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.

Feb- 2021 -

16 February

Coronavirus

JD Wetherspoon boss calls for pubs to reopen alongside shops

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin has said the pub industry is “on its knees” and that pubs across the UK need to reopen at the same time as non-essential shops to save the industry and associated jobs. Martin, who oversees the operations of 872 pub venues in the UK, said the…
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15 February

Coronavirus

Brighton Pier Group receives £1.4m payout from insurers

The Brighton Pier Group has announced that to date, it has received interim payments from its insurers totalling £1.4m in respect of Covid-related losses. The group, which owns and operates Brighton Palace Pier as well as indoor mini-golf sites and premium bars, had previously lodged claims with its insurers for…
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15 February

Coronavirus

Deliveroo calls for rerun of EOTHO scheme

Deliveroo and 300 restaurant groups have urged the government to reimplement the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (EOTHO) when the hospitality sector eventually reopens. According to the delivery service, the 50% discount scheme which was first launched last August by chancellor Rishi Sunak would help support struggling restaurants that…
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12 February

Coronavirus

Scottish hospitality has <1% infection rate among staff, says SHG

Members of the Scottish Hospitality Group, who employ over 6000 people, have revealed that there have been only 32 positive cases of Covid-19 among staff since July. The group said eight of those were between July and October – the period before the Scottish tier system was introduced and in…
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12 February

Beverages

Wine Drinkers UK calls for excise duty cuts

Wine Drinkers UK (WDUK) has written an open letter to the chancellor calling for a reduction to the UK’s wine tax. The group claims that wine has been singled out for excessive increases to wine duty, while other alcoholic beverages such as beer and spirits have seen successive duty freezes.…
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10 February

Coronavirus

Hospitality sector attracted investment in 2020 despite Covid-19

BDO’s annual ‘Restaurants and Bars Report’ has found that despite the tough trading conditions, the restaurant, pub and bar sector continued to attract investment in 2020. According to the group, interest from investors was judged by the fact that the eventual loosening of lockdown restrictions and a successful vaccine roll-out…
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10 February

Pubs and Bars

Beer and pub leaders push for reopening date as sales plummet 56%

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and business leaders of the beer and pub industry are pushing the government to confirm a clear timeline and date for the reopening of the sector. It comes as it was revealed that trading restrictions and lockdowns caused sales of beer to plummet…
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10 February

Restaurants

McDonald’s to reopen for walk-in takeaway

McDonald’s has announced plans to reopen the majority of its UK restaurants for walk-in takeaway on Monday 22 February. The fast-food giant told customers in an email that it would be trialling the reopening with enhanced safety measures in place at a select number of its establishments this week. While…
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10 February

Features

David Berkley QC: Interruption and insurance in the age of Covid

As we emerge from one of the most tumultuous periods in living memory, it perhaps comes as little surprise that insurance has been thrust into the spotlight. The unprecedented impact of the pandemic has brought a renewed focus to the issue of business security and, more specifically, business interruption coverage. …
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8 February

Features

How Britain’s top fast food chains coped during Covid

It has been a rough year for the hospitality industry. According to the CCA’s ‘Market Recovery Monitor’ for 2020, almost 10,000 licensed premises – including pubs, clubs and restaurants – closed permanently as a result of its impact and the continuous wave of lockdowns. This represents a net decline of…
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