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.

Oct- 2020 -

15 October

Coronavirus

London to move to Tier 2

London and Essex will face tougher Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday (17 October), including a ban on the mixing of households, local MPs have been told. According to the BBC, health secretary Matt Hancock is set to update MPs on the latest measures in the Commons later today. Under…
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14 October

Restaurants

Comptoir Libanais reports £5m pre-tax loss

Comptoir Libanais has reported a pre-tax loss of £5m for the six month period ending 30 June, from a £547,685 loss over the same period last year. The group’s gross revenue dropped by 61% in the period to £6.1m, with Comptoir citing “Covid-19 related closures” as the reason behind the…
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13 October

Restaurants

Herman ze German to permanently close all UK sites

Herman ze German has announced the permanent closure of all its UK sites. The fast food brand, which specialises in German sausages, operates four sites across London in Soho, Charing Cross, Fitzrovia and White City. In a message to customers on Instagram, the group cited the financial impact of Covid-19…
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13 October

Government

Mitchells & Butlers begins redundancy talks with staff

Mitchells and Butlers has begun consulting with a number of its staff regarding redundancy payments as the company struggles with the fallout from Covid-19. According to the BBC, the chain which owns brands such as Harvester and All Bar One has not yet disclosed how many jobs are at risk,…
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12 October

Coronavirus

PM unveils three-tiered lockdown system

Prime minister Boris Johnson this afternoon announced a new three-tier lockdown system that will see some hospitality businesses in the North-West forced to close from Wednesday. Under the new system, different rules for regions will be classified as being on ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ alert depending on the rate…
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12 October

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Tim Hortons UK expansion will create 2000 new jobs

Tim Hortons reportedly has plans to expand across the UK and Ireland in a bid to “capitalise” on the growing trend of drive-through dining. According to the BBC, the Canadian coffee chain said it hopes to open an outlet in “every major city and town” over the next two years.…
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12 October

Coronavirus

G-A-Y owner begins formal legal challenge against 10pm curfew

Jeremy Joseph, CEO of G-A-Y, has instructed barristers from Kings Chambers and Simpson Miller to challenge the government’s latest round of Covid-19 restrictions which are affecting the hospitality industry. The pre-action protocol has been served to specifically challenge the government’s decision to implement a 10pm curfew on hospitality premises, which…
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9 October

Government

Hospitality sector demands ‘clarity’ amid closure rumours

Hospitality workers in the North of England are requesting clarity from UK government officials following news that restaurants and bars may have to close from Monday. According to Sky News, ministers are said to be still finalising a “traffic light system plan” where different areas of England with the highest…
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8 October

Coronavirus

Pubs and restaurants in central Scotland to close

Pubs and restaurants across Scotland’s central belt, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, are set to close as part of new measures targeted at preventing the increase of Covid-19 cases in the area. In other parts of the country, pubs and restaurants can remain open but can only sell alcohol outdoors. The…
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7 October

Coronavirus

New Scottish Covid-19 restrictions ‘risk young people’s future’

A member of the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has warned that renewed Covid-19 restrictions are a “risk [to] young people’s future”. Stephen Montgomery, who owns two hotels in Dumfries, said that restrictions being mulled by authorities which may come into force after the furlough scheme ends “will cost jobs”. He…
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