Legislation

Priority: cost burden's need rebalancing as vacancies rise (Credit:Getty/Charday Penn)

Vacancies up 15% on pre-pandemic levels

By Rebecca Weller

Rebalancing cost burdens across the hospitality sector needs to be a “priority” as vacancies remain stubbornly above pre-pandemic levels.

Economic ambitions: Voices from across the sector share their thoughts as the UK exits recession (Credit:Getty/Richard Drury)

Trade reacts as UK exits recession

By Rebecca Weller

Industry leaders have shared hope stronger than expected economic growth will boost consumer confidence, though some warned the sector is still facing “challenges”.

Time to change: hospitality sites will not have mandatory conditions to recycle drinks packaging (credit: Getty/Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd)

Trade bodies welcome DRS delay to October 2027

By Gary Lloyd

On-trade venues will not be forced to become mandatory return points in the controversial Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which has been pushed back for introduction in October 2027.

System overhaul: business rates, VAT and employer costs must be reduced says SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson

Sector is being priced ‘out of existence’

By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality is being priced out of existence as sites “go to the wall” every week, according to trade bodies representing businesses across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Must protect pubs: Scotland Small Business Minister Richard Lochhead (credit: Scottish Government)

Mixed reaction to Scottish pubs code move

By Gary Lloyd

CAMRA and the SLTA have welcomed a move by the Scottish Government that will see the introduction of a Scottish pubs code from 7 October, if ratified, while the SBPA has expressed disappointment.

Sector impact: UKH boss Kate Nicholls says hospitality continues to suffer as collateral damage in the rail dispute (image: Getty/ coldsnowstorm)

Train strikes to hit sector for £387m

By Nikkie Thatcher

Industrial action on train services this weekend (Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April) is estimated to cost the hospitality industry £387m.

Unchanged: interest rates remain at 5.25% (Credit:Getty/MicroStockHub)

BoE interest rates hold shows 'positives' for economy

By Rebecca Weller

The Bank of England's (BoE) decision to hold interest rates at 5.25% indicates the economy is moving in the right direction despite short term challenges, operators have told The Morning Advertiser.

Responses made on Martyn's Law: Emma McClarkin and Kate Nicholls

Trade bodies back changes to Martyn’s Law

By Gary Lloyd

Trade bodies have given their backing to the Government’s revised changes to Martyn’s Law, which will require businesses to increase their readiness to act should there be a terrorist attack.

Pubs and breweries disappointed by Spring Budget 2024

Spring Budget 'profoundly disappointing' for pubs

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The pub sector has reacted with “extreme disappointment” to the Spring Budget, with slashed VAT and reform of business rates needed to make a real difference.

Freeze ends: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (fourth from left) has taken no action on business rates (credit: UK Parliament/Maria Unger)

SPRING BUDGET 2024

Business rates to go up as freeze ends

By Gary Lloyd

Despite the hospitality sector’s calls for a reduced business rates burden in the Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s lack of action on the subject means companies in England will endure a combined tax hike of £1.66bn from 1 April.

Was there a hospitality VAT cut in the Spring Budget 2024

Gov ignores VAT cut pleas in Budget

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Despite pleas from across the hospitality industry, the Chancellor did not announce any changes to VAT in the Spring Budget today (6 March).

Rally call: NTIA CEO Michael Kill has called for action on VAT from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (right)

NTIA: 5,000+ call for VAT reduction to 12.5%

By Gary Lloyd

Calls for the Government to slash VAT down to 12.5% from its current 20% level in the Spring Budget have poured into MPs’ offices, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Call to action: the open letter has been signed by a number of hospitality leaders (image: Getty/ilkercelik)

Bosses call for help at Budget

By Nikkie Thatcher

A number of hospitality CEOs have written to the Chancellor, urging him to take immediate action at the Budget next week (Wednesday 6 March).

Cash laws: New tipping legislation will come into force on 1 July (Credit: Getty/Drazen Zigic)

How can pubs prepare for new tipping laws

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

WMT Troncmaster Services managing director Peter Davies has offered advice on how pubs can prepare for new tipping laws which are due to come into force this summer.

Business research: a survey from sector trade bodies showed a quarter of businesses are out of cash reserves (image: Getty/claudiodivizia)

1 in 4 firms out of cash

By Nikkie Thatcher

A quarter of businesses have no cash reserves left while less than a third (29%) have under three months’ left, new research has shown.

Sector worry: the BBPA and UKHospitality highlight concerns about the UK entering a technical recession (image: Getty/yevtony)

UK entering technical recession ‘big worry’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Official figures indicating the UK fell into a technical recession at the end of last year are ‘hugely concerning’ for the hospitality sector, one trade body said.

Significant pressure: BBPA calls for change ahead of Spring Budget amid static inflation rates (Credit: Getty/Zedelle)

Stagnant inflation shows need for 'vital' changes

By Rebecca Weller

Unchanging inflation rates show the Government must make “vital” changes in next month's Spring Budget to “alleviate significant pressure”, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.

Driving change: The mayors of the North and West Midlands discuss the night-time economy (Credit: Elspeth Moore)

Mayors of the North call for VAT cut

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Mayors of the North united to call for an industry-wide VAT cut in the Spring Budget at the Night Time Economy Summit last week.

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