Casual Dining

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.

united we standd

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.

Government to pay self-employed up to £2,500 a month

26-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

Self-employed people will be able to claim a grant of up to £2,500 a month to help cope with the financial impact of coronavirus, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced.

The Lowdown: BrewDog's Online Bar

26-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

With the Coronavirus crisis impelling operators to diversify, BrewDog is set to open its first ‘online bar’.

Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

26-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

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

United We Stand

What the Government's financial package means for the hospitality sector

26-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has introduced a £350bn financial package to help businesses navigate the Coronavirus crisis. But how does it work, and what does it mean for the hospitality sector?

United We Stand

Does the Government's Business Interruption Loan Scheme provide a lifeline to hospitality businesses?

26-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

The Government’s financial package made for a nice headline, but the reality is that much more support is needed if the hospitality sector is to survive the Coronavirus crisis.

Government Coronavirus loans and grants: eight questions answered

26-Mar-2020 By Phil Brown

The Government recently introduced a loan facility and grant scheme to help the hospitality sector. Phil Brown, head of travel and leisure at NatWest, looks at some of the details

OPINION

It’s time for everyone to get in the boat

26-Mar-2020 By Jonathan Downey

Too much time is being spent looking at the detail of the Government’s Job Retention Scheme when what the industry should be doing, as a matter of urgency, is getting everyone on furlough.

Carluccio’s staff face pay cut in fight to save the business

26-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

The entire staff of Carluccio’s is facing a pay cut as the company fights to stay afloat amid the Coronavirus crisis.

Deliveroo introduces rapid payment system

26-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Deliveroo has launched a new rapid payment system that gives restaurants access to cash made from deliveries within 24 hours.

United We Stand

Coronavirus: essential employee factsheet

25-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

A round-up of the help available to hospitality employees in the current crisis.

United We Stand

Coronavirus and staffing: advice for employers

25-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

The government has announced measures to help employers pay staff amid the coronavirus outbreak.

United we stand

Live advice bureau - experts answer your hospitality questions

25-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Have you got a question about your on-trade business that you can’t find an answer for even though you’ve searched online and listened to Boris’s daily updates? Our United We Stand campaign is here to help

Opinion

The rent moratorium buys us some time. Now to work out what to do next

25-Mar-2020 By Jonathan Downey

The forfeiture moratorium buys the industry time, but more needs to be done to help the hospitality sector.

United We Stand

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls on the Coronavirus crisis

25-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

With most of the hospitality sector now on lockdown, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls assesses the Government's response to the Coronavirus crisis so far

Leon pledges to keep sites open to serve essential workers

24-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Healthy fast food chain Leon will continue to keep its sites open to customers where NHS teams and other essential workers still rely on its services, it has said.

United We Stand

Supermarkets look to hospitality in major recruitment drive

24-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

UK supermarkets are looking to hire thousands of extra staff through a Feed The Nation recruitment drive.

How to approach property and insurance during the Coronavirus crisis

24-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Though the lease forfeiture moratorium is a huge help to the sector, it's not a silver bullet. Operators will need to work closely with landlords to navigate the Coronavirus pandemic.

United We Stand

Expert Advice: Ted Schama on overcoming property challenges

24-Mar-2020 By Ted Schama

The property industry veteran on how to deal with landlords and what the Coronavirus means for the restaurant property market.

Future of restaurant delivery and takeout uncertain following lockdown order

24-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

The Government’s complete lockdown of the UK has raised further questions about the viability of restaurant takeout and delivery during the Coronavirus crisis.

Government steps in to prevent businesses being evicted

23-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

The Government is to introduce a much-needed lease forfeiture moratorium that will prevent landlords from repossessing commercial premises if businesses are unable to pay their rent.

Time to takeaway? The restaurants tackling delivery

23-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has thrown restaurants businesses a lifeline by relaxing rules to allow them to operate a takeaway or delivery element. Could refocusing your restaurant as a delivery enterprise be the key to riding out the Coronavirus storm?

"Mass repossessions" if government does not step in

23-Mar-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

The majority of landlords are refusing to negotiate meaningfully on rent payments despite the threat of widespread restaurant closures, Imbiba property director Kieran Sherlock has said.

Expert advice: converting restaurants into delivery-only operations

23-Mar-2020 By Stefan Chomka

In the first of our #UnitedWeStand advice pieces, we bring you key expert advice on how to pivot from a dine-in restaurant to offering takeaway and delivery.

Calls for action to stop businesses being evicted over rent payments

23-Mar-2020 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality industry leaders are increasing pressure on the Government to introduce a lease forfeiture moratorium to protect restaurants and pubs from having their premises repossessed if they are unable to pay their rent this week.

McDonald’s, Pret a Manger and Nando’s shut up shop entirely

23-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

McDonald’s, Pret a Manger and Nando’s have closed the whole of their estates and don’t look likely to re-open until the Coronavirus crisis de-escalates.

Young’s to introduce rent holiday for tenants across its pub estate

20-Mar-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Young’s will continue to trade its pubs as “a place of sanctuary in these uncertain and worrying times”.

Pressure mounts on Government to act to save hospitality jobs

20-Mar-2020 By Restaurant

Pressure is mounting on the government to come up with a significant package for employees in the hospitality sector as millions of jobs hang in the balance.

Restaurant group launches service to support kids entitled to free school meals

20-Mar-2020 By James McAllister

London-based group Qoot is launching a service across its different restaurant businesses to support children who would usually be entitled to a free school meal.

Bill’s and Dishoom are latest major groups to shutter sites

20-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

80-strong all day dining chain Bill’s and 87-strong American-themed chain TGI Friday's are the latest major national restaurant groups to temporarily shutter their sites.