Legislation

Forecast given: the tracker predicted a growth in essential and discretionary spending (image: Getty/ljubaphoto)

Hospitality spending rises despite falling confidence

By Shwetali Sapte, MCA

Consumer confidence fell for the third consecutive quarter in Q1 2022 but the percentage of consumers spending more on restaurants rose by nine points quarter-on-quarter, according to data from the Deloitte Consumer Tracker.

Sector needs actions now: Queen's speech on Tuesday 10 May provides 'missed opportunity' for reducing burden on hospitality (Credit: Getty/Weiyi Zhu)

Queen's speech provides 'missed opportunity' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The Queen’s opening speech in the House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday 10 May) proved “an opportunity missed” as the hospitality industry needs “concrete action” to reduce the burdens faced by the sector.

Tipping battle: plans to allow sector staff to keep all tips were first spoken about in 2016 (credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

Anger over plans to scrap tips law

By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have reacted angrily to national reports that plans to ensure hospitality staff get the tips they have earned have been axed.

Permanent fixture: 51% of licensees felt this years extra bank holiday should be made permanent while 49% did not (Credit: Getty/naumoid)

Licensees divided on making Jubilee bank holiday permanent

By Rebecca Weller

Making the extra bank holiday for the Queens Platinum Jubilee a permanent fixture would be a fitting tribute but thanking the service industry would be a better celebration according to licensees across the sector.

Action set to be taken: inflation hikes means further costs to pubs (Credit: Getty/ Ibrahim Akcengiz)

Interest rate rise to battle increasing food prices

By Rebecca Weller

The Bank of England is today (Thursday 5 May) expected to announce the biggest increase to its base interest rate in 13 years, from 0.75% to 1%, in a bid to tackle inflation amid soaring food prices, according to a report by Sky News.

Untold volatility: post-Brexit checks on EU imports have been delayed for a fourth time (Credit: Getty/MEDITERRANEAN)

Jacob Reese-Mogg delays post-Brexit checks on EU goods

By Rebecca Weller

Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Reese-Mogg has announced a fourth delay in the commencement of post-Brexit checks on EU goods in a move he claimed would save British businesses £1bn in annual costs.

Pubs can't tackle drink spiking alone: BBPA shares support for Home Affairs Committee's report (Pictured: BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin)

Pubs can't tackle drink spiking issue alone

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs work hard to keep their customers safe, but cannot overcome the issue of drink spiking alone, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has stated.

Manifesto pledges: the SBPA wants more help to boost the late-night economy (credit: Getty/fotoVoyager)

SBPA calls for late-night economy champs in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

New ‘hospitality and late-night economy champions’ should be appointed in Edinburgh and Glasgow, according to the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) as part of its manifesto launch ahead of local elections on 5 May.

Home Affairs Committee report: incidents of drink spiking require better investigations (Credit: Getty/PeopleImages)

Drink spiking incidents need better investigations

By Rebecca Weller

Incidents of drink spiking require better investigations and new strategies to reduce the number of occurrences, according to a report published today (Tuesday 26 April) by the Home Affairs Committee.

Spending rise: the good weather and first restriction-free Easter weekend since 2019 saw a sales boost for pubs (image : Getty/mihailomilovanovic)

Easter bank holiday spend up 74%

By Nikkie Thatcher

Consumer spend in UK pubs, bars and nightclubs over the Easter weekend this year was up by almost three quarters (74%) compared to 2019 figures.

Inquiry submissions: Michael Kill and Sacha Lord are two industry leaders quizzing the Government

NTIA fires broadsides at UK and Welsh governments

By Gary Lloyd

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has joined forces with leading figures within the sector in criticising the Government’s draft terms for its inquiry into the full impact Covid has had for hospitality.

Welcome news: SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson says the move is long overdue

SLTA: end of mandatory face coverings ‘not before time’

By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) has welcomed the announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that the legal requirement to wear face coverings on public transport and in some public places – including licensed hospitality – will move...

Official figures: data from the Office of National Statistics found total GDP for the UK in February 2022 grew by 0.1% (image: Getty/atiatiati)

Sector ‘main growth driver' of economy

By Nikkie Thatcher

The accommodation and food services sector activities grew by 8.6% in February 2022 and was the main contributor to the service industry’s growth in that month, official figures have revealed.

