UKH Scotland
Reporting on policy, advocacy, and industry representation activity that supports the hospitality sector across Scotland. This section covers lobbying efforts, regulatory developments, workforce issues, business rates reform, and operational challenges facing restaurants, pubs, hotels, bars, and catering firms from Edinburgh and Glasgow to rural and island communities. Tailored for leaders, operators, and F&B professionals, it provides vital context on how national and devolved policy decisions shape Scotland’s foodservice economy.
-
Aug- 2024 -16 AugustNews
Today’s news in brief – 16/08/24
WHSmith has launched Smith’s Kitchen – an new own-brand café format – as the retailer found that food-to-go and meal deals are one of the key reasons customers come into stores. The first Smith’s Kitchen officially opened yesterday (15 August) in Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. UKH Scotland has urged Edinburgh…
Read More » -
16 AugustTrade Associations
UKH urges Edinburgh to implement cost recovery to visitor levy
UKH Scotland has urged the City of Edinburgh Council to adopt the cost recovery mechanism recommended in the draft visitor levy scheme. The draft scheme, which was published ahead of the Policy and Sustainability Committee meeting next week on Thursday 22 August, has recommended that 2.5% of proceeds collected by…
Read More » -
2 AugustFood and Drink
Edinburgh hospitality braces for sales rise as Fringe begins
Edinburgh hospitality is due to benefit from a major rise in sales as Edinburgh Fringe and other festivals have kicked off today (2 August). Last year, Edinburgh welcomed almost 250,000 people to its festivals, which helped deliver a 30% rise in average daily sales for hospitality venues in the city…
Read More » -
Jul- 2024 -1 JulyBusiness
Scottish games during Euros boost hospitality sales by a third
Scottish hospitality venues have experienced a 33% rise in sales during Scotland’s Euros matches. The data, which was collected by CGA by NIQ, revealed that the day of Scotland’s game vs Switzerland generated the biggest boost in sales, with an increase of 38% on last year. Meanwhile, games where Scotland…
Read More » -
Apr- 2024 -4 AprilRestaurants
Calorie labelling benefits do not outweigh risks, report finds
Public Health Scotland has produced a new report suggesting that the benefits of displaying calorie information on menus does not outweigh the risks. As a result the body has warned Scottish hospitality businesses against using the practice. The research was conducted with Scotland-based eating disorder charities and among individuals who…
Read More » -
Mar- 2024 -7 MarchNews
Today’s news in brief – 07/03/24
Young’s Pubs has acquired City Pub Group for £162m. The deal has added 51 wet-led pubs to the group’s managed trading estate, taking its overall estate to 279. Young’s has also expanded into new markets including Norwich and Cambridge thanks to the deal. UKH Scotland urged the Scottish government to…
Read More » -
7 MarchTrade Associations
UKH Scotland urges govt to use extra £295m for sector support
UKHospitality Scotland has urged the Scottish government to allocate £295m towards supporting the hospitality industry. Calls from UKH to increase the government’s monetary support of the industry comes as Scotland will receive around £295m in additional funding through the Barnett formula. Since the start of the pandemic, Scotland has lost…
Read More » -
Jan- 2024 -24 JanuaryNews
Today’s news in brief – 24/01/24
Wetherspoons revealed that like-for-like sales rose 10.1% during H1 to 21 January compared with last year. The pub chain attributed its performance to bar sales rising by 11.8%, food by 7.9%, and slot and fruit machines by 10.4%. Hotel rooms in its pub estate also saw a rise of 3.1%…
Read More » -
24 JanuaryNews
Scottish pubs and hotels ‘left behind’ due to lack of support, UKH Scotland says
Hospitality businesses are being financially disadvantaged by a lack of support by the Scottish Government, new analysis by UKHospitality Scotland shows. An average pub in Scotland will be £15,000 worse off than its equivalent in England, with a medium-sized hotel finding themselves £30,000 worse off. Larger businesses have been denied…
Read More » -
17 JanuaryTrade Associations
UKH ‘encouraged’ as job vacancies fall by 35,000 in 2023
UKH has been “encouraged” by news that job vacancies within the industry have fallen by 35,000 within 2023, according to new figures from the ONS. However, current vacancies still remain “far higher” than pre-pandemic levels, when there were 89,000. According to UKH, reforms to the apprenticeships levy and addressing the…
Read More »
