Legislation

Lack of stability: NTIA claims UK is in recession as economy shrank in Q3 (Credit: Getty/atiatiati)

Trade body claims UK is 'in recession'

By Rebecca Weller

The UK is “in recession” as the sector continues to battle “onerous” rising costs, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has stated.

Sector impact: the rail strikes are set to take place later this month (image: Getty/mrdoomits)

Impact of latest rail strikes ‘enormous’

By Nikkie Thatcher

The effect of the latest train strikes on the hospitality sector is “enormous” as it impacts both consumers and workers, one trade body has said.

HospoDemo info: Bath Pub Company MD Joe Cussens outlines why he is attending the Hospitality Demonstration on Monday 14 November in London's Parliament Square

Opinion

Why I’m attending Hospitality Demo & why you should too

By Joe Cussens, managing director, The Bath Pub Company

The pub industry is facing a crisis the like of which we have never seen - rocketing costs and falling consumer confidence make the challenge of pandemic look like the good old days.

Thumbs up: government guidance on the deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers in Scotland has been welcomed by its administer Circularity Scotland (credit: getty/bunhill)

DRS administrator welcomes ‘cost-cutting guidance’

By Gary Lloyd

Circularity Scotland (CS), the scheme administrator for the deposit return scheme (DPS) in Scotland, has welcomed new guidance from the Scottish government that will “significantly reduce the cost of the scheme for industry and consumers”.

Vitally important roles: NTIA calls on major cities across the UK to establish NTE advisors (Credit: Getty/	alexkoral)

Support for UK NTE 'lagging behind' other countries

By Rebecca Weller

The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for cities across the UK to build on the network of Night-Time Economy (NTE) Advisers in order to support the country’s nightlife.

Survey says: the level of confidence business leaders have in the sector has fallen again (image: Getty/champc)

Business leaders’ confidence plummeting

By Nikkie Thatcher

The impact of rocketing energy and supply costs alongside economic uncertainty have significantly dented business leaders’ confidence in the sector.

Huge tragedy: two nightclubs a close amid soaring inflation  (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Gov 'ripping the heart out of nightlife'

By Rebecca Weller

The Government is “ripping the heart out of nightlife” with the number of nightclubs declining as businesses await the Chancellors budget that has already “failed them twice before”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has stated.

SIBA concerns: sales of cans and bottles have already stopped at many small breweries in Scotland (credit: Getty/FotografiaBasica)

SIBA Scotland urges gov to rethink DRS

By Gary Lloyd

The Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA Scotland) has urged the Scottish government to take another look at its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) proposal because it threatens the existence of small breweries.

Hard times ahead: Blackouts would be last resort (Getty/ IanGoodPhotography)

National Grid: Blackouts would be last resort

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Blackouts would be a last resort this winter if energy supplies run low, National Grid has revealed, after operators voiced concerns they would damage the sector.

Mixed response: BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin has welcomed some of the review’s outcomes but expressed disappointment with other aspects

BBPA disappointed with recycling review outcome

By Gary Lloyd

Sector trade body the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has expressed disappointment over a packaging recycling consultation that has failed to extend a compliance period that has previously proved valuable in the past.

Industry research: some 35% of the more than 500 businesses surveyed are expecting to make a loss or be unviable in the next two months (image: Getty/imaginima)

1 in 3 firms at risk of going bust

By Nikkie Thatcher

More than one third of hospitality companies are at risk of business failure due to rocketing costs, a new survey has found.

Unprecedented step: UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls has announced the trade body’s energy advice is free to all businesses

UKH makes guidance on energy pricing public

By Gary Lloyd

UKHospitality (UKH) has taken the unprecedented step of making its energy guidance available to all hospitality businesses as soaring energy prices threaten sites this winter.

