UnitedWeStand

Change the narrative: 'the entire sector should be holding its head high for pulling off a reasonable and responsible restart'

Opinion

The reality of reopening

By Ed Bedington

Well the predictions of carnage and mayhem failed to materialise, despite the best efforts of some media outlets and newspapers attempts to suggest otherwise.

Coronavirus update for pubs 20 and 21 June

#Unitedwestand

Weekend news bulletin for pubs – 20 and 21 June

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown without an update from the Government on reopening guidelines.

Two-week countdown: 'with so much still unknown, all we can do is sit tight and get ready for the day we've been waiting for,' Sacha Lord says

Opinion

The final countdown

By Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester

We are now just over two weeks away from the 4 July - a date etched in our minds as when we might finally be able to reopen our doors to the public.

Redundancies possible: the trade body representing Welsh pubs said an opening date is sorely needed to protect jobs

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Frustration over lack of date clarity in Wales

By Emily Hawkins

The Welsh governments has still not yet proposed a date for when pubs will be able to open from, despite calls to give publicans more information.

Confused operators: publicans have said they need more clarity from the Government after speculation about reopening rules

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Confusion over reopening rules as Government silent

By Emily Hawkins

The pub sector has called on the Government to clarify when it will reveal more details about reopening, following media speculation about what they will be permitted to do.

Welcome relief: the extension of rent relief until the end of August will take Star's total spend on rent concessions past the £20m mark

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Star Pubs & Bars to extend rent relief throughout July and August

By Stuart Stone

Heineken’s pub arm Star Pubs & Bars has extended rent relief for leased and tenanted pub operators throughout July and August amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, taking its total rent concession spending to around £21m.

Common thread: ‘many pubs will struggle to open at all, having environments not designed for social distancing,’ according to BII chief executive Steve Alton

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One-in-four pubs can’t reopen at 2m distancing, BII survey finds

By Stuart Stone

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has found that while three quarters of pubs could reopen in some way, shape or form, under two-metre social distancing rules, 82% of them would do so at less than half of pre-pandemic turnover levels.

Widely held policy: an action group believes many pubs will have business interruption cover with QIC through Eaton Gate

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Appeal for pubs with QIC insurance policies

By Emily Hawkins

An action group set up to challenge Eaton Gate/QIC Europe Ltd’s denial of business interruption cover has appealed to publicans to get in touch about their policy.

Top gong: the Red Lion & Sun took home the title of the best pub in the country at the 2018 Great British Pub Awards

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Licensee takes award-winning gastropub to the park

By Nikkie Thatcher

Heath Ball, operator of the Red Lion & Sun in Highgate, north London, is delivering drinks to customers in a local park in a bid to reach more people and become ‘London’s largest beer garden’.

Coronavirus update for pubs 6 and 7 June

#Unitedwestand

Weekend news bulletin for pubs - 6 and 7 June

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown - including the latest on social distancing measures and plans to reopen Young's and Liberation Group pubs.

International focus: monitoring events abroad may give us insight as to what our venues may look like, says Sacha Lord

Opinion

Hospitality must look abroad for a glimpse of the future

By Sacha Lord, night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester

This week marks a positive step in our road to recovery as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) looks set to advise how bars and pubs can reopen.

Pressure building: insurers will face a court test to examine the wordings used in their business interruption policies

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‘Final sprint’ as court action readied against insurers

By Emily Hawkins

Trade bodies representing the pub sector have put their weight behind a test court case that will attempt to find legal clarity on the wording used by insurers that have denied operators pay-outs.

Conflicting calls: Simon Clarke’s reassertion of two-metre distancing flies in the face of calls from senior MPs and the trade to halve measures

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Two-metre distancing to stay despite cut calls from MPs

By Stuart Stone

Housing minister Simon Clarke has revealed the Government intends to maintain two-metre social distancing despite calls from the hospitality sector and senior MPs for its reduction.

Staff rotas: is your glass staff full?

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The future of staffing at your site

By Emily Hawkins

As reopening gets closer, you will have to look at the changing duties of staff members, how to split their shifts and whether you will have to change opening hours to suit needs.

No prizes for rushed reopening: ’there is no gold medal for coming out first. We will do this properly, we will do this effectively, and we will do this only once,’ Liberation Group’s Jayson Perfect says

Big Interview

There’s no gold medal for reopening pubs first

By Stuart Stone

Jayson Perfect says the tide is turning when it comes to reopening locked down sites at Channel Islands-based pub group Liberation – if only there was a word to describe the action of setting them free?

Losing confidence: publicans say they are desperate for Government support as their debts increase and job losses seem unavoidable

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Pubs without grants reaching ‘point of no return’

By Emily Hawkins

Operators have shared the realities of sustaining their business after being excluded from the Government’s grant scheme for hospitality businesses at the start of the coronavirus shutdown, with stories of facing the prospect of letting staff go, amassing...

Higher or lower? Most pubs will keep menu prices the same

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‘Prices will be kept the same’ say 50% of pubs in poll

By Nicholas Robinson

The majority of operators asked in a weekly hospitality poll have said they plan to keep their food and drink prices the same as before lockdown, while half also said they expected trade levels to reach no more than 40% of pre-coronavirus levels in the...

Legal Q&A: solicitors from Poppleston Allen answer your questions regarding licence and permit renewal and the potential drawbacks of a CVA

Licensing Hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

Legal Q&A: Licence and permit renewal, the pitfalls of a CVA

By Poppleston Allen

In the latest Legal Q&A from specialist licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen, we take a closer look at licence and permit renewal as well as the potential drawbacks of a company voluntary arrangement.

Work rules: the current situation could offer youngsters a chance to join the on-trade

Licensing Hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

Giving employment to under-18s

By Poppleston Allen

Over recent years, the trade has stepped up a gear to entice school leavers into its workforce. Competition is hot but just how compatible is the current legislation in terms of being able to compete?

Be safe, not sorry: pavement licenses are still in effect so review yours now

Licensing Hub – Legal with Poppleston Allen

The checklist to help you stay legitimate post-lockdown

By Poppleston Allen

At the time of writing (1 June), we are still awaiting both relaxation of the lockdown regulations and guidance for the hospitality sector from the Government on reopening and, until then, we are all still flailing around in the darkness.

Collective effort: Hospitality Insurance Group Action (HIGA) has selected two insurance companies to launch group action against

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Group action launched against Aviva and QBE insurers

By Emily Hawkