National Living Wage
Coverage examines how wage legislation affects restaurants, pubs, bars, and catering businesses across the UK, including annual National Living Wage uplifts, government policy changes, and the operational impact on payroll, pricing, and staffing strategy. Reporting includes analysis of labour cost modelling, response from sector bodies, and practical adjustments made by multi-site operators and independents. Insight is tailored for operators, finance leads, and HR teams navigating rising employment costs in a tight labour market.
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Dec- 2025 -9 DecemberFood and Drink
XP Factory HY revenues rise 13% to £28m despite ‘subdued’ market
XP Factory has reported that group revenues rose 13.1% to £28.2m for the 26-week period ended 28 September, citing resilient trading across its Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar brands despite a weaker leisure market. During the period, Escape Hunt owner-operated revenues increased to £7.3m, while Boom owner-operated revenues reached…
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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 -26 NovemberTrade Associations
Hospitality faces £1.4bn in extra wage costs from April 2026, UKH warns
Hospitality businesses face about £1.4bn in additional wage costs from April 2026 following new increases to statutory pay rates, according to industry body UKHospitality. The organisation said the rises make full business rates reform “critical” for the sector ahead of today’s Budget announcement. It comes as the government confirmed that…
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17 NovemberPubs and Bars
Young’s launches £10m share buyback programme
Young’s has launched a share buyback programme worth up to £10m as part of plans to reduce its share capital. The programme starts today (17 November) and will run no later than 30 September 2026, or the business day before the company’s 2026 annual meeting. The programme will focus mainly…
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13 NovemberPubs and Bars
Young’s welcomes ‘record’ half-year as sales rise 5.4%
Young’s has reported a “record” half-year performance, as sales rose by 5.4% to £263.6m while adjusted EBITDA rose 5.9% to £62.5m. In the period ended 29 September 2025, 5.7% like-for-like sales rose from a combination of Young’s “well-invested, premium estate and the excellent weather during late spring and early summer”,…
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Sep- 2025 -22 SeptemberFeatures
What effect will Labour’s proposed business rates reform have ahead of the budget?
After years of pressure from hospitality businesses and the trade organisations that represent them, the government has finally relented. Last week it revealed its proposed changes to the business rates system in England and Wales. Despite this positive news, it remains to be seen how this reform fits in with…
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Jul- 2025 -4 JulyFeatures
Loungefest: the day hospitality pauses to party
Ragley Hall was responsible for hosting “the biggest bash in hospitality” – Loungefest 2025 – earlier this month. By mid-morning, coaches carrying Lounge’s whole staff had begun arriving from Durham, Southampton, West Wales, and nearly every town in between. For all of Loungers’ people to participate, nearly 300 venues –…
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Jun- 2025 -6 JuneFeatures
Predictions vs reality: testing OakNorth’s outlook on hospitality
The hospitality trade is a hard one. It runs hot in summer, cold in winter, and never moves in straight lines. Despite costs rising and customers shifting, the doors must open and the lights must stay on. As a lender to hotels, pubs and restaurants, OakNorth sees much of this…
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5 JunePubs and Bars
Young’s FY revenues jump 24.9% to £485.8m
Young’s has reported that total revenues rose by 24.9% to £485.8m in the year ended 31 March, thanks to strong like-for-like revenue growth of 5.7% supported by the pub group’s performance during Euro24 and the Christmas trading period. Adjusted EBITDA at Young’s also rose 23.2% to £113.6m, with managed house…
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May- 2025 -9 MayRestaurants
Tasty FY operating losses narrow to £1.6m amid restructuring plan
Tasty has narrowed its operating loss from £2.6m to £1.6m for the year ended 29 December 2024, while its post-IFRS 16 operating profit rose by 33% to £0.4m. It comes as the owner and operator of dim t and Wildwood restaurants closed 16 sites through the restructuring plan it initiated…
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