Further kick in the teeth: thousands of hospitality businesses at risk of closure following alcohol duty freeze U-turn (Credit: Getty/sturti)

Sector battling 'vicious inflationary circle'

By Rebecca Weller

Thousands of SME’s are at risk if new Prime Minister and Chancellor refuse to act regarding the rise to Alcohol Duty with many already facing “untenable” financial footing, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has claimed.

New PM: How has Sunak supported pubs?

What has Rishi Sunak done for pubs?

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Rishi Sunak has been called on to support the sector after he was appointed Prime Minister and Conservative leader yesterday (25 October).

Desperate need of relief: sector petitions Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to fulfil his previous commitments (Credit: Getty/mammuth)

Sunak urged to fulfil previous commitments

By Rebecca Weller

Pubs and brewers in “desperate need of relief” as leaders from across the sector urge newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to recognise the importance of pubs and breweries before it’s “too late”.

General Election NOW: Hospitality reacts to Liz Truss' resignation (UK Parliament 2022)

Calls for general election as Truss resigns

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A number of voices from the sector have rallied for a general election to save hospitality after Prime Minister Liz Truss stepped down yesterday (20 October) having served only 45 days in office.

Closure notice: the data found from June to September, there was a net drop of licensed venues of more than 150 per week (image: Getty/pejft)

1 licensed premises closes per hour

By Nikkie Thatcher

Licensed venues including pubs, bars, cafés, restaurants and hotels saw a net decline of one closure per hour in the third quarter of this year and there were warnings more were on the cards, according to research.

Education expansion: pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie outlines how she is delivering her message of compliance

opinion

Talking to the industry

By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

In my role as pubs code adjudicator (PCA), I meet with a whole range of people across the industry to promote the pubs code and deliver my message of compliance, whether that is talking with tied tenants, with the regulated pub companies, or with others...

Help needed: BII boss Steve Alton warns there will be 'huge business failure' if the Government doesn't intervene (image: Getty/Drazen_)

Pubs facing immediate survival threat

By Nikkie Thatcher

Government support is critical to safeguard the future of pubs and without it, the sector will see "huge business failure", according to one trade body, which has written to the Chancellor, demanding help.

Lack of leadership: Jeremy Hunt's first statement as Chancellor leaves the sector facing further uncertainty (Credit: Getty/PoppyPixels)

Gov statement 'compromises thousands of firms'

By Rebecca Weller

Leaders from across the sector have accused the Prime Minister and newly appointed Chancellor of crashing the economy while having no “strategic direction”, "critically compromising thousands of businesses and workers" and leaving the sector...

Major blow: Chancellor reverses freeze on alcohol duty rates (UK Parliament 2022)

U-turn on alcohol duty freeze 'huge blow'

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The planned freeze on alcohol duty increases has been scrapped by the Chancellor this morning (17 October) in what is a “huge blow” for pubs.

Lost confidence: new chancellor must get up to speed with current policies to save time the sector does not have (Credit: Getty/PoppyPixels)

Gov 'all but lost confidence of the sector'

By Rebecca Weller

The Government must not delay the upcoming budget as it needs to take long-term look at what will “boost businesses and inspire confidence”, leaders from across the sector have stated.

What's in the new 14 October?

Review of the Week

‘We need someone who’s going to get in there quickly’

By Ed Bedington

As the Government starts to implode, the MA's Ed Bedington caught up with the Night Time Industries Association's Michael Kill to get his take on the sacking of the Chancellor and other industry issues

Perfect storm: sector saw huge surge in demand and decrease in labour supply post pandemic (Credit: Getty/monkeybusinessimages)

Sector failing to cope with 'surge in demand'

By Rebecca Weller

Industries such as hospitality, in which consumers spent less money during the pandemic, have suffered most regarding job vacancies and employment post-pandemic, according to Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) deputy CEO Kate Shoesmith.

Too little too late: despite initially positive feedback, the EBRS extension doesn't give enough financial headroom to aid sector's survival according to the NTIA (Credit: Getty/HJBC)

Energy bills discount 'too little too late'

By Rebecca Weller

Despite initially positive feedback from the sector, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) extension is “too little too late” for many businesses to survive, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has claimed.

Help welcomed: however, Kate Nicholls also warns the sector still faces a huge struggle to survive

Energy contracts discount 'extremely welcome'

By Gary Lloyd

The Government's move to expand its Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) to help businesses, including pubs, deal with energy prices has been welcomed by UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls.

Decline in demand: consumers cut back on discretionary spending as energy bills rise (Credit: Getty/ Mykola Pokhodzhay)

Card spending sees smallest uplift since February

By Rebecca Weller

Consumer card spending grew 1.8% year-on-year in September, the smallest uplift since February 2021 and well below the 9.9% consumer price inflation, data from Barclaycard has revealed.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In podcast episode 47

The Lock In Podcast

Will pubs get the support they need?

By Ed Bedington

The podcast team returns for season three of the award-winning (James's mum gave us a rosette) Lock In podcast and we get to grips with the challenges facing the sector.

Plague on everyone: potential blackouts this winter another crisis for sector to deal with (Credit: Getty/Imgorthand)

Blackouts 'could result in tremendous loss of stock'

By Rebecca Weller

Potential blackouts this winter would put pubs and breweries in a position they “will not be able to recover from” as some operators feel the Government has imposed a “war of attrition” against the sector.

Positive move: cutting the red tape surrounding regulations for medium-sized businesses was welcomed by UKHospitality (image: Getty/alexsl)

Scrapping of red tape ‘significant boost’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Releasing more businesses from reporting requirements and other regulations has been hailed as a “significant boost” for thousands of hospitality companies.

All change: from tomorrow (Saturday 1 October), only polymer bank notes will have legal tender status (image: Flickr: Bank of England)

Last day of paper £20 and £50 notes

By Nikkie Thatcher

Today (Friday 30 September) is the final day paper banknotes will be legal tender before polymer versions replace them.

Urgent request: Trade body leaders call on Chancellor for more help (Getty/ Martin Barraud)

Further Gov support critical to sector’s survival

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade body leaders have written to the Chancellor following the mini-budget last week, highlighting the urgent need for further support to safeguard hospitality businesses.

Won't make a difference: licensee of the Faulkland Inn (pictured) claimed the Government is neglecting SMEs in favour of the 'big boys' of the industry

Gov looking out for ‘big boys’ of the industry

By Rebecca Weller

Last week’s announcements on energy discounts and measures addressed in the mini Budget did not have “any effect” on small businesses but made sure the “big boys” of the industry did “very nicely”, according to a Somerset-based operator.

Climbing costs: Business rates set to soar to £5bn next April (Getty/ Andrew Brookes)

Business rates up £5bn in April

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Business rates are set to rise by £5bn next April, after they were left out of the Chancellor’s mini budget today (23 September 2022).

Opinion piece: pubs and bars are once again going to be left dangling while the MPs pat themselves on the back and head off for a few weeks jollies by the seaside,' says The MA's Ed Bedington

opinion

Missed opportunities leaves pubs swinging

By Ed Bedington

Those that were desperately hoping for some kind of support or helping hand from the Chancellor’s mini-budget have been left bitterly disappointed.

Chancellor statement: Duty rates slashed (Getty/ The Good Brigade)

Rise in duty rates on alcohol frozen

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Planned increases for duty rates for beer, cider, wine and spirits have been frozen, the Chancellor announced in a statement this morning.

Energy Relief Scheme: discount to be applied directly onto bills (Credit: Getty/Constantine Johnny)

How pubs can access Energy Relief Scheme

By Rebecca Weller

With support for businesses in tackling energy costs announced earlier this week, the Morning Advertiser has broken down exactly what this means for pubs and how to access the Energy Relief Scheme, as well as a handy calculator to estimate how much you...

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