More than 17,000 outdoor seats added to English streets in al-fresco boom August 6, 2021 Pubs and restaurants have made space for more than 17,000 extra customer seats outside with Westminster processing one third of total pavement licence applications. More than 3,300 fast track applications for pavement licences were lodged by cafes and restaurants as ministers pledged to slash red tape and make the process cheaper and quicker. PwC analysed [...]
Not amused: Loungers chief calls govt Covid-19 messaging ‘shambolic’ July 21, 2021 The boss of bar and restaurant group Loungers has labelled the Government’s recent messaging around Covid-19 rules as “absolutely shambolic” and described Covid passports as “unworkable” for the hospitality sector. Nick Collins, chief executive of the 175-site business, said that he “can’t imagine a scenario” where Covid certification would be necessary for his customers. It [...]
‘We’ve been thrown under the bus’: hospitality demands government support as the UK faces further restrictions December 20, 2021 Business owners have called for greater government support and stronger communication as the UK heads towards another lockdown.
Pubs urge government to reverse ban on takeaway pints during lockdown November 2, 2020 Pubs have called on the government to reverse its decision to ban hospitality venues from selling takeaway pints during the second coronavirus lockdown, saying the move could cause more businesses to collapse. On Saturday the Prime Minister announced that all hospitality venues in England will be ordered to close to dine-in customers on Thursday in [...]
Restart grants: Councils urged to release money ‘at pace’ as £5bn fund launches April 1, 2021 Councils have been urged to release new grant funding to business owners “as soon as possible” to help boost the economy. From today eligible businesses will be able to receive up to £18,000 as part of the government’s £5bn restart grants scheme. In a letter, local authorities have been told by government ministers to “press [...]
Business bodies warn that three-quarters of pubs, bars and casinos could go bust under new tier system December 1, 2020 The UK’s leading business bodies have slammed MPs’ decision to vote the new tier system in place from midnight tonight as the “nail in the coffin” for many businesses, warning that it will cause three-quarters of night-time venues to shut forever. The Prime Minister this evening fought off the largest Tory backbench rebellion in his [...]
To face mask or not to face mask? Covid etiquette is an experiment in human behaviour July 28, 2021 To mask or not to mask? Along with scores of other things we never would have anticipated, whether or not to cover up our nose and mouth is the latest thorny issue in Covid etiquette. The answer from Boris Johnson is clear: in public spaces such as transport, bars, restaurants or other busy indoor places, [...]
Freedom Day cannot be tainted by ifs and buts – the entertainment sector won’t survive further restrictions July 6, 2021 It is absolutely right we are finally reopening fully on July 19. Boris Johnson’s announcement last night that pubs, nightclubs, and events would be freed of Covid restrictions should be a moment to rejoice. There are many in the industry, however, who are wary of the threat of further closures. Hospitality has suffered enormously with [...]
UK facing supermarket food shortage amid lorry driver crisis June 26, 2021 Britain could be facing empty supermarket shelves this summer and an “unimaginable” collapse of supply chains due to a shortage of more than 100,000 lorry drivers, industry bosses have warned. In a letter to Boris Johnson logistics chiefs called on the prime minister to personally intervene to allow access to European labour by introducing temporary [...]
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, we need to grit our teeth and learn to live with it December 28, 2021 It seemed, for a while, as if this year might be better than the last, with the pandemic on the wane, retail and hospitality beginning to reopen and a hint of normality being felt in the public square. The onset of the omicron variant over the past few weeks has been a blow: although it [...]