Covid-19

Our COVID-19 coverage captures the full impact of the pandemic on the UK’s foodservice and hospitality sector, from lockdown trading restrictions and government support schemes to recovery planning, operational adaptations, and long-term business implications. This includes essential reporting for restaurant operators, pub landlords, caterers, chefs, and F&B directors navigating one of the most disruptive periods in industry history.

Aug- 2021 -

11 August

Restaurants

Hawkswood Estate gets green light for new restaurant

A self-catering holiday park in Fife has been granted permission to build a new restaurant complete with its own helipad. The five-star Hawkswood Country Estate said it aims to create “Scotland’s finest hospitality experience” with the on-site bistro. The new restaurant will seat 38 diners inside and 28 outside, with…
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9 August

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Fhior Garden Café to close

Fhior Garden Café at the Secret Herb Garden in Scotland has announced that it will close on 30 August due to the impact of Covid-19. Owners of the venue, Scott and Laura Smith, took to instagram to confirm the closure describing it as “devastating”. The pair overtook the cafe in…
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3 August

Coronavirus

WPBA ‘urges’ Gov to stick to reopening plans

The Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) has urged the government to stick to plans to remove restrictions to enable the sector to “return to viability”. According to the group, over 150 pubs in Wales could reopen on 7 August, if the Welsh government presses ahead with the planned removal…
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3 August

Coronavirus

UKH welcomes NHS ‘ping’ changes, but calls for additional measures

UKHospitality has welcomed the recent Government announcement that the NHS Covid-19 app has been updated to “ping” fewer contacts, but has called for additional measures. The Department of Health and Social Care released a statement yesterday (2 August) stating that those being contacted by the app to self-isolate has been…
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Jul- 2021 -

15 July

Government

Wales to move to alert level one from 17 July

The Welsh government has announced that it will move fully into alert level one from 17 July 2021 and relax some of its existing Covid-19 restrictions. The changes were paused four weeks ago due to the emergence and spread of the delta variant across the UK and to enable more…
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9 July

Coronavirus

UKHC calls on Welsh Gov to lift restrictions

UKHospitality Cymru (UKHC) has called for the Welsh government to lift remaining restrictions on the hospitality industry and give visitors to Wales “simple and clear messages” about staying safe. The plea comes one week ahead of the Welsh government review, where first minister Mark Drakeford is expected to update the…
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8 July

Government

Scottish gov launches hospitality recruitment drive

The Scottish government has announced the launch of a new recruitment drive, encouraging people to choose a career in the country’s tourism and hospitality industry. As part of the drive, the government launched an advertising campaign targeting roles within the industry to young people who have had their job prospects…
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7 July

Trade Associations

New self-isolation rules ‘don’t go far enough’, says UKH

UKHospitality (UKH) has criticised the government’s updated rules for self-isolation as part of its roadmap out of lockdown, arguing the new rules do not move quickly enough, nor deal with the industry’s staff shortage crisis. Yesterday (6 July), health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that double vaccinated people will no longer…
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6 July

Trade Associations

Hospitality sector praises restriction easing announcement

The UK’s hospitality sector has overwhelmingly issued its support behind the government’s decision to scrap almost all existing Covid-19 restrictions in England by 19 July. This includes limits on the number of people who can meet together, legal requirements on wearing face masks, and social distancing in pubs and bars.…
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5 July

Features

Are apps the answer to tackling food waste in the hospitality industry?

‘Magic bags’ from the surplus food app ‘Too Good To Go’ have become something of a viral sensation across social media channels such as TikTok over the past couple of months. The 30 second videos of savvy consumers bragging about the dozens of baked goods they scored from Greggs or…
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