Legislation

Business secretary urges councils to distribute Omicron grants

26-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng has written to councils across England, calling on them to allocate the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants.

'Sensible and pragmatic' travel restrictions lift welcomed by sector

26-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The removal of mandatory coronavirus tests for fully vaccinated international travellers to the UK has been welcomed by trade bodies across the hospitality sector.

Scottish restrictions ‘worth it’ as nightclubs reopen

25-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said restrictions that have hit hospitality hard during the pandemic had been “worth it” as nightclubs and large indoor events were permitted to resume from Monday 24 January.

Easing of NI restrictions welcomed by trade body

20-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster has welcomed the news restrictions in Northern Ireland are set to be eased at the end of the week.

Plan B rules lift ‘good news’ but severity of impact ‘must not be underestimated’

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government's latest announcement that Plan B rules are being scrapped has been cautiously welcomed by trade bodies, alongside calls for further support.

Parting present from the partying PM?

19-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And just like that Boris Johnston announced the end of Plan B, and much rejoicing was heard throughout the country.

Work from home advice scrapped, Gov confirms

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Plan B measures including guidance to work from home and mandatory Covid passes for nightclubs are to be dropped, the Government has announced.

Plan B easing announcement expected

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to reveal the lifting of Plan B rules will be implemented next week in an announcement later today (Wednesday 19 January).

'Long and arduous recovery' for Scottish pubs after restrictions lift

19-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The announcement of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland being lifted as from Monday (24 January) has been welcomed by hospitality trade bodies, however the sector has called for clarity regarding dancefloors.

Restrictions must end next Monday at latest says UKH Scotland

18-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality Scotland has demanded restrictions imposed on the sector be lifted by Monday 24 January at the latest.

Welsh Six Nations games to be played in Wales

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed Wales’s Six Nations rugby matches are to be hosted in Wales as planned after restrictions were lifted, offering a chance for hospitality businesses in the country to recoup some revenue from lost trade...

Welsh government accused of ‘reckless posturing’ as anger in hospitality grows

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While Welsh operators will be looking forward to the lifting of restrictions in a couple of weeks, anger is growing as to whether the restrictions were needed at all.

Opinion

Infection rates and restrictions - has the anti-hospitality bubble burst?

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While it’s good news that Wales has now pledged to lift restrictions on pubs, the question does remain - what purpose did they serve in the first place?

Welsh Government lifts coronavirus restrictions in ‘common-sense approach’

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced a four-step plan to ease coronavirus restrictions in Wales from Saturday (15 January).

The Lock In Podcast

Hard times ahead?

13-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team review the Christmas that wasn't and take a look to the months ahead and what to expect. We talk the challenging financial situation with top advice from expert advisor Chris Worden from 1st Business Rescue, hear from award winning...

NI trade body laments ‘worst trading performance in living memory’

13-Jan-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster has branded business in the sector in Northern Ireland as the “worst trading performance in living memory” as half of businesses have suffered losses in excess of 50%, according to its latest survey.

Scottish hospitality businesses ‘left in limbo’

12-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Scottish hospitality businesses have been ‘left in limbo’ and ‘need answers now’ following Nicola Sturgeon’s latest coronavirus update as the sector saw another opportunity for recovery ‘snatched away’, according to trade bodies across the sector.

NTIA calls for Gov to reduce Covid isolation period

10-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for the Government to consider cutting down the Covid isolation period for hospitality workers, with the industry to examine a ‘Test & Release’ system.

Welsh pubs lost £16k over Christmas as WBPA calls for relaxed restrictions

07-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Welsh pubs lost £16,000 in revenue over the fortnight festive period from 19 December to 1 January, the Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) recently revealed as the First Minister announced no change to Covid restrictions in Wales.

Councils receive Omicron grant cash

07-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Local authorities will receive the funding for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants from today (Friday 7 January), the Government has announced.

Grim situation as lockdown by proxy bites

06-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And so the trade wakes up to January, the most miserable month for the sector and the much anticipated lockdown appears to be currently receding, Tory scandal dependent of course, into the distance.

New isolation rules for Scotland welcomed by sector

06-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

New isolation rules for Scotland, including reducing self-isolation time from 10 to seven days, have been welcomed by trade bodies across the hospitality sector.

‘Good chance’ fresh restrictions won’t be imposed says PM

05-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson implied it was unlikely further Covid measures would be implemented to tackle the spread of Omicron.

Welsh pubs see a quarter of the revenue of English pubs

05-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh pubs have seen at least 25% less revenue than their English counterparts due to the more stringent restrictions imposed in Wales.

Sector welcomes no new Covid rules in England before new year

28-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Health secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed there will not be any further Covid restrictions in England before new year.

Hospitality Ulster welcomes £40m support package

24-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster has welcomed a financial package to help sector sites in the run-up to Christmas, which is greater than what has been offered in England.

