London
From the West End to the East End, our London coverage keeps hospitality professionals in the know. Our dedicated reporting on London’s vibrant and highly competitive foodservice market, spans restaurant group expansions, new pub and bar concepts, catering contracts, high-street openings, licensing changes, staff shortages, and operational trends shaping the capital. Whether you’re a central London restaurant operator, a neighbourhood café owner, a high-volume catering contractor, or an F&B executive overseeing multiple venues across zones, this archive delivers actionable insights and strategic updates designed for decision-makers navigating the capital’s fast-moving hospitality landscape.
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Mar- 2020 -27 MarchCoronavirus
Covid-19: Restaurant and pub sales fall 71% in last week of trading
Like-for-like sales in pubs, bars and restaurants nosedived 71% in the week that licensed premises were ordered to close amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Data from the CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker revealed that like-for-like trading in restaurant chains was down 75% that week. Managed pub sales fell by 67%,…
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25 MarchFood and Drink
Greggs closes all 2,050 stores
Greggs has temporarily closed all 2050 of its stores as it does its part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. All of its stores closed at the end of business yesterday (24 March) as it revealed it has “acted quickly to follow Government guidelines, helping to prevent the…
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25 MarchComment
The darkest of days: Why the hospitality industry must come together
At the risk of stating the obvious, I’ve never witnessed anything like this during my 30+ years in the hospitality industry. The impact of COVID-19 was exacerbated last week by the Prime Minister’s initial decision to ‘advise’ people to avoid venues such as restaurants and subsequently by the government directive…
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24 MarchBusiness
Contactless spending limit to rise to £45
Barclaycard has announced it will be rolling out the deployment of a new £45 contactless limit across UK retailers from 1 April 2020. The payments provider, which enables almost half of the UK’s credit and debit card transactions, said that the increased threshold would “help to prevent” the spread of…
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24 MarchFood and Drink
Eat to permanently close after 24 years of trading
Sandwich chain Eat has closed its UK business permanently after 24 years of trading, its owner Pret Manger has announced. Its sandwich shops closed temporarily last week after the government announced its latest social distancing measures, however Pret Manger has since tweeted announcing the closures would be permanent. It tweeted:…
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24 MarchCoronavirus
Deliveroo announces M&S partnership
Deliveroo has announced it will begin delivering a range of Marks and Spencer groceries to those who are self-isolating at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The takeaway delivery service signed a deal with Marks and Spencers that will now enable them to deliver essential items to families from participating stores…
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24 MarchAdvice
Coping with coronavirus in catering
My name is Ren. My catering company, Rens Kitchen, has been trading 12 years now, specialising in bespoke weddings. The best part about my job has always been the personal bonds my team and I create with our couples over the whole planning process, and by the wedding day we…
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20 MarchPubs and Bars
Hospitality sales fell before PM’s warning, says CGA
Like-for-like sales across Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants fell 15% in the week ended 15 March, one day before the Prime Minister’s warning to avoid these destinations amid the Covid-19 threat. Figures from the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker, produced by hospitality consultancy CGA, revealed that like-for-like sales in restaurant…
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19 MarchPubs and Bars
Young’s suspends rent for tenants
Pub operator Young’s has announced a new set of measures to support its team across London and the south east. In its latest announcement, the group confirmed it would provide a three-month property rent holiday for all of its tenants, starting this week. The group also said it was doing…
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17 MarchBusiness
Hospitality footfall declines amid government urging social distancing
Hospitality footfall across the UK has declined by 45% yesterday (16 March) compared with the same day last year, amid the recent outbreak of coronavirus. According to research by customer data company Wireless Social, footfall decreased by 33% in the past week compared with the same period last year, with…
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