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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Feb- 2023 -17 FebruaryBreweries and Distilleries
Heavitree returns to profit in FY22
Heavitree has reported an operating profit of £1.42m in FY22, up from a loss of £59,000 the prior year, as the group “finished the year returning numbers similar to those achieved before the start of the pandemic”. The year saw the brewery increase its turnover by 57.64% to £7.28m against…
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Jan- 2023 -30 JanuaryFeatures
Dining out on success: The rebound of seated dining numbers
At the start of the year Opentable released its study into the nation’s dining habits for 2022. In it the company found that seated dining numbers had risen dramatically on the back of the end of lockdown restrictions. Robin Chiang discusses why this happened and how Opentable went about collecting…
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23 JanuaryFeatures
Heaven on earth: Heavenly Desserts’ international expansion
Catering Today sits down with Heavenly Desserts co-founder and managing director Yousif Aslam. He discusses the company’s 2022, its first Canadian store and future expansion plans. Could you just tell me a little bit about the history of the company? We opened our first store in Birmingham in 2008 and…
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23 JanuaryBusiness
Consumer confidence improves for first time in 15 months
UK consumer confidence in the final quarter of 2022 improved by half (+0.6) a percentage point, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker, marking the end of a 15-month period of consecutive decline. Deloitte said overall confidence was boosted by “significant” quarter-on-quarter improvement in sentiment towards levels of debt (+3.8…
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13 JanuaryPubs and Bars
High demand for live music in pubs and bars, CGA finds
Nearly 80% of people said that they were more likely to visit a pub, bar or other similar venue if it offers live music, according to data from CGA and artist booking platform Gigrealm. As well as this 73% of people said they were more likely to stay at a…
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Dec- 2022 -22 DecemberGovernment
Business energy bills to be capped under new gov scheme
The government has unveiled a new plan that is set to cap wholesale energy bills for businesses for an initial six-month period from 1 October. The Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, unveiled today (21 September) by business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, will reportedly bring support for households, businesses and public sector…
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22 DecemberBusiness
Energy price cap to rise by 80% to £3,549 from October
Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap will increase by 80% to a record £3,549 a year for dual fuel for an average household from 1 October 2022. The rise will affect those on standard variable tariffs, with the record annual bill only being based on typical usage. At…
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15 DecemberNews
Bank of England raises interest rates by 0.5% to 3.5%
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.5%, bringing the base rate of interest to 3.5%, the highest level in 14 years. At a meeting held on 14 December 2022, the Bank’s MPC voted by a majority of 6-3 to increase rates by…
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9 DecemberRestaurants
25 hospitality leaders host zero carbon roundtable
Some 25 leaders from hospitality organisations including Azzuri, Greene King, IHG, Gaucho, Revolution Bars, Peach 2020, Punch Pubs and WSH joined together as part of the Zero Carbon Forum CEO/CFO roundtable held at Carousel, London, to discuss how the sector can decarbonise while the industry is facing multiple crises. The…
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8 DecemberBreweries and Distilleries
Wild Beer Co enters administration
Somerset based brewer Wild Beer Co has ceased trading and entered administration as a result of rising costs. The company stated on its website that Undebt.co.uk had been appointed as administrators and are managing the affairs, business and property of the company. Administrators are looking into potential acquisitions for the…
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