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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Jan- 2021 -4 JanuaryFood and Drink
BAME hospitality workers face ‘pay penalties’
Around one in 12 workers from black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds who work in the hospitality sector face significant “pay penalties” compared to white British men, according to Resolution Foundation research. The foundation claimed that BAME workers within the sector suffer penalties that account for age, qualifications, experience,…
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Oct- 2020 -23 OctoberGovernment
KFC to create 5400 additional jobs
KFC has announced plans to create a further 5400 job roles across the UK and Ireland. According to Sky News, the fast food chain has seen a rise in demand for its produce due to Covid-19, the company said the new roles will be created in its 965 restaurants across…
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Mar- 2020 -27 MarchComment
What we know about furlough leave and the CJRS
HMRC published details of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) on 26.3.20 which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Key points include: Employees that employers can claim CJRS for For the purposes of CJRS, the definition of employee would include workers and agency workers provided they are subject to PAYE i.e. this…
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9 MarchAdvice
How to adjust your business to the new immigration policy
Last month the government announced a new immigration policy that provoked a big reaction from our industry. The impact of restricting so-called “lower-skilled” workers from the EU and elsewhere overseas means many businesses are warning of staff shortages. The government’s terminology is dangerous, not to mention patronising, for a large…
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Feb- 2020 -14 FebruaryPeople
Hospitality wages increase in January
The average wage in the hospitality industry rose by 2.5% in January to £8.84, according to the new statistics from global software provider Fourth. It follows the Government’s New Year announcement that the National Living Wage (NLW) will increase by 6.2% to £8.72 in April 2020. The figures from Fourth,…
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Nov- 2019 -12 NovemberPubs and Bars
Pub and bar company insolvencies see sharp increase in 2019
The number of insolvencies of pub and bar companies has jumped by 13% to 530 in the year to 30 September, up from 470 the previous year, according to UHY Hacker Young. It is the third successive year in which pub company insolvencies have increased, which the firm said is…
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Oct- 2019 -24 OctoberComment
Pizza Express: how to keep pizza on the menu and on the High Street
Recent news that Pizza Express, is engaging in ‘debt talks’ has sparked fears that it could be the next company to disappear from the high street. Will it be possible to turn the company’s fortunes around? In a sector as fast-moving as the UK restaurant industry, even small changes can…
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Jul- 2019 -29 JulyRestaurants
Byron’s earnings down to £500,000
Restaurant chain Byron Burgers has reported a sharp decline in adjusted earnings for the year ending 24 June 2018. Adjusted EBITDA fell to £500,000, compared with £4.7m for the same period last in 2017. Results were impacted by company voluntary arrangements (CVA) which were agreed in January 2018, allowing the…
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Jun- 2019 -5 JuneAdvice
Living the dream?
I always dreamed of running a pub, greeting the regulars with a smile, a quip and their favourite tipple. After more than 30 years of handling debt recovery work for the licensed trade, I can see that the reality is very different. It is not an easy life. For many,…
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Nov- 2018 -6 NovemberRestaurants
Restaurant insolvencies reach highest level in eight years
The number of restaurant businesses going bust has reached its highest level since 2010, jumping sharply in the first three quarters of 2018, according to data by accountancy firm Price Bailey. According to the firm, 1,123 British restaurant businesses became insolvent in the first three quarters of 2018, a 35%…
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