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.
-
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 –…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
Apr- 2025 -16 AprilNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 16/04/25
Big Mamma Holdings has seen its turnover rise 10% to £44m in 2024. According to the group’s filings at Companies House, last year was the first where all six restaurants – Gloria, Circolo Popolare, Ave Mario, Jacuzzi and Carlotta in London, and La Bellezza in Birmingham – were operating. Out…
Read More » -
16 AprilBusiness
Rising demand for revenue-based finance in hospitality
Hospitality businesses are one of the most frequent applicants for revenue-based finance according to SME funder 365 Finance. According to the company, the UK hospitality sector accounted for £43.7m of funding in 2024, representing a 16.9% increase compared to 2023. Alongside this, the number of advances 365 Finance approved for…
Read More » -
Mar- 2025 -26 MarchGovernment
Chancellor resists calls for business relief in Spring Statement
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted calls from businesses for relief ahead of the upcoming tax changes this April, as part of her Spring Statement today (26 March). UK businesses had been hopeful the chancellor would raise the relief rate for retail, hospitality, and leisure after cutting it to 40% in…
Read More » -
Feb- 2025 -18 FebruaryCafes and Coffee Shops
Costa Coffee invests in baristas with 5% pay boost
Costa Coffee has announced that it will increase pay rates by 5% from 1 April 2025 for over 15,000 team members in its 1,500 UK company-owned stores following an £8m investment. The investment raises the starting national pay rate for Costa’s baristas to £12.60 per hour, from £12 per hour.…
Read More » -
10 FebruaryPubs and Bars
Number of late-night hospitality venues falls by 2.8% in 2024
Britain’s late-night hospitality sector had a total of 2,264 nightclubs, late-night bars and casinos at the end of 2024, spelling a reduction of 2.8% in a year and 25.2% less than pre-pandemic, according to CGA by NIQ’s first edition of the Night Time Economy Market Monitor. Nightclubs have borne the…
Read More » -
Jan- 2025 -2 JanuaryRestaurants
Pizza Hut’s UK operator in ‘advanced talks’ with potential bidders
Pizza Hut’s UK operator is reportedly in “advanced talks” with potential bidders to wrap up a deal to secure its future, Sky News has learnt. According to Sky, Heart With Smart (HWS), Pizza Hut’s biggest UK franchisee which operates roughly 140 Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, is expecting to select a…
Read More »