Deep dive: the inquiry aims to examine the UK's response to Covid-19 (image: Getty/Creative Crop)

UKH responds to Covid-19 inquiry consultation

By Nikkie Thatcher

Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) welcomed the opportunity to comment on the Covid-19 Inquiry draft terms of reference, particularly the specific mention of hospitality.

Salary rise: the increase in wages come after the Low Pay Commission's recommendation (image: Getty/lovelyday12)

NLW to rise by 6.6%

By Nikkie Thatcher

National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) will increase from today (Friday 1 April), with the NLW hike labelled “the largest ever uplift”, the Government has announced.

Lower rate: VAT has been at 12.5% on food, soft drinks and accommodation since October 2021 (image: Getty/valiantsin suprunovich)

20% VAT hike comes into force

By Nikkie Thatcher

The return of a 20% VAT rate on food, accommodation and soft drinks is implemented from today (Friday 1 April).

Opinion piece: Tory Peer and chief executive of the Association of Conservative Clubs Philip Smith looks back on Government support amid the pandemic (image: Getty/Luis Davilla)

Opinion

'Give the Government credit, where credit is due'

By Philip Smith, the Lord Smith of Hindhead CBE and chief executive of the Association of Conservative Clubs

As we emerge from the Covid pandemic I think we can all agree that this has been the most extraordinary time in most of our lives, and in the life of the nation. There will be many lessons to be learned.

Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill: new laws for hospitality welcomed by trade body UKHospitality (Credit: Getty/sturti)

UKH welcomes bill to deal with Covid rent debt

By Rebecca Weller

Trade body UKHospitality (UKH) has welcomed the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill, citing dealing with rent debt “imperative” for the sector as it recovers from the Covid pandemic.

What's in the news 25 March

The MA's Review of the Week

'Deaf ear at the heart of Government'

By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with UK Hospitality's Kate Nicholls to discuss the week's big developments including the disappointment of the Spring Statement and the challenges facing the sector down the line.

Operators disappointed with Spring Statement: Chancellor's statement a

Spring Statement a 'bitter blow' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement yesterday (Wednesday 23 March) a “bitter blow” for the sector as operators express disappointment with the Chancellor as he could have done more to ensure sustainability in the industry.

Lacking vital support: business rates discount of 50% welcome but will help only the smallest businesses in the sector (Credit: Getty/stocknshares)

SPRING STATEMENT MARCH 2022

50% business rates relief for eligible hospitality businesses

By Rebecca Weller

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced a temporary 50% business rates relief for eligible hospitality businesses up to £110,000, worth £1.7bn for small businesses and effective from next month, as part of the 2022 Spring Statement.

Money matters: although the national insurance contribution threshold was raised, trade bodies were disappointed with Sunak’s speech (credit: Getty/Zedelle)

spring statement march 2022

More cash in pockets of sector staff as NI threshold raised by £3k

By Gary Lloyd

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased the threshold before workers start paying national insurance contributions by £3,000 in Wednesday’s Spring Statement meaning staff in the sector will keep more of the money they have earned.

Hospitality 'disappointed' as no mention of VAT rate in Spring Statement

Spring Statement March 2022

Sunak silent on VAT in Spring Statement

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor made no reference to keeping the VAT rate at 12.5% permanently in the Spring Statement on Wednesday 23 March, meaning the rate will rise to 20% in April.

Truly punishing: 38% of operators cut trading hours to combat skyrocketing energy price increases (Credit: Getty/hit003)

Almost 40% of operators cut trading hours to combat rising costs

By Rebecca Weller

Almost two fifths of operators have been forced to cut trading hours to combat cost increases across the board, according to a poll conducted by trade organisations UKHospitality, the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the British Beer and Pub Association...

What's in the news 18 March

The MA's Review of the Week

‘We’re going to see the biggest division in wealthiest and poorest’

By Gary Lloyd

The MA’s Gary Lloyd caught up with night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord to get his views on the two-year anniversary of when Boris Johnson told people not to go to pubs before closing them, the upcoming Spring Statement, cost of...

Confusing message: the SLTA and UKHospitality Scotland have expressed disappointment over the extension of face mask rules in Scotland (credit: Getty/Drazen Zigic)

SLTA fears for bar staff over face mask extension

By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) fears the government’s decision to continue forcing pub customers to wear face masks could lead to angry confrontations with bar staff.

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