Economic Growth
Reporting focuses on how wider economic trends influence the UK hospitality and foodservice sector, including shifts in GDP, consumer confidence, business investment, inflation, and labour market conditions. Coverage offers analysis to help restaurant groups, pub operators, and caterers understand macroeconomic forces shaping demand, expansion plans, and long-term strategy.
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Nov- 2025 -24 NovemberBusiness
Hospitality leaders’ confidence hits five-year low ahead of Budget
Hospitality leaders’ confidence in their business outlook has fallen to its lowest level in five years as rising costs and weaker consumer spending place fresh strain on pubs, bars and restaurants, according to CGA by NIQ and Sona. The latest Business Confidence Survey found that just 26% of leaders feel…
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19 NovemberPubs and Bars
Hospitality trading flatlines in October as restaurant and bar sales slip
Britain’s managed restaurant, pub and bar groups recorded flat trading in October, with like-for-like sales edging up 0.1%, according to the latest Hospitality Business Tracker from CGA by NIQ and RSM.It was the third month of only marginal growth and follows a year in which like-for-like increases have topped 1%…
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12 NovemberBusiness
BII calls on govt to reduce pub sales VAT to 10%
Steve Alton, CEO of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), has written to chancellor Rachel Reeves calling upon her to permanently reduce VAT on pub sales to 10% at the budget. Alton said that this move would boost resilience, create jobs, enable investment and minimise price rises for consumers. He…
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10 NovemberRestaurants
345 hospitality businesses urge tax cuts ahead of Budget
More than 340 leading hospitality businesses have signed an open letter to the chancellor calling for urgent action in the upcoming Budget to support the sector. The letter, coordinated by trade body UKHospitality, is backed by companies including Butlin’s, Greene King, IHG Hotels and Resorts, KFC, Merlin Entertainments, Marston’s, Wagamama,…
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6 NovemberNews
BoE holds interest rates at 4% ahead of Budget
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to keep interest rates steady at 4% ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement on 26 November. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of five to four to maintain the rate, with four members voting to reduce it by 0.25…
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Oct- 2025 -9 OctoberPubs and Bars
Pubs and bars could stay open longer under gov’s licensing reform
Pubs and bars in England and Wales could stay open longer following the government’s launch of a fast-track review that could “tear up outdated licensing rules”. As part of the move, a four-week call for evidence has been announced, inviting landlords and customers to contribute their views. The call for…
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8 OctoberBusiness
Gov launches review of licensing rules to modernise system
The Government has opened a call for evidence on proposed reforms to England’s licensing system, following recommendations from the Licensing Taskforce. Trade body UKHospitality, which sat on the taskforce, said the changes could help modernise the system and support growth but cautioned that further action is needed to tackle rising…
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7 OctoberComment
Experts call for a return to seasonal food joy
Britain’s kitchens have been spoiled for choice for decades but industry experts say there could be a costly price to pay for eating whatever we want, whenever we want it. Instead of dining on all things all year round, a return to enjoying the occasion of certain foods at certain…
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Sep- 2025 -12 SeptemberCafes and Coffee Shops
Double Puc secures funding to expand café and catering business
Independent café operator Double Puc has received six-figure backing from the South West Investment Fund to support the expansion of its catering arm. The Bristol-based business, founded in 2021 by Ed Brown and Griff Holland, said the funding would allow it to increase capacity and meet rising demand from corporate…
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Aug- 2025 -5 AugustBusiness
Hospitality sector has shrunk by 14.2% since March 2020, CGA finds
The hospitality sector is 14.2% smaller in August 2025 than it was in March 2020 before the first covid lockdown, according to data from CGA and Alix Partners. It comes as the sector has seen 62 net closures per month, or two a day since the beginning of the year.…
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