Furlough
Our coverage of the furlough scheme and its impact on the UK foodservice, hospitality, and catering sectors. We report on government policy updates, employer experiences, sector-specific challenges, and the operational and financial implications for restaurants, pubs, bars, and contract caterers. From workforce retention and reopening strategies to lessons learned post-scheme, this content supports industry professionals navigating staffing, recovery planning, and long-term resilience in a post-pandemic landscape.
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Jan- 2021 -27 JanuaryPubs and Bars
CAMRA: Forced hospitality closure until may will be ‘devastating’
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has responded to the comments by Sage scientists that hospitality businesses should remain closed until May by suggesting that this would be a “devastating double whammy” for pubs and breweries. The organisation said it was “absolutely critical” for the government to intervene with further support…
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26 JanuaryPubs and Bars
City Pub Group positioned to ‘emerge strongly’
The City Pub Group has announced it is “well positioned to emerge strongly” once restrictions are lifted, having reduced cash burn to a minimum in the full-year ended 27 December 2020. In light of closures and ongoing restrictions, however, revenue plummeted 57% in the period, falling from £60m in 2019…
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25 JanuaryPubs and Bars
The Lamb and Flag to shutter permanently
The Lamb and Flag pub in Oxford is set to permanently close after 400 years of trading. The pub which has been located on St Giles since 1613 is due to close on 31 January as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. According to St John’s College which operates the…
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22 JanuaryCoronavirus
New ‘cash cocktail’ urgently needed, says UKHC
UKHospitality Cymru has urged the Welsh government to find a “new and potent cash cocktail of financial support” to help the hospitality sector survive. The plea comes hours before first minister Mark Drakeford is set to give an updated coronavirus briefing regarding the level of infection rates today (Friday 22…
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21 JanuaryPubs and Bars
CARA calls on chancellor to cut tax on draught beer
CARA (the Campaign for Real Ale) is calling on the government to cut the tax on draught beer. The campaign is urging chancellor Rishi Sunak to commit to cutting the tax charged on beer served on tap in pubs and social clubs to help them rebuild their businesses once the…
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21 JanuaryCoronavirus
Chancellor considers further furlough extension in March budget
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering another extension to the government’s Job retention Scheme (JRS) as it continues to try and mitigate the impact of covid-19 on the UK economy. According to Bloomberg, Sunak is considering a fifth extension to the furlough scheme that will cover roughly 5 million workers…
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15 JanuaryFeatures
Q&A with Larkin Cen
Where did your passion for food come from? I grew up like many British-born Chinese kids, in a Chinese takeaway which is where I developed my love for Chinese food. We came from very modest beginnings yet we used to eat like kings, because there was a great passion with…
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15 JanuaryCoronavirus
Hospitality job losses hit 660,000 in a year
The hospitality workforce has shrunk by more than a quarter against last year, with 660,000 sector job losses reported over the course of the past year, new statistics reveal. The “devastating impact” of the pandemic was highlighted through new research published by Fourth, a software provider for the hospitality sector.…
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14 JanuaryGovernment
UKH Cymru urges businesses to apply for latest government grants
UKHospitality Cymru has urged Welsh hospitality businesses and their suppliers to apply early for the latest £180m package of Welsh Government business support. Under the new financial support, the government has estimated that a typical Welsh business with an equivalent of six full-time staff could be eligible to receive between…
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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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