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.

Jan- 2021 -

19 January

Government

Sunak looks to raise corporation tax in March budget

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly looking to raise corporation tax in the upcoming March budget to pay off the estimated £400bn borrowed by the UK throughout the pandemic. According to The Financial Times, the alleged move has sparked uproar among business owners who claim they are still struggling with the economic impact of Covid-19. However, it…
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18 January

Coronavirus

Sacha Lord calls for hospitality to reopen alongside non-essential retail

Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s night time economy advisor, has claimed that hospitality “must reopen” alongside non-essential retail as part of a return to the Covid-19 tiered system. The comment came in response to Dominc Raab’s confirmation on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show that a phased transition out of national…
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15 January

Features

Q&A with Larkin Cen

Where did your passion for food come from? I grew up like many British-born Chinese kids, in a Chinese takeaway which is where I developed my love for Chinese food. We came from very modest beginnings yet we used to eat like kings, because there was a great passion with…
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15 January

Coronavirus

Over 800 chain restaurants closed indefinitely due to Covid

Over 800 chain restaurants, cafes and pubs have closed indefinitely due to Covid-19, according to research carried out by the Evening Standard. The pandemic has greatly affected the wider hospitality sector, with operators having to regularly close over long periods of time due to tougher lockdown restrictions and social distancing…
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15 January

Coronavirus

Supreme Court sides with small firms in business interruption insurance case

The Supreme Court has delivered its judgment in the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA)’s business interruption insurance test case, with the court’s ruling in the favour of small firms potentially forcing insurers to pay out £1.2bn in CBI claims. Following the judgement, thousands of policyholders will now have their claims for…
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14 January

Pubs and Bars

Parliament urged not to scapegoat pubs Covid crisis

Paul Scully, the Government’s minister for business, has urged parliament not to scapegoat pubs and the hospitality sector during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. The claims came as MPs from across the UK joined the parliamentary debate on public petitions on the support for the industry and the decision to create…
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12 January

Coronavirus

MPs launch inquiry into night time economy

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the night time economy has commenced an urgent enquiry into the effects of Covid-19 on the industry. The group’s inquiry is being led by Jeff Smith MP, and has asked for evidence from those involved in the industry on what challenges the sector faces…
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11 January

Trade Associations

New travel requirements are encouraging, says UKHospitality chief

UKHospitality has labelled the government’s new international travel requirements as “encouraging”, with arrivals into the UK now required to to present a negative Covid-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure for entry. In a statement, UKHospitality chief Kate Nicholls said that the decision which was announced on…
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11 January

Restaurants

Electra eyes TGI Friday’s sale

The private equity owner of TGI Friday’s Electra is reportedly planning to put the restaurant chain up for sale later this year. According to The Times, Electra is planning to sell off its assets before the end of the year and return the proceeds to shareholders. Electra acquired TGI in…
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11 January

Features

Q&A with Brad Nobbs

How has the business adapted to Covid-19? We actually started off mainly focused on nightlife and late night events. We only really started diversifying into the hospitality industry because of the pandemic. We originally provided a range of different services to clubs, bars and late night events that were essentially…
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