All news articles for May 2020

Government aid: further income support for the self-employed will be available from August

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Self-employed income support scheme to be extended

By Nikkie Thatcher

The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be extended with applications opening in August for a second and final grant, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced today (29 May).

Non-contact sport? 'Unsurprisingly, fans have missed sport, particularly the connection, community and camaraderie it brings', according to MatchPint's co-founder Dom Collingwood

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Get ready for Premier League kick-off (part 2)

By Stuart Stone

With a Premier League kick-off scheduled for 17 June and pubs slated to start opening less than a month later, what challenges could the return of live sport pose operators?

Collective effort: Hospitality Insurance Group Action (HIGA) has selected two insurance companies to launch group action against

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Group action launched against Aviva and QBE insurers

By Emily Hawkins

Insurance companies Aviva and QBE (UK) Limited have been chosen as the focus of an action group that intends to launch a group claim against insurers refusing to pay out to pubs for loss of income during the coronavirus crisis.

Landlord’s offer: Wellington licensees have been offered three months of free rent and and two quarters at half rent but will have to take on an extra five years to their lease

Wellington Pub Company

Licensees rebuff billionaire-owned pubco's rent offer

By Nikkie Thatcher

Wellington Pub Company publicans have rebuffed the landlord’s offer of three months’ free rent and two quarters charged at 50%, following an updated statement from the pub group.

League restart: 92 outstanding Premier League fixtures are to be played across six weekends and three midweek rounds before a provisional end date on 25 July

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Premier League season to resume on 17 June

By Stuart Stone

The Premier League has revealed that the 2019-20 season will return from lockdown on 17 June – just 18 days before some pubs are slated to reopen.

Food for thought: chefs and operators share their thoughts on creating a menu for reduced trade

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How to reduce your food menu for reopening

By Emily Hawkins

As the time for reopening gets closer, you may want to set out your new food menu and that probably means making the offer smaller but stronger.

Annual review: Stew & Oyster’s Jay Weir says ‘the past six weeks or so already feel like half a lifetime’

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‘Never let a crisis go to waste’

By Jay Weir, operations director, Stew & Oyster

As I look back on my first year as ops director of Yorkshire-based pub operator Stew & Oyster, to say it hasn’t quite been what I was expecting would be like saying beer is moderately palatable – rather an understatement.

Hygiene procedure: using gloves is one practice operators could implement when reopening

Time to clean up your act before reopening

By Nikkie Thatcher

The countdown is on for reopening your pub. Make sure you are setting and maintaining high standards when it comes to cleanliness and good practices

In depth: pubs must do all they can to claim on insurance policies they have taken out

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The real ‘wide area effect’

By Tim Murphy, director of Luddite Brewing Company

We’re the Luddite Brewing Company, our brewpub has been closed due to coronavirus and there seems to be a problem with our business interruption insurance.

A close call: how can pub kitchens operate under social distancing measures?

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How can pub kitchens operate with social distancing?

By Stuart Stone

While two-metre distancing in pubs remains a raw subject, we look at what measures operators need to consider to avoid making a meal of their post-lockdown kitchen policies.

Online alternatives: publicans have been encouraged to look at how to incorporate online events with social distancing

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‘Keep online quizzes local and true to life’

By Emily Hawkins

Jay Flynn, whose Virtual Pub Quiz broke a Guinness World Record earlier this month, shared his tips on running a successful online pub quiz, which include keeping question topics accessible and using word-of-mouth marketing.

Coronavirus update for pubs – spring bank holiday weekend

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Spring bank holiday weekend news bulletin for pubs

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown ahead of the spring bank holiday weekend.

In limbo: most operators are unsure whether they will open as early as 4 July

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50% of pubs in limbo over whether to reopen on 4 July

By Nicholas Robinson

A lack of Government guidance on its expectations for the pub trade once lockdown is lifted has left the sector in limbo over whether or not they will reopen on the tentative date of 4 July.

Clean up your act: how is your pub planning for reopening?

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The steps to take to reopen your pub

By Emily Hawkins

Flush the beer lines, cleanse your kit and restock the cellar – how to get your pub ready for reopening

Leader’s departure: managing director Chris Hopkins is retiring from Hydes Brewery

Hopkins to retire from Hydes

By Ed Bedington

Industry veteran Chris Hopkins has announced he’s stepping down from the managing director role at Manchester-based family brewer Hydes after 22 years at the helm.

Cleanliness standards: hygiene practices have been outlined in the guidance

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UKH reveals guidance for reopening

By Nikkie Thatcher

In-depth cleaning regimes and adhering to distancing rules are two of the main themes operators should consider when reopening, trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has outlined.

Cash flow now: pub operators have said gift cards have helped them feel more confident about reopening

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‘Use big discounts to attract voucher purchases’

By Emily Hawkins

Publicans operating gift card schemes have said they are not worried that making sales now could mean they do not take more money when they are eventually able to reopen.