Matt Hancock: International travel could return sooner if vaccines work against new Covid variants February 23, 2021 The health secretary has left the door open for international travel to return sooner than planned this summer if available vaccines work against emerging Covid variants. Unveiling his roadmap for exiting lockdown yesterday, the Prime Minister said international travel will only resume from 17 May at the earliest. Boris Johnson said the government first needed [...]
London businesses demand return of the Night Tube amid delay until 2022 April 15, 2021 London businesses have demanded the resumption of the Night Tube after Transport for London (TfL) said earlier this week the service will not return until at least 2022. Andy Byford, the transport commissioner for London, said the capital’s struggling transport body lacked the resources to reinstate all-night Friday and Saturday services on the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern, [...]
Al fresco dining to become a High Street fixture while takeaway pints are extended for a year July 16, 2021 Al fresco dining is set to become a fixture of the high street and takeaway pints will continue for another year as part of a Government strategy to help England’s pubs, bars and restaurants recover from the pandemic. Pavement licences are to be extended and made permanent to allow more customers to eat outside under [...]
Hospitality: 96,000 firms to close next year without reform to tier system November 18, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic could force around 96,000 hospitality firms out of business next year, industry trade bodies have warned. A survey of British Beer & Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and UK Hospitality members found that 72 per cent of firms expect to become unviable and close in 2021. Firms said the tiering system [...]
London reports zero Covid deaths as cases slump to September levels April 8, 2021 London recorded zero Covid-related deaths yesterday for the third time this year, as infections slumped to levels not seen since September. The daily death toll has previously fallen to nil on 28 March and 27 February, with cases continuing to decline across the bulk of boroughs. Just 317 coronavirus infections were reported in the capital [...]
Budweiser invests £115m in UK breweries to pour an extra 630m pints a year March 4, 2021 Budweiser has announced plans to invest more than £115m in its two major UK breweries to improve their infrastructure and create jobs. The beer firm, which is part of drinks giant AB Inbev, will install modern equipment at its South Wales and Lancashire sites to expand capacity in brewing, canning and bottling. The investment will [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for 10pm Covid curfew to be scrapped October 20, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for England’s 10pm curfew to be scrapped in a bid to save London’s ailing hospitality industry. The mayor of London said the curfew made no sense now that household mixing was banned indoors as a part of the latest Tier 2 restrictions placed on the capital last week. “Immediately scrapping the [...]
Hospitality chiefs call for more clarity as ‘freedom day’ set for delay June 14, 2021 The owner of the Franco Manca Pizza chain David Page has warned the “lack of concrete delay” to the government’s lockdown easing roadmap is the biggest problem facing the hospitality sector. Boris Johnson is expected to announce a four week delay to so-called “freedom day” later today, just a week before the 21 June date [...]
Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out but rules out repeat this summer March 12, 2021 The chancellor has defended last year’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme despite concerns it caused a spike in coronavirus cases, though he ruled out reintroducing it after lockdown restrictions are lifted. In evidence to MPs yesterday, Rishi Sunak that there was so much “pent-up” demand for meals and pints out among consumers that there [...]
Another Covid surge likely within the next year, warns Chris Whitty March 9, 2021 All current modelling suggests another wave of coronavirus is likely within the next year despite the speed of the vaccine rollout, Professor Chris Whitty has warned MPs. England’s chief medical officer said that even under the most optimistic set of assumptions a further 30,000 people will likely die from Covid-19. Speaking at the Commons’ Science and Technology [...]