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.
-
Apr- 2025 -7 AprilPubs and Bars
Wells and Co revenues rise 5.6% to £65.8m in FY24
The operator of pubs and breweries, Wells and Co, has revealed that revenues rose by 5.6% to £65.8m in the year to 30 September 2024, despite tough trading conditions. As well as a revenue uplift, group EBITDA rose by 4.2% to £9.9m during the period. In the UK, EBITDA for…
Read More » -
Mar- 2025 -27 MarchFood and Drink
Cost of living pressures hold down takeaway sales in February
British restaurant groups continue to struggle for growth in delivery and takeaway sales in February, according to CGA by NIQ’s Hospitality at Home Tracker, which revealed that like-for-like sales were up by only 1.7% from the same period in the year before. The like-for-like sales growth, which was below the…
Read More » -
25 MarchTrade Associations
Hospitality Action reports record-breaking year of support in 2024
As Hospitality Action marks the fifth anniversary of its first COVID grant, the charity reports that it has seen a “lasting rise in demand for support”, making 2024 its “most challenging year yet”. According to its latest Impact Report, a surge in grant applications last year was driven by mounting…
Read More » -
Feb- 2025 -24 FebruaryFeatures
Is clubbing dead for Gen-Z?
Clubbing as we know it might be going the way of disco in the UK due to the majority of its participants – young people aged between 18 and 30 – going out less than they did a year ago, or so says a new study conducted by Obsurvant on…
Read More » -
18 FebruaryCafes and Coffee Shops
Costa Coffee invests in baristas with 5% pay boost
Costa Coffee has announced that it will increase pay rates by 5% from 1 April 2025 for over 15,000 team members in its 1,500 UK company-owned stores following an £8m investment. The investment raises the starting national pay rate for Costa’s baristas to £12.60 per hour, from £12 per hour.…
Read More » -
Jan- 2025 -23 JanuaryPubs and Bars
The Revel Collective sees strong Christmas sales but warns of £4m Budget impact
The Revel Collective has reported “robust” festive trading but has warned that the changes announced in the annual Budget will have a £4m impact on its annual profit. For the weeks from 7 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, the group saw its group like-for-like sales increase by 1.6%. Prebooked…
Read More » -
14 JanuaryFeatures
How will businesses deal with increased costs in 2025?
Since chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget those in the hospitality industry have been bracing for a year of increased costs. The question on everyone’s lips as we enter 2025 is what effect these changes will actually have on the industry and how the industry will go about combatting them. How…
Read More » -
13 JanuaryNews
Consumer confidence rebounds as dining out surges in November
Consumer confidence recovers as 75% of people have gone out to eat in November 2024, CGA by NIQ’s latest On Premise Consumer Pulse Report revealed. The research, which provides suppliers and operators with insights into consumers’ latest habits and priorities, indicates that 92% visited the On Premise in November, up by…
Read More » -
Aug- 2024 -28 AugustCatering Companies
Contract caterers achieve 10% sales growth in Q2
Contract caterers saw sales rise by 10% in Q2, marking its 13th quarter of growth in a row and an improvement rate of 7% recorded in the first quarter of this year, according to CGA by NIQ and Bidfood. Meanwhile, growth in moving annual total (MAT) sales – compared to…
Read More » -
20 AugustBusiness
Hospitality insolvencies rise 13% in June
The number of hospitality businesses entering insolvencies has risen by 13% between May and June this year, as operators struggle with trading costs, according to Buchler Phillips’ Hospitality Index. Overall, the number of hospitality insolvencies rose by 1.41% in the first half of 2024, as some 1,801 accommodation and food…
Read More »
