Labour Costs
Coverage examines how wage increases, scheduling practices, and staffing challenges are impacting labour costs across UK restaurants, pubs, bars, and catering businesses. Reporting includes analysis of National Minimum and Living Wage uplifts, employer pension contributions, rota optimisation tools, recruitment trends, and cost-control strategies used by multi-site and independent operators. Insight is designed for finance leads, GMs, and HR teams balancing team performance, compliance, and profitability in a competitive labour market.
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Dec- 2025 -3 DecemberFeatures
Pizza Hut UK’s future and the state of the pizza market
Pizza Hut is heading into one of the most turbulent periods in its UK history after its restaurant operator collapsed into administration, a moment that brought a familiar high-street brand abruptly back into the news. DC London Pie Limited, which ran Pizza Hut’s dine-in estate, appointed FTI Consulting as administrators…
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Nov- 2025 -28 NovemberPubs and Bars
Mitchells and Butlers FY profits rise 5.8% to £330m
Mitchells and Butlers has reported that total sales rose to £2.71bn, up from £2.61bn, for the 52 weeks to 27 September, while adjusted operating profits increased 5.8% to £330m for the same period. It comes as the pub chain saw like-for-like sales grow 4.3% across the year, while its net…
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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 NovemberRestaurants
Middletons Steakhouse saved after administration sale
Middletons Steakhouse has been acquired out of administration by a new group controlled by its existing shareholders. Following their appointment, joint administrators Tim Bateson and James Clark from Interpath concluded a sale of the business and assets to secure the future of the company The transaction sees all of the…
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17 NovemberPubs and Bars
Stonegate considers £1bn sale of 1,000 pubs
Stonegate Group is reportedly accelerating plans to sell more than 1,000 pubs in a process that could raise up to £1bn, as Britain’s biggest pub operator works to reduce debts of more than £3bn, according to the Times. Senior executives at the Slug and Lettuce and Be At One owner…
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7 NovemberPubs and Bars
Wetherspoon reports 3.7% rise in Q1 sales amid cautious outlook
JD Wetherspoon has reported a 3.7% increase in like-for-like sales for the 14-week period ended 2 November, as total sales rose 4.2% compared with the same period last year. It comes as bar sales during the first quarter grew by 5.7%, food sales rose by 0.9%, and slot and fruit…
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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 -29 OctoberRestaurants
Incipio Group FY sales rise 22% despite market pressures
Hospitality operator Incipio Group has reported a slight dip in turnover to £25.3m, from £25.9m, in the year to 29 December 2024, despite a 22% rise in like-for-like sales supported by stronger trading across its existing venues and improved profit margins. Adjusted EBITDA fell to £2m from £2.5m the previous…
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Sep- 2025 -18 SeptemberPubs and Bars
Hydes FY turnover hits ‘record’ £40.8m
Manchester-based Hydes’ Brewery has reported a record turnover of £40.8m for the year ended 30 March 2025, surpassing last year’s £39.3m despite poor summer trading conditions and ongoing cost pressures. The brewer and pub operator revealed that profits dipped only marginally, with operating profit before exceptionals at £2.2m and EBITDA…
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9 SeptemberRestaurants
Burger and Lobster operating profit hits £2m in 2024
Burger and Lobster has revealed that its UK operating profit rose £0.2m up to £2m for the year ended 29 December 2024. Alongside this, its UK restaurants’ sales amounted to £32.3m, delivering an EBITDA of 10%. However, the company’s UK turnover fell to £34.1m, down from £36.1m the previous year,…
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