Legislation

Time is ticking on more than one issue: Andy Slee says the Chancellor must do something for the sector in Budget

OPINION

Utility firms’ £1bn weekly bonanza and Covid loans timebomb

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent brewers (SIBA)

I am optimistic about the long-term future of hospitality. If lockdown taught us anything, it was people’s hunger to meet friends and family and to support local community pubs and breweries.

Company news: there was a significant jump in the number of insolvencies in the hospitality industry in the fourth quarter of 2023, RSM UK's Robyn Duffy says (image: Getty/Fentino)

Hospitality insolvencies up more than a third

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of firms in the accommodation and food services sector becoming insolvent has increased by 37% on an annual basis, official statistics have found.

Outlook for 2024: Scottish venues experienced a poor new year according to SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson

SLTA ‘deeply concerned’ over state of hospitality in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

Three out of four Scottish hospitality operators will need government support to survive this year while 96% say the Scottish government is out of touch with business community, according to the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association).

Positive step: UKH welcomes measures to ban drip pricing (Credit: Getty/istankov)

UKH welcomes measures to ban drip pricing

By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has welcomed new Government legislation banning drip pricing as “important features” to help pubs with rooms are excluded from the bill.

Call for help: UKHospitality Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to introduce a 75% business rates relief scheme (image: Getty/selamiozalp)

Scottish venues £110k worse off

By Nikkie Thatcher

A lack of support from the Scottish Government has left hospitality venues more than £100,000 worse off than their counterparts in England, figures have shown.

Government support: NTIA calls for VAT cut

NTIA calls for Gov to slash VAT

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has urged for VAT to be cut for all businesses in the Spring Budget to save the night time economy from collapse.

No surprise: UKH urged Gov to mitigate costs for sector to avoid further fuelling inflation (Credit: Getty/The Good Brigade)

UKH: 'inflation rise no surprise'

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms will have “no choice” but to pass further costs onto consumers without “action to mitigate costs”, further fuelling inflation.

Call on Government: BII CEO Steve Alton (left) with The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington

BII demands Gov support for pubs in Budget

By Gary Lloyd

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has demanded Government investment in pubs in the upcoming Budget as more than six out of 10 pubs reported revenues losses or flat trade in 2023.

Too late: tube strikes suspended at the

Tube strike cancellation 'too late' for sector

By Rebecca Weller

The damage done to hospitality businesses by tube strikes is “undoubtedly too late to reverse” as planned tube strikes in London are cancelled at the “eleventh hour”.

Looking back: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie reflects on the past 12 months

OPINION

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As we approach the new year, it is an opportunity to review some of the key milestones for the pubs code and the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) during 2023.

Festive trading: operators are hopeful for a Christmas boost (image: Getty/Sinenkiy)

Festive lifeline needed to save firms

By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of small to medium business (SME) owners will have to close, put plans on hold or find other employment if Christmas isn’t a successful trading period, research has found.

Phil Dixon on the viability of pubs

OPINION

'Is a pub ever truly viable?'

By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

It was 1983. I was the Midland’s Senior Officer at the National Licensed Victuallers Association.

Salary rise: since its introduction in 2016, the national living wage rate has increased by almost 60% (image: Getty/jax10289)

A look at NLW rises since it began

By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Autumn Statement 2023: operators share their thoughts on the Government's fiscal plans (Credit: Getty/sturti)

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.

Continued demand: UKH calls for VAT reduction to help boost tourism (Pictured: Kate Nicholls)

UKH calls for VAT cut to boost tourism

By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to address the UK’s lack of competitiveness on the global tourism market, beginning with a cut to VAT for hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

What did Hunt say about business rates in Autumn Statement 2023

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Business rates discount extended

By Rebecca Weller

On Wednesday 22 November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extension to the 75% discount for business rates up to £100k for the sector as part of the Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement 2023 (Credit: Getty/ Luis Davilla)

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Hunt confirms alcohol duty freeze

By Rebecca Weller

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday 22 November Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a freeze to alcohol duty until August next year.

Time to act is now: NTIA urges Gov to support sector in Autumn Statement (Credit: Getty/andresr)

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

CAMRA calls for unlawful pub demolition to be made illegal

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Gov help: Organisations call for business rates freeze (Credit: Getty/simarik)

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

Christmas come early: RMT confirms members will vote on a new deal (Credit: Getty/Monty Rakusen)

Christmas hopes pinned on rail strikes deal

By Rebecca Weller

Christmas will “come early” for hospitality businesses if RMT members vote in agreement of a new deal that could see the end of rail strikes.

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