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.

Aug- 2022 -

19 August

Pubs and Bars

The Alchemist returns to profit

The Alchemist Bar and Restaurant has reported a profit after tax of £2.34m for the year ended 31 March 2022 compared with a loss of -£5.51m the prior year. The results saw sales of £55m, more than three times higher than the year prior despite the beginning of the financial…
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15 August

Pubs and Bars

City of London sees 14% decrease in pubs since Pandemic

The City of London has seen a net decline of one in seven (14%) licensed premises since March 2020, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA by NielsenIQ and AlixPartners has revealed. The 14% decline in The City is a steeper decline than London as a whole, which saw a…
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5 August

Business

Hospitality leaders’ confidence falls to 23% in Q2

Only 23% of hospitality leaders are now confident about the next 12 months for the general market, according to a new business confidence survey by CGA and Fourth. This is barely a third of the 65% that were confident in their last survey in March. The survey also revealed that…
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4 August

Pubs and Bars

Nightcap revenues jump 55.1% to £35.9m in FY22

Nightcap has reported its group revenues surged 55.1% year-on-year from £6m to £35.9m on a combined group of companies basis for the 53 weeks ended 3 July 2022 (FY22), with like-for-like revenues up 23.6%. The fourth quarter ended 3 July 2022 (Q4 FY22) also saw group revenues jump 73.2% to…
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3 August

Comment

How the Hospitality Industry can combat the insolvency crisis

After a report from UHY Hacker Young showed that UK restaurant insolvencies have jumped 64% from 856 in 2020/21 to 1,406, Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, warns that “it’s quite clear that this is just the tip of the iceberg”. The past quarter represented the largest number of restaurant…
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Jul- 2022 -

27 July

Restaurants

Two-thirds of hospitality business feel abandoned by government

Almost two-thirds of hospitality businesses feel abandoned by the government, according to new research from Peckwater Brands. The virtual brand operator surveyed 201 senior decision-makers within hospitality businesses. It found that nearly seven-in-10 (69%) of respondents are in favour of the government’s actions which protect hospitality businesses which accumulated debts…
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20 July

Beverages

Follow Leisure acquires Belfast café chain District

Multi-venue hospitality operator, Follow Leisure, has revealed its acquisition of Belfast-based specialist coffee chain, District for an undisclosed figure. District opened its first premises in 2016 on Ormeau Road, adding additional locations throughout South Belfast in Lisburn Road, Stranmillis Road and Saintfield Road. In this acquisition by Follow Leisure, the…
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13 July

Pubs and Bars

JD Wetherspoon warns of full-year losses amid ‘laborious’ recovery

JD Wetherspoon has warned it is expecting an annual loss of £30m in its upcoming full-year results, as recovery for many businesses has been “slower and more laborious” than first anticipated. After investing heavily in labour, repairs and marketing, the group expects FY22 losses to be higher than expected, as…
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4 July

Restaurants

Gusto Italian to expand South amid ‘resilient’ trading

Gusto Italian, the premium casual dining restaurant group, has announced it is looking to grow its estate and expand further South over the coming year. The announcement comes as the company revealed its turnover hit £12.4m in the full year ending September 2021 and an EBITDA of £585,000, which the…
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Jun- 2022 -

30 June

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Pret sales hit by rail strikes

Pret A Manger’s sales in London’s financial and shopping district have fallen “sharply”, as coffee, soup and sandwich sales in the City and Canary Wharf were at 62% of pre-Covid-19 levels through Thursday (23 June), according to the latest figures tracked by Bloomberg’s Pret Index. This is reportedly the lowest…
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