Legislation

Lack of support hampers Scottish hospitality

16-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A lack of business rates support for Scottish hospitality is unfairly hindering the sector in comparison to English businesses, according to UKHospitality (UKH) Scotland.

UKH demands energy firms named and shamed

16-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for energy watchdog Ofgem to take action against energy companies that have implemented improper practices and treated businesses in the sector as a ‘cash cow’.

opinion

When will Gov recognise sector’s value?

13-Jan-2023 By Ed Bedington

The news that the UK appears to have dodged the recessionary bullet in 2022 thanks to unexpected growth in November was a welcome bit of news for economy watchers.

NTIA outraged by spiking not being an offence

12-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has voiced its anger after a Government inquiry decided there is no need for a specific offence to be introduced for drinks spiking.

Black Sheep Brewery boss: energy support is 'brutal'

11-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Government’s new energy support package is “brutal”, according to Black Sheep Brewery chief executive Charlene Lyons.

Plastic ban to pack ‘financial pressure’ on sector

11-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade bodies have supported the Government’s decision to ban single-use plastic plates, cutlery and trays but have called for further help for businesses.

Late-night levy should be scrapped, says UKH

10-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged for abolishment of the “ineffective and costly” late-night levy, after a consultation was launched into its impact.

Sector 'disappointed' by energy update

10-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies across the sector have expressed “disappointment” with the “out of touch” Government’s decision to reduce energy support for businesses.

Gov slashes energy support by 70%

09-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt has confirmed a reduction to energy support for businesses from Saturday 1 April.

Single-use plastic plates and cutlery to be banned

09-Jan-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Single-use items like plastic plates, cutlery and trays will be banned in England, the Government has confirmed.

APPG calls for evidence on energy crisis impact

06-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Food and Drink Supply Chain All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has called for food and drink businesses to provide information on how rocketing energy costs have impacted trade ahead of a meeting with food minister Mark Spencer.

EBRS update to be announced next week

05-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The conclusion of the review into the future of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for businesses will be announced next week, the Treasury has confirmed.

Sector can't wait for 'misguided promises'

05-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector cannot continue to wait for “empty words” and “misguided promises” of future prosperity from the Government, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has stated.

Halving energy support reports ‘extremely worrying’

04-Jan-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Reports the Government is planning to reduce the energy support for the hospitality sector have sparked concern.

Train strikes cost sector £2.5bn

04-Jan-2023 By Georgi Gyton

The impact of the train strikes has cost the hospitality sector a total of £2.5bn in lost sales since industrial action began in June last year, according to UKHospitality.

Energy support could be halved

04-Jan-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The hospitality sector needs a “clear” and “defined” strategy regarding energy support before “businesses fall at the last hurdle”, according to leaders from across the industry.

Benefits and schemes to ease energy price hikes

04-Jan-2023 By Gary Lloyd

As eye-watering energy costs continue to batter the UK, pubs have not been spared but there is help out there for beleaguered businesses and staff members.

opinion

Overtaxed and underpaid?

03-Jan-2023 By Anthony Hughes, director, Lincoln Green Brewing Company

The headlines have recently been filled with details of rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, with strike action across many sectors.

More rail strikes to hit trade again in January

22-Dec-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Strike action agreed by members of rail unions Aslef and RMT will mean chaos for five days in row in early January shortly after the hospitality sector has suffered a “50% downturn” in trade.

Energy support delay 'disappointing news'

21-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The delay to an announcement on extended energy support for businesses is “disappointing” and leaves many facing “crippling” bills as well as an uncertain start to 2023, according to leaders from across the sector.

Banknotes featuring King Charles III to be released in 2024

21-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Bank of England has unveiled the new polymer notes that will feature King Charles III.

Staffing shortage: early retirement to blame

20-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A rise in early retirement has led to the current staffing shortage, according to new findings from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Alcohol duty freeze extended

20-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Duty rates on alcohol have been frozen for six months to 1 August 2023, the Government has announced.

Fastest hike in night out cost in 30 years

19-Dec-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubgoers are facing the fastest rise in the cost of a night out in more than three decades, one organisation has said.

NTIA ‘welcomes’ Martyn’s Law

19-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has “welcomed” new legislation that will be introduced to tighten security at venues in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Scottish Budget dismay: no rates relief for pubs

16-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Scottish government has come under fire for not announcing business rates relief for hospitality in its Budget yesterday (15 December), with trade bodies warning this could wipe pubs out.

Review of the Week

'I'm going to call it out for what it is - it's profiteering'

16-Dec-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington met up with celebrity pub operator Merlin Griffiths, of Greenhouse Pubs, to hear his thoughts on the week's news and his view on the utilities situation.

CAMRA plea for energy bill help as breweries go under

16-Dec-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has demanded chancellor Jeremy Hunt to confirm before Christmas that breweries, pubs and hospitality firms will receive help with soaring energy bills when the current scheme runs out in April 2023.

BBPA demands action on unfair energy charges

15-Dec-2022 By Gary Lloyd

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has demanded Ofgem to take measures against energy companies that are threatening the existence of pubs by using unfair contracts.

BBPA welcomes Deposit Return Scheme change

15-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed Circularity Scotland’s decision to reduce producer fees for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

Sector needs 'urgent clarity' to 'bounce back'

14-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

As mounting costs in the hospitality sector make the largest upward contribution to inflation, the sector needs “urgent clarity” from the Government on measures to help businesses “bounce back” in 2023.

Plea made for rates relief in Scottish Budget

13-Dec-2022 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality businesses in Scotland must be given a relief in business rates in the Budget this week to survive this winter, according to a trio of trade bodies.

Welsh Visitor Levy ‘wrong tax at wrong time’

13-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) Cymru has responded to the Welsh government’s consultation on the implementation of a discretionary visitor levy, calling for the proposal to be dropped due to the damage it would cause to hospitality.

Gov 'losing control' over rail strikes

13-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Government has “lost control” of “escalating” strike action as the hospitality sector continues to be “critically impacted”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has stated.

VAT reduction 'number one thing' Gov could do

07-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The “number one thing” the Government could do to support the hospitality sector is reduce the rate of VAT to 10%, according to Bath Pub Company managing director Joe Cussens.

Xmas strikes 'death knell' for sector

06-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality sector set to face heavily disrupted festive trading season for the third year in a row as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) confirms additional strikes will take place across Christmas Weekend.

Gov 'understands pressure' on sector

05-Dec-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Government “understands the pressures on the hospitality sector”, a source has told the Morning Advertiser (MA).

Sector calls for energy bill relief scheme extension

05-Dec-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Pubs and breweries will face major financial losses, make no profit and be forced to shut if the energy bill relief scheme is not extended beyond 31 March 2023, new research has shown.

opinion

Understanding the tied tenant experience

30-Nov-2022 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The pubs code is a powerful piece of legislation, but I need to know how it is working in practice and tenants are the key voice.

Sector calls for 'urgent resolution' to rail dispute

30-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies and leaders from across the sector have written to rail dispute representatives stressing the need for an “urgent resolution” ahead of the first “normal” festive trading period for three years.

UKH and Nightcap plea to cancel rail strikes

25-Nov-2022 By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality and Nightcap have pleaded for the cancellation of December rail strikes that the former said will cost the hospitality sector £1.5bn.

BEIS MP 'passionate' about interests of SMEs

24-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

As Kevin Hollinrake MP was recently appointed as the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business (BEIS under-secretary), the Morning Advertiser takes a look at his career.

Hospitality sector ‘incredibly vulnerable to fraud’

24-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The nature of the hospitality sector means it is vulnerable to fraud, an analysis of a new report has claimed.

Christmas rail strikes 'devastating'

23-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Rail strikes over the festive period will be “catastrophic” for hospitality businesses more “reliant” than ever on Christmas trade to get through the first quarter of 2023, trade bodies from across the sector have said.

opinion

A strike too far?

23-Nov-2022 By Ed Bedington

Given the chaos of the past few years and the challenges pub and bar operators face going forward, we can be forgiven for hoping to be allowed to enjoy a reasonable Christmas trade before the realities of the new year bite.

Business rates to fall by 17%

22-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Business rates for pubs are set to fall by more than £247m under the 2023 revaluation of business properties, according to real estate advisers Altus Group.

Have you seen a drop in Christmas bookings?

21-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

While Christmas is just weeks away, the ongoing rising costs are impacting both consumers and businesses.

‘Autumn Statement doesn’t go far enough’

21-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The majority of pub operators do not think the Autumn Statement announced last week (Thursday 17 November) has gone far enough to help the sector, a flash poll has found.

OFGEM to investigate 'harm' caused by energy costs

18-Nov-2022 By Rebecca Weller

OFGEM’s investigations into reports on the pressure and “harm” caused by non-domestic contacts amid the on-going energy crisis are an “important part” of the regulator’s role, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has stated.

Autumn statement 2022

What impact has the Autumn Statement had on pubs?

18-Nov-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement announcement, we want to know it will help your business as the sector battles a myriad of rising costs including the ongoing energy crisis against falling consumer spending.