Cost of Living
Coverage explores the impact of economic pressures on consumer spending, staff retention, and operational costs across the UK hospitality sector. We report on inflation, wage demands, energy prices, and discretionary income trends, analysing how restaurants, pubs, caterers, and other operators are adapting pricing, staffing, and promotional strategies in response to shifting demand and household budgets.
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Aug- 2022 -2 AugustFeatures
Q&A: Follow Leisure: The District takeover
Can you tell me a bit about the history of Follow Leisure? We are a multi-venue hospitality operator with a portfolio of 10 brands comprising some of Northern Ireland’s most loved casual eateries. Many of our customer base dine with us seven days a week across multiple brands. Behind the…
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Jul- 2022 -28 JulyBreweries and Distilleries
Food and drink industry administrations surge 60% in H1
The number of administrations filed for businesses in the food and drink industry surged 60% year-on-year between 1 January and 30 June 2022 (H1 FY21), according to analysis by Shakespeare Martineau. Overall, the food and drink industry accounted for 6% of administrations in the first six months of the year.…
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18 JulyPubs and Bars
New PM must support beer and pubs, BBPA urges
A letter urging the new leader of government to support pubs during the cost of living crisis has been penned by The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) . The letter urges any new leader to “rebalance the UK’s alcohol duty system to support UK pubs and brewers, reduce the…
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Jun- 2022 -13 JuneRestaurants
Losses at top 100 UK restaurant groups surge 24% to £832m
Losses at the Top 100 UK restaurant groups grew 24% from £673m to £832m in just the past six months, according to a new study by UHY Hacker Young, the national accountancy group. It said the scale of the losses has been driven by the effects of major restructuring programmes…
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9 JuneBusiness
Hospitality staff least likely to receive cost of living pay boost
Hospitality workers are among the least likely to receive a pay rise from their employers in order to help them through the cost of living crisis, according to a new survey. The study, from personal finance experts Forbes Advisors, surveyed over 5,100 UK adults and found that lowest of all…
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6 JunePubs and Bars
Pubs and bars see 74.2% surge in Jubilee spending
The hospitality sector has witnessed a “spending boom” during the Platinum Jubilee long weekend (2-5 June) as Brits celebrated, with UK pubs, bars and nightclubs seeing a 74.2% rise in spending compared to the same period last year (3-6 June 2021). According to Barclaycard Payments, which processes nearly £1 in…
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May- 2022 -26 MayRestaurants
Fridays owner set to double estate despite profit warning
Hostmore is set to expand its portfolio with the addition of three new sites in FY22, as it outlined its ambition to almost double its site locations from the current 89 over the medium term, subject to an improved trading environment. The owner of Fridays and 63rd+1st said this growth…
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Apr- 2022 -26 AprilApps & Technology
Delivery and takeaway sales slip as consumers return to eating out
Britain’s managed restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales fell 24% year-on-year after consumers resumed eating out, according to the CGA and Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker. Groups’ combined delivery and takeaway sales in March 2022 were 119% higher than in March 2019. Three-year sales growth for deliveries stands…
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1 AprilGovernment
VAT rise to result in double-digit price increases, UKH warns
VAT in hospitality will rise from 12.5% to 20% on 1 April 2022, which UKH said “will result in double-digit price increases for consumers as operators struggle to survive” as the sector is forecasting cost inflation running at 18%. Recent business surveys show the industry is facing a 95% hike…
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Mar- 2022 -30 MarchFeatures
Sunak’s Spring Statement: What it means
“Businesses are going to be incredibly challenged to sustain themselves, having just begun some recovery after Covid,” reveals Lionel Benjamin, co-founder of AGO Hotels. The hospitality industry was already “decimated” by the Covid-19 pandemic and now, following Sunak’s announcement, the sector is being further burdened with VAT rates going back…
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