across the UK, but has made the decision to close all its sites entirely…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Government urges JD Wetherspoon to support employees
The government has urged JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to support his employees after reports he claimed they would face delays in payment and “should consider getting a job at Tesco instead”. Martin said the company would not cover wages from this week and employees would have to wait to…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Off-licenses considered ‘essential’ businesses by government
The government has added off-licenses to its list of retail businesses that can remain open following a ban to close all non-essential retailers to combat the Covid-19 outbreak. This also includes licenced shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries. It comes after the prime minister instructed retailers and all restaurants,…
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25 MarchFood and Drink
Greggs closes all 2,050 stores
Greggs has temporarily closed all 2050 of its stores as it does its part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. All of its stores closed at the end of business yesterday (24 March) as it revealed it has “acted quickly to follow Government guidelines, helping to prevent the…
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25 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Government suspends gender pay gap reporting
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for this reporting year (2019/20) due to the coronavirus outbreak. The GEO and EHRC said the decision means there will be no expectation on…
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25 MarchPubs and Bars
The Alchemist announces temporary closures of all UK sites
Cocktail bar and restaurant The Alchemist has announced that all its sites are closed amid the recent outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. The company, which has 20 sites across the country, released a statement that confirmed the closure. The statement read: “Our venues are closed, which means we’ve put things…
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