Weekend new bulletin for pubs - 25 and 26 April

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown ahead of the weekend of 25 and 26 April.

Further reading:

  • Councils ‘letting pubs down’ with slow payment of grants - About 10% (31) of the country’s 325 councils have paid out less than a quarter of grants to eligible businesses with Birmingham, Manchester and Brighton among the “worst culprits”, new research has found.
  • Campaigners demand grant threshold be raised to £150k - A new campaign has urged ministers to expand the rateable value threshold for pubs from £51,000 so they can access a grant to see them through the closure period.
  • Licensees despair over ‘no communication from billionaire pubco owners’ - Wellington Pub Company licensees have told The Morning Advertiser of their concern about the pub group’s lack of communication amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Admiral to resume rent contributions for some operators - Admiral Taverns has announced the latest steps in its response to the coronavirus crisis, with some operators now being asked to contribute towards rent for May and June.
  • ‘Hospitality will be among last areas to open’ cabinet minister confirms - Pubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses will be one of the last sectors to exit lockdown, minister for the cabinet office Michael Gove has said.
  • Rent statutory demands and wind-up notices banned by Government - The Government is set to temporarily void statutory demands and winding-up petitions issued to commercial tenants amid the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Pubs need ‘minimum of 3 weeks’ notice to reopen’ - The pub trade needs notice of at least three weeks, but ideally four, to give sufficient time to reopen, one industry body has said.
  • What could the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown around the world mean for UK pubs? - As drinkers tentatively return to bars in mainland China and a number of countries announce cautious plans to emerge from lockdown, what can we glean about how and when pub trading could resume in the UK?