Lockdown

Kate Nicholls: "Businesses are in a far less resilient place than during the first lockdown"

17-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has said it is 'imperative' the current lockdown in England is time limited so that as many businesses as possible can reopen in December.

Scottish restaurants and pubs face ‘permanent closure' under tighter Covid restrictions

17-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurants and pubs in parts of Scotland face ‘permanent closure’ following today’s (17 November) announcement by Nicola Sturgeon that 11 local authorities across the west of Scotland will move into the highest level of lockdown restrictions later this...

Stricter tier system could be introduced this winter to help curb pandemic

17-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

A stricter tier system could come into place once the lockdown in England is lifted following calls from public health officials to act to limit the further spread of Coronavirus.

Greggs to cut over 800 jobs as lockdown continues to hit sales

16-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bakery chain Greggs is to shed more than 800 jobs as a result of the hit to sales caused by the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions.

Stormont sets out reopening plan for Northern Ireland hospitality as lockdown extended for further week

13-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Northern Ireland's leaders have announced a one-week extension to the country's 'circuit-breaker' lockdown, with the hospitality industry allowed to begin partially reopening from next Friday.

Farika Holden: “Building a brand is not easy, but it's been good for my mental health"

13-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

How publican Farika Holden created food business Grateful Pies after being forced to close her London pub because of Coronavirus.

Gleneagles Hotel to close for 11 weeks amid tougher lockdown restrictions

12-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Gleneagles Hotel says it will remain close throughout the festive season and all of January after tougher lockdown restrictions were announced for Perth and Kinross.

Scottish hospitality businesses 'will not survive' if forced to close before 10pm

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland 'will not survive Christmas' if they are forced to close earlier than 10pm, the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has warned.

Sacha Lord calls for Government to collaborate and rethink tiered restrictions

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Greater Manchester's night time economy advisor Sacha Lord has called on Government to work collaboratively with the sector and rethink its post-lockdown hospitality restrictions.

Hospitality leaders call for amendment to Enterprise Investment Scheme to help rebuild sector

11-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Leaders from the hospitality sector are calling on the Government to adapt the current Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) temporarily, which they say will incentivise investors to help rebuild the hospitality...

UKHospitality renews calls for targeted sector support as UK unemployment continues to surge

10-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality has said the latest employment stats released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reinforces the need for the Government to deliver targeted financial support to hospitality businesses.

Starmer calls for curfew rethink

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Sir Keir Starmer has called for a rethink of the Government's 10pm curfew on hospitality, suggesting it would be better to stagger closing times once businesses reopen post lockdown.

The Waterside Inn to remain closed until January in light of lockdown 'uncertainty'

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chef Alain Roux will not reopen his three-Michelin starred Waterside Inn restaurant in Bray until the new year due to the 'uncertainty' of when England's lockdown restrictions will be lifted.

Welsh hospitality begins to reopen following 'fire-break'

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across Wales can reopen from today (9 November) following the end of the country's 17-day 'fire-break' lockdown.

Relaxed regulations allowing restaurants and pubs to operate as takeaways extended until 2022

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Relaxed regulations that have allowed restaurants and pubs to operate as hot food takeaways during the Coronavirus pandemic have been extended until 2022, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.

Friday Five: the week's top news stories

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

A round-up some of the main hospitality news stories from the past week including relief over the extension to the Job Retention Scheme, the welcoming of off-premise alcohol sales, and arrests made in connection with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Top chefs join line up for second Belazu Virtual Banquet

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Chefs including Ollie Dabbous, Ravneet Gill, James Elliott, Jeremy Lee, Eyal Jagermann and Ixta Belfrage will participate in the second Belazu Virtual Banquet following the success of the first online event in May.

Rockfish opens retail fish market in Brixham

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

Rockfish has fast-tracked the opening of its new retail fish market in Brixham, which launches today (6 November).

Hospitality divided over second England lockdown

06-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The hospitality sector is divided over the second national lockdown, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence data.

South West restaurateurs remain optimistic despite lockdown frustration

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurateurs in the South West of England, where infection rates remain low, are optimistic for the future despite the frustration of having to shut down due to the country-wide lockdown.

Chancellor confirms furlough extension

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has further extended the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) until March 2021.

The Lowdown: lockdown Christmas parties

05-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

With the prospect of lockdown 2 putting a dampener on Christmas parties, restaurants are finding different ways of keeping the festive celebrations alive.

High street operators commit to remaining open throughout second England lockdown

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Bakery chain Greggs and fast food giant KFC are among the national chains that will continue to keep their entire estates open throughout the second country-wide lockdown in England.

Further furlough extension expected

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to further extend the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) to all businesses that remain shut beyond 2 December.

Government called on for more support to safeguard future of 12,000 pubs

05-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The Government is being urged to provide more longer-term support to the pub sector to save as many as 12,000 pubs from permanent closure as England enters its second lockdown.

Johnson refuses to rule out lockdown extension in England as MPs back second shutdown

05-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Prime Minister has failed to rule out extending England's second national lockdown, which comes into force today (5 November), beyond the initial four weeks.

Trade bodies call for six-month investment to secure survival of sector

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Trade bodies representing the UK’s hospitality, pubs and their supply chain businesses have called on the Government to provide a six-month investment plan to secure the future of those sectors.

Legislative loophole allows for takeaway beer sales

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

The Government has partially U-turned on its decision to ban pubs in England selling takeaway alcoholic drinks during the forthcoming November lockdown, legislation published yesterday (3 November) shows.

Welsh hospitality gets greenlight to reopen with 'severe' restrictions following 'fire-break'

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars will be able to welcome groups of up to four people from different households from Monday (9 November) when the country's 'fire-break' lockdown lifts.

Government further extends business support loan deadlines in wake of second lockdown

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Application deadlines for the Treasury’s UK-wide programme of business support loans have been further extended following the announcement that England will move back into lockdown from Thursday (5 November)

Sadiq Khan calls for extension to business rates holiday

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the Government to extend the current business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses.

Bookings surge ahead of second lockdown

03-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Chefs and restaurateurs across England have seen a surge in reservations ahead of the second country-wide lockdown, with booking numbers three-times higher than the week before in some cases.

McDonald's to keep entire estate open through lockdown

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

McDonald's will keep all its restaurants in England open during the forthcoming November lockdown for takeaway, drive thru and delivery, with just its dine-in areas set to close.

Takeaway beer ban branded 'soul destroying' as pubs call for urgent rethink

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

A ban on pubs in England selling takeaway drinks during the forthcoming November lockdown has been branded 'soul destroying', with industry voices calling for the Government to rethink the measure.

Thousands of hospitality venues to miss out on grants without changes to State Aid restrictions

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Sector trade bodies have warned 20,000 hospitality businesses will miss out on lockdown grants, putting over one million jobs at risk, unless Government takes advantage of State Aid reforms.

Trade bodies demand targeted support amid warning second lockdown 'will hurt for years to come'

02-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Trade bodies have demanded the Government provide hospitality businesses ordered to close this week with financial support that's proportional if not greater than what was available during the first lockdown.

Hospitality venues across England hit with month-long closure as country plunged back into lockdown

31-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across England must close for a month from next week, with the furlough scheme extended to support those jobs impacted.

Pret distances itself from founder Julian Metcalfe following lockdown comments

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Pret A Manager has distanced itself from founder Julian Metcalfe after he caused outrage by urging the Government not to introduce another lockdown to save a ‘few thousand lives’.

Hospitality sector calls on Welsh Government for support

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Cymru has written to members of the Welsh Government outlining proposals for the support of the country's hospitality businesses during the 'fire-break' lockdown and beyond.

Tampopo closes Piccadilly Gardens restaurant that was ‘in the eye of the storm’

27-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Pan-Asian restaurant Tampopo has closed permanently its Piccadilly Gardens site, saying that its location meant it was ‘in the eye of the storm’ of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Hospitality sector presents Scottish Government with 'workable strategic framework'

27-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Trade Bodies representing Scotland’s hospitality sector have written to the First Minister and MSPs proposing a 'workable strategic framework' for the sector.

Scotland to enter a five-level Coronavirus alert system

23-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Scotland is to enter a five-level Coronavirus lockdown system first Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

"It's insulting" - restaurateurs condemn Sunak’s financial package for not going far enough

23-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Chefs and restaurateurs have said the Chancellor’s latest round of financial measures, designed to help support the hospitality sector, will simply not be enough to save businesses.

Scottish hospitality launches legal action against Government restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Five of Scotland’s hospitality industry bodies have commenced legal action against restrictions imposed on the licensed trade by the Scottish Government.

Sunak unveils new financial support for businesses facing tighter restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out a series of financial measures that seeks to help businesses operating under tighter restrictions, including a cash grant scheme targeted at the hospitality sector.

Yotam Ottolenghi: "Ironically, I’m begging to be shutdown"

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Yotam Ottolenghi has said the Tier 2 restrictions imposed on London has seen year-on-year takings at his London restaurants fall by between 80% and 90%.

Legal challenge launched against Manchester restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Sacha Lord, the night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, has commenced a Judicial Review into the legality of implementing emergency restrictions on the region’s hospitality sector without scientific evidence.

Sunak set to introduce Tier 2 finance support

22-Oct-2020 By Finn Scott-Delany

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to announce new financial support for hospitality businesses in areas operating under Tier 2 Coronavirus restrictions, such as London and Birmingham.

Sturgeon extends hospitality restrictions as Scotland heads for tiered system

21-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across Scotland’s central belt will have to remain closed for at least a further week, as leaders work on a tiered system for the country.

Lussmanns closes permanently its Tring restaurant in ‘extremely challenging' conditions

21-Oct-2020 By Restaurant

Sustainable fish and grill restaurant Lussmans will close permanently its Tring restaurant from lockdown, citing the ‘extremely challenging and uncertain’ conditions in the hospitality sector as the reason.