Northern Ireland launches inquiry into VAT levels for hospitality and tourism sectors
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the taxation of the hospitality and tourism sectors in Northern Ireland.
Trends & Reports
It’s coming home: England’s World Cup matches lead to 16% rise in takeaway orders
England’s World Cup matches are leading to a surge in takeaway orders, according to delivery platform Just Eat.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A new restaurant from the Dorian team, Coq d’Argent’s relocation, and a map identifying female-led hospitality businesses are among this week’s most-read stories.
Pret doubles down on Dubai-style flavours
Pret a Manger is continuing to lean into the popularity of Dubai-style food and drink with a new range for summer.
Heatwave could reduce bookings by almost a half, sector warned
The heat wave that is currently sweeping across the UK could significantly reduce demand for eating out, new data suggests.
Rise of weight loss medication ‘reshaping how consumers eat and socialise’
GLP-1 weight loss medications are reshaping how consumers eat, drink and socialise, with many users increasingly choosing activities over food-focused occasions.
Benugo records highest turnover in its 27-year history
Contract caterer and café operator Benugo has recorded the highest turnover in its 27-year history, according to its latest annual report.
Togather acquires Field Vision Bars to become UK’s largest integrated live events F&B operator
Togather, the UK events business behind food experiences for festivals, stadia, office residencies and private events, has acquired Field Vision Bars, one of the country’s leading festival bar operators.
Comment
Lost in translation? The challenges of bringing Asia-born brands to the UK market
Colombo-founded restaurant brand ISSO is hoping to make waves with its live-fire seafood concept, but importing a successful restaurant brand from overseas is rarely straightforward.
Andy Burnham’s small business rates plan ‘could cost £880m’ a year
Andy Burnham’s plans to reforming business rates to support small businesses could lift more than 140,000 additional small premises out of paying business rates altogether, new research suggests.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The passing of a pioneering figure in Chinese hospitality and Loungers’ first international brand are among this week’s top news stories.
Foodservice inflation drops slightly in May
Food and drink prices in the hospitality sector eased by 0.1% month-on-month in May.
Use of weight loss medication to reduce out of home food and drink spend by £1bn
GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro will reduce out of home food and drink spending by almost £1bn by 2031, a new report suggests.
The World Cup drives 90% revenue surge for UK pubs and bars, data shows
UK pubs and bars saw revenues jump by 90% during England World Cup match periods compared with baseline trading, according to new transaction data from global payments company Square.
One in six hospitality businesses ‘at risk of failure’, new data shows
One in six hospitality businesses say they are at risk of failure within the next 12 months, according to new industry data released ahead of the consumer launch of the #VATsTheProblem campaign on 1 July.
10 brands to watch: part one
In this first of a two-part feature we identify the brands that are deserving of your attention.
Scale of the UK’s fish and chips sector revealed in new report
The scale of the UK’s love of fish and chips has been mapped in a landmark new report.
Tech
Survey finds just 54% of hospitality workers are happy in their current role
A survey of 1,446 hospitality employees has found that just over half are happy in their current role.
Technology
Ello Group looks to grow following cash injection
Tastecard and Gourmet Society owner Ello Group has secured a £16.5m revolving credit facility from HSBC to underpin growth plans as well as day-to-day operations.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The UK debut of Houston Hot Chicken and the former BiBi chef Keiran Mustafa’s latest partnership are among this week’s top news stories.
People on the move: June 2026
This month’s key appointments include new chef hires at rooftop restaurant CÉ LA VI, Isabel Mayfair, and Herts Pubs Company, alongside the appointment of a new sales and marketing director at Market Halls.
Four in 10 families plan to take advantage of Government’s Summer Savings scheme
The Government’s VAT cut for family days out is poised to give the UK hospitality sector a boost as consumers plan to take advantage of the cost savings, new data suggests.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
A joint venture with former Mangal II Chef Sertaç Dirik and restaurateur David Carter and two high-profile departures are amongst this week’s top news stories.
Rain, rain don’t go away: drizzle makes diners’ heart grow fonder, study finds
The typical British wet weather has been found to be beneficial to restaurants after a study revealed that people enjoy their visits more when there’s drizzle.
Hospitality sector hit hardest by inflation over the past decade
The hospitality industry has been the most impacted by inflation over the past decade, with pubs and bars among the hardest hit, according to new research.
Hospitality equipment suppliers back industry call for 10% VAT
Foodservice and hospitality equipment suppliers have added their support to an industry-wide call for VAT in hospitality venues to be cut to 10%.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Bouchon Racine taking the top spot at this year’s National Restaurant Awards and the relaunch of The Pem are among this week’s top news stories.
Trends
Norwegian Seafood Council encourages fish and chip shops to embrace street food trend
The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) is encouraging fish and chip shops to take inspiration from street food trends to attract new customers and demonstrate value through menu innovation.
Trends
London is enjoying a ‘taco renaissance’ as online searches for the dish surge
London is in the midst of a taco renaissance, with DesignMyNight reporting a 261% year-on-year growth in searches for the cuisine.
Trends
Not joe Friday: Saturday is the biggest day for coffee consumption, data reveals
The UK’s love of coffee is increasingly becoming a weekend pleasure rather than a weekday boost, according to fresh research.
Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder join Off The Table campaign urging chefs to remove farmed salmon from menus
Angela Hartnett OBE and Luke Holder have added their names to the Off The Table initiative, signing an open letter calling on chefs across the UK to remove farmed salmon from their menus.
Barclays’ data shows hospitality spend rises as transactions fall
Eating and drinking out recorded growth in total spend year on year, despite a decline in the number of transactions, according to new Barclays figures.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The #VATsTheProblem campaign racing past 100,000 signatures and Andrew Wong’s upcoming Chinese pub are among this week’s top hospitality headlines.
Wingstop named fastest growing restaurant operator in the Sunday Times 100
Wingstop UKI has been recognised as the fastest growing restaurant operator for the fourth year running on The Sunday Times 100 list of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies.
#VATsTheProblem campaign passes 100,000-signature mark
The Tom Kerridge-backed #VATsTheProblem campaign has passed the 100,000-signature mark in just five days.
Delivery sales rise at the expense of takeaway orders
Delivery sales rose by almost 6% against the same month last year, while takeaway and click-and-collect orders fell by a similar figure.
Giorgio Locatelli to join Grace Dent as Celebrity MasterChef judge
Giorgio Locatelli has been announced as the newest judge on BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef, joining Grace Dent on the programme’s judging panel.
Sadiq Khan steps in after Soho residents’ group reveals plans to challenge all licensing applications
The London Mayor has suggested he will overrule the Soho Society after it vowed to challenge all new applications for pubs and restaurants in the area.
Tom Kerridge gets behind fresh campaign for 10% VAT
Tom Kerridge is fronting a new campaign calling for hospitality VAT to be cut to 10%.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
The closure of Birmingham’s Michelin-starred Simpsons and Big Mama’s plans to cross the pond are among this week’s top news stories.
BrewDog co-founder James Watt launches new beer venture
BrewDog co-founder James Watt has revealed plans to launch a new beer company.
UK eating out market growth revised down
The UK eating out market will reach a value of £102.8bn in 2026, according to new forecasts.
Ardent Pub Group and Popeyes named among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work
Popeyes and Ardent Pub Group have been recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list 2026.
VAT on children’s meals to be temporarily cut to 5%
The Government will cut VAT on children’s meals from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September.
Pizza Express reports a strong first quarter with like-for-like sales up 5%
Pizza Express reports a 5% rise in UK like-for-like sales in the first quarter of FY26, as the group says it continues to outperform the wider casual dining market.
‘Industry working incredibly hard just to stand still’ as hospitality sees sales decline
Hospitality groups experienced a 0.4% decline in like-for-like sales in April, as consumers continued to tighten their spend.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Another high-profile opening from Gordon Ramsay and the collapse of one of the UK’s oldest restaurant groups were among this week’s biggest hospitality headlines.
Friday five: the week’s top stories
Adam Byatt’s and Spencer Metzger’s upcoming restaurants and a decline in fast-food and casual dining restaurant traffic are among this week’s top news stories.
KERB drives £38.9m in revenue for independent hospitality operators
Independent food traders in KERB’s network generated £38.9m in revenue in 2025 despite mounting pressures on the hospitality sector.
Restaurants and cafes fined almost £9m for hiring illegal workers
UK restaurants and cafes were hit with fines totalling £8,912,000 for hiring illegal workers in the third quarter of 2025, according to Home Office data analysed by training provider Caredemy.