NTIA – shutting night-time sites means ‘no chance of survival’

24-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The night-time economy is facing “no chance of survival” if the Government closes sites, according to the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

NI nightclub closures and lack of support details branded ‘contemptable’

23-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster has branded the move to close nightclubs and impose strict restrictions on the sector while still not revealing details of any financial help as “contemptable”.

Rule of 6 and table service return ‘devastating’ for Welsh pubs

22-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Fresh measures including the rule of six and face masks will be in place for Welsh hospitality businesses from 6am on Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December).

It's not biting the hand that feeds if its scraps from the table

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It wasn’t so much a shining knight, riding to our rescue on the white horse, more like a clown on the back of a knackered old seaside donkey.

Local authorities to distribute latest grants

22-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The one-off grants of up to £6,000 will be administered by local authorities “in the coming weeks”, according to the Government.

£1bn fund for hospitality like ‘sticking an Elastoplast over a gaping wound’

22-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor’s announcement of a £1bn fund for hospitality venues has come under fire from operators, who claim the support does not come close to recovering lost trade.

SBPA welcomes financial aid but insists on timeline to end restrictions

22-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has described the financial aid being given to hospitality businesses in Scotland as a “vital lifeline” but added a timeline marking the removal of recently announced restrictions must be implemented.

UKH welcomes cash support for hospitality from Government

21-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Rishi Sunak has this afternoon (21 December) announced a new round of grants for the hospitality sector of up to £6,000 per premises.

Support for sector expected to be revealed after Scottish gov receives extra £220m

21-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A Government announcement on financial support for the hospitality sector is expected later today (Tuesday 21 December).

‘Absolutely no way’ operators can unofficially enforce restrictions

21-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UK Government must make an official decision on hospitality Covid measures, otherwise staff could face "fed up" customers refusing to obey unofficial rules, said the owner of the Atlas Bar in Manchester.

UKH Cymru welcomes business rates relief as Wales shuts out sports fans

21-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

A 50% relief in business rates in Wales has been welcomed by UKHospitality Cymru as a boost for the beleaguered hospitality sector but has warned urgent additional support will be needed to avoid “economic carnage”.

NTIA – one third of nightclubs may close within a month without Gov cash

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

One third of nightclubs expect to close within a month if no Government support is forthcoming in what the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) is describing as a “cataclysmic Christmas”.

More than 100,000 businesses call for financial reassurance

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

More than 100,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have called for a #BusinessBooster and urgent assurances financial support will be provided to these sectors who are hitting rock bottom following Plan B measures.

Trade warnings as UK is in shutdown ‘in all but name’

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality has warned of the costs of potential closure for the hospitality sector while Greene King said the trade is already in shutdown “in all but name”.

Cash pledge for cafes and fast-food chains ‘utterly indefensible’

20-Dec-2021 By Gary Lloyd

Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) managing director Colin Wilkinson has branded the move to include cafes, takeaways and fast-food multinationals in funding pledged to help the hospitality sector as “utterly indefensible”.

Cry to Rishi for help or see 10,000 sites shut for good

20-Dec-2021 By Georgi Gyton, MCA

Hospitality leaders have warned Chancellor Rishi Sunak that he must commit to a package of support for businesses within the next 24 hours or risk the permanent closure of thousands of pubs and restaurants.

Lockdown by proxy must come with support

20-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It was a sobering experience watching my social feeds this weekend, as operator after operator voiced their despair as they watched Christmas trade fall off a cliff.

‘Payroll chaos’ at GXO threatens beer deliveries to thousands of pubs

20-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

An industrial action ballot has been threatened at logistics firm GXO because of a “complete mess” in the new payroll system.

The MA's Review of the Week

'The least Mad Friday we've had for years...'

17-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Christmas looming, The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington caught up with Revolution Bars CEO Rob Pitcher to get his take on the headlines of the week, from the lack of support from Rishi, through to the "over-reaction" in Wales which...

Pubs to sell 37m fewer pints and lose out on £297m this Christmas

17-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pubs have been predicted to sell 37m fewer pints and lose out on £297m in trade this Christmas, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Welsh nightclubs to close day after Boxing Day

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Nightclubs in Wales will be forced to close from Monday 27 December under new restrictions from the Welsh Government.

Sunak says ‘there are existing support measures in place’

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Chancellor Rishi Sunak reiterated that there are “existing support measures” for the hospitality sector.

The Chancellor must "step out of the shadows" and support hospitality

17-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Chancellor must “step out of the shadows” and offer financial support as the hospitality sector was only just getting off its knees before the emergence of Omicron, according to professional services and investment management company Colliers.

December revenue predicted to drop by a quarter

17-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Government need to step in and provide financial help before it’s too late as December revenue for the hospitality sector has been predicted to drop by a further quarter, according to industry body UKHospitality.