Casual Dining

TRG increases banking facilities and slashes executive pay

06-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Restaurant Group (TRG) has announced a raft of measures designed to get it through the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, including more flexible banking facilities and executive pay cuts.

Leon to trial 'Feed Britain' delivery service

03-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Healthy fast food chain Leon is to begin trialling an online delivery service next week offering grocery boxes and ready meals.

Hospitality staff sought to join UK’s ‘Land Army’

03-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

A website has been launched to connect farmers with local workers as the agriculture industry seeks to fill seasonal roles with people displaced by the Coronavirus crisis.

How The Athenian is expanding its reach through delivery

03-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Greek street food player The Athenian opened its first delivery-only kitchen in London’s Battersea earlier this year, and in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis is looking to establish more. Co-founder Neo Christodoulou explains

United We Stand

Pub group Chestnut to donate takeaway proceeds to NHS

03-Apr-2020 By Stuart Stone

East Anglia-based gastropub operator Chestnut says its recently launched takeaway service across it estate will donate revenues to the NHS during the Coronavirus shutdown.

Government extends loan scheme to larger companies

03-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The Government has announced it is extending the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) it launched last week to larger businesses in a bid to help as many affected by Coronavirus as possible.

Podcast: SpiceBox co-founder Grace Regan on soldiering on through the pandemic

03-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

We speak to SpiceBox co-founder Grace Reagan about her decision to keep operating her vegan Indian restaurant concept through the Coronavirus crisis.

United we stand

Berkmann Wine launches 'Help 4 Hospitality' wine delivery scheme

03-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

On trade wine supplier Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched an online platform - ‘Help 4 Hospitality’ - to deliver wine to consumers while donating a share of the profits to the hospitality sector.

UKHospitality demands greater safeguards for commercial tenants

02-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Trade body UKHospitality has written to the Government asking for an immediate extension of the forfeiture moratorium for six months and a widening of the scope to include broader debt enforcement measures, including winding-up orders, statutory demands...

Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

02-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

A regular round-up of the positive action the hospitality industry is taking to fight back.

Food delivery and takeaway 'essential' during Coronavirus pandemic

02-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

Almost three quarters of people now view deliveries and takeaways from their local pub or restaurant as an ‘essential service’ during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Benito’s Hat brand to live on despite business entering administration

02-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Fast-casual Mexican chain Benito’s Hat is to live on, despite the business being forced to file for administration.

The Lowdown: Walkers Taste Icons

02-Apr-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The snack manufacturer has teamed up with some of the UK’s biggest restaurant brands to transform their best-selling dishes into crisp flavours - but the timing is a little unfortunate.

Sunak set to overhaul Business Interruption Loan Scheme

02-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to overhaul his Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme amid reports many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) were struggling to the access funds.

Peach Pubs 'keeping things Peachy' by annoucing all staff will retain jobs

02-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The Peach Pub Company says that none of its staff will lose their jobs as a result of its closure because of the Coronavirus epidemic.

OpenTable partners with Deliveroo and UberEats for restaurant food at home

02-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

Global online restaurant reservations company OpenTable is partnering with delivery aggregators to offer delivery options at restaurants across the UK.

Up to a million SMEs could fold as a result of Coronavirus crisis

01-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Nearly a fifth of all small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are unlikely to get the money they need to survive the Coronavirus crisis.

Clarity regarding National Living Wage rise and Job Retention Scheme (update)

01-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

The National Living Wage (NLW) increased today (1 April) by 6.2%, however, Government guidance suggests furloughed workers will not benefit from the rise, despite HMRC initially telling BigHospitality they would.

20,000 hotel beds made available for NHS staff

01-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

Almost 200 hotels have made over 20,000 beds available around the UK for NHS staff and other vital workers, following a call from hospitality trade body UKHospitality.

Industry calls on Government to increase grant support

01-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Voices from within the hospitality industry are calling on the Government to lift the threshold on its Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme so that more businesses can benefit.

Neighbourhood cafe Beam to open third site, in Notting Hill, later this year

01-Apr-2020 By Restaurant

Neighbourhood cafe Beam is to open a third venue in the summer – Coronavirus lockdown permitting - in the capital.

City Harvest sees massive rise in food donations following restaurant closures

01-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

Food redistribution charity City Harvest has launched a crowdfund to help maintain deliveries following a huge influx of donations from restaurants and caterers as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.

Street food and mobile caterers: advice on the income support scheme

01-Apr-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The Government has announced details of its self employed income support scheme that is applicable to independent mobile catering businesses and the self-employed. Here the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) outlines what it means for the UK’s independent...

Nigel Smith-backed catering company enters administration

31-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Cookeze, the Lancashire‐based event catering business that specialised in ‘artisan patisserie’ and was partly owned by chef Nigel Smith, has fallen into administration with a loss of 72 jobs.

Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

31-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

A regular round-up of the positive action the hospitality industry is taking to fight back against the Coronavirus crisis

Drinks suppliers launch delivery app for restaurants and pubs

31-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

A group of drinks suppliers have launched an app to allow restaurants and pubs to take delivery or click and collect orders from customers.

What we've learnt about the Government's Job Retention Scheme: 10 questions answered

31-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

We take a look through the Government guidance for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) to see how it works, who’s eligible, and how you make a claim.

World's 50 Best Restaurants awards postponed until 2021

31-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has postponed its 2020 awards ceremony and will not release its annual ranked list this year.

Trade bodies combine to tackle food waste as a result of Coronavirus pandemic

31-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

Wholesalers and other food bodies have joined forces to prevent produce such as meat, milk, cheese, and fruit from going to landfill as a result of the hospitality sector lockdown during the Coronavirus crisis.

Podcast: Adam Byatt on turning Bistro Union into a shop

31-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

We talk to the Michelin-starred chef behind Trinity and Charlie's about turning his Clapham restaurant Bistro Union into Union Stores.

Just Eat introduces 25% discount for NHS workers

31-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

Just Eat is offering NHS workers 25% off all orders as a ‘show of appreciation for their extraordinary work’.

Glasgow SEC to become temporary auxiliary hospital

30-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC) Centre is to be turned into an emergency hospital to help fight the Coronavirus.

#UnitedWeStand

Licensees can claim duty credit on wasted beer

30-Mar-2020 By Alice Leader

Operators can claim credit for ullage on unsold beer, which could potentially save pubs “a fortune”, it is understood.

Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

30-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

A regular round-up of the positive action the hospitality industry is taking to fight back against the Coronavirus crisis

Carluccio's formally enters administration

30-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

Carluccio’s has entered administration, with nearly 2,000 staff set to be paid through a government safety net.

UberEats offers money-off vouchers to support NHS staff

30-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

UberEats is offering money-off vouchers to NHS staff working on the frontline of the Coronavirus crisis.

The Ritz hotel sold to Qatari investor

30-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

London’s famous Ritz Hotel has been sold to a Qatari investor as the family feud between its long-time owners rumbles on.

Takeaway and delivery: eight questions answered

30-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

With restaurants still able to offer the delivery of food and drink, delivery aggregator Just Eat shares its advice on how best to do it

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JRS: Just do it

30-Mar-2020 By Jonathan Downey

No matter how much cash you have - or don’t have - the Job Retention Scheme can help

Leon helps spearhead campaign to 'Feed the NHS'

30-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

A number of major restaurant chains including Leon, Tortilla and Dishoom are joining forces to help feed NHS staff working on the front line of the Coronavirus crisis.

Landlords threaten winding up orders over unpaid rent

30-Mar-2020 By News

UK landlords are threatening legal action against hospitality operators after many withheld rent to preserve cash during the lockdown, the Financial Times reports.

Carluccio's on the verge of administration

30-Mar-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Carluccio’s is on the verge of administration, it emerged on Friday (27 March).

united we stand

Pizza Hut and Deliveroo to serve 300,000 free meals to hospital staff

30-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Restaurant brands including Pizza Hut, German Doner Kebab, Itsu and Lewis Hamilton’s plant-based Neat Burger are working with Deliveroo to serve free meals to NHS staff across the UK.

Podcast: Cin Cin’s David Toscano on keeping his brand going

30-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

In our fist United We Stand podcast, we talk to Brighton and Hove restaurateur David Toscano about the challenges of keeping an independent restaurant brand alive through the Coronavirus crisis.

Itsu to reopen select stores to provide free food for NHS workers

30-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Sushi restaurant group Itsu is reopening two of its restaurants’ kitchens so that it can provide meals to London hospitals.

Boxpark completely shuts down sites in light of Coronavirus crisis

27-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Boxpark has completely shut all of its sites until further notice, forcing any tenants still operating as a delivery service to cease trading.

united we stand

Five ways to support your staff during the Coronavirus crisis

27-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

Many operators have wrestled with the implications of asking staff to continue working during the Coronavirus crisis, but there are ways you can support them and try to keep them safe.

United We Stand

How food businesses can keep staff and customers safe

27-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has created guidance to help food businesses still trading prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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12 steps to looking after your mental health

27-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The Coronavirus pandemic can be a stressful time for employers and employees. Here's some advice on how to deal with it.

Chiquito poised to enter administration

26-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

Chiquito looks set to be one of the first big restaurant groups to collapse amid the coronavirus shutdown after its owner filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.