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 -
    7 January
    NewsThe Pony and Trap owners to open new Bristol restaurant

    The Pony and Trap owners to open new Bristol restaurant

    Josh Eggleton, owner of The Pony and Trap gastropub has announced the opening of a second restaurant in South Bristol.  According to ITV News, the new venue entitled The Pony North Street will open in Bedminster, with an official date for its launch unconfirmed.  Since the outbreak of Covid-19, The…

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  • 7 January
    CoronavirusNorthern Ireland’s wet pubs receive £10m support package

    Northern Ireland’s wet pubs receive £10m support package

    Northern Ireland’s economy minister, Diane Dodds has announced a £10.6m relief fund for ‘wet bars’ that lost out due to Covid-19 restrictions in the summer months. The support is aimed at the “hardest hit” traditional pubs which do not serve food and were therefore forced to close between 4 July…

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  • 7 January
    NewsMitchells and Butlers succumbs to 67% Q1 sales drop

    Mitchells and Butlers succumbs to 67% Q1 sales drop

    Mitchells and Butlers has announced a 67% decrease in first quarter sales for the 14 weeks ending 2 January 2021 which was attributed to the continuous impact of Covid-19 and the forced closures of all sites. The pub group has seen a steep reduction in sales and was heavily impacted…

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  • 6 January
    Food and DrinkGreggs predicts first annual loss in 37 years

    Greggs predicts first annual loss in 37 years

    Greggs has forecast a £15m full-year financial loss due to Covid-19 restrictions closing its stores and reducing revenues. The bakery chain’s annual sales dropped by more than £300m year-on-year in 2020, resulting in the company’s first annual loss since it listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1984. The company’s…

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  • 6 January
    NewsFlight Club eyes Bristol opening

    Flight Club eyes Bristol opening

    Flight Club, a darts-themed chain of bars, has applied for a premises license at Corn Street, Bristol, according to Bristol Live. The chain already offers its mix of drinks and games in Birmingham, Manchester, and London, with a Leeds establishment also coming soon. With groups of up to 20 allowed…

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  • 5 January
    CoronavirusChancellor unveils £4.6bn in new lockdown grants

    Chancellor unveils £4.6bn in new lockdown grants

    Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, the chancellor has announced. The news comes after the prime minister’s announcement that businesses will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the spread of Covid-19. This…

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  • 5 January
    CoronavirusUKH offers industry assistance for vaccine roll-out

    UKH offers industry assistance for vaccine roll-out

    UKHospitality has pledged to assist the government in the roll-out of vaccines, following the news that Covid-19 restrictions will be tightening further. Yesterday (4 January), Boris Johnson announced England will return to lockdown level restrictions until, at least, the middle of February. Similar restrictions are also now in place in…

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  • 4 January
    CoronavirusBrewdog and Loungers offer venues as vaccine centres

    Brewdog and Loungers offer venues as vaccine centres

    Brewdog and Loungers have offered their closed venues to the government to help with the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccinations. It comes after Brewdog CEO James Watt tweeted to health secretary Matt Hancock and Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon that the company wanted to “help with a quick roll…

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  • 4 January
    CoronavirusPandemic fuels 30,000 restaurant job losses

    Pandemic fuels 30,000 restaurant job losses

    Almost 30,000 job losses were recorded by the UK’s restaurant and casual dining firms in 2020, according to data compiled by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). The research also found that redundancies in the industry spiked 163% as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions. The job…

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  • Dec- 2020 -
    24 December
    Trade AssociationsUKH calls for extra relief amid Boxing Day restrictions

    UKH calls for extra relief amid Boxing Day restrictions

    UKHospitality is calling on the government to provide immediate relief measures to save the hospitality sector, following the announcement that six million more people in the east and south east of England are to enter Tier 4 on Boxing Day. This comes after another Covid-19 variant from South Africa was…

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