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.
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Jan- 2021 -15 JanuaryCoronavirus
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 JanuaryCoronavirus
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 JanuaryPubs 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 JanuaryCoronavirus
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 JanuaryTrade 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 JanuaryRestaurants
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 JanuaryFeatures
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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11 JanuaryCatering Companies
Sodexo sees 27% total group revenue decline
Sodexo has reported that for the first quarter fiscal 2021, total group revenue declined 27% to €4.4bn (£3.2bn) from €6.07bn (£4.5bn) for the same period last year, attributed to the impact of Covid-19. Founded by Pierre Bellon in 1966, the company operates in 64 countries and serves 100 million consumers…
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11 JanuaryCoronavirus
Pandemic costs D&D London £2.5m a month, owner warns
Des Gunewardena, the owner of restaurant group D&D London, has written to the government calling for greater support ahead of today’s (11 January) parliamentary debate on the hospitality industry. In a letter addressed to chancellor Rishi Sunak, Gunewardena revealed that Covid-19 is costing D&D London £2.5m per month of closure.…
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8 JanuaryPubs and Bars
Marston’s Q1 trading ‘materially disrupted’ amid festive sales slump
Marston’s has announced that its trading in the first quarter of this year was “materially disrupted” due to continuous Covid-19 restrictions. In its latest update, the pub chain revealed total revenues came in at £54m over the three-month period, compared with sales in 2019 of £1.17bn. With pubs remaining closed…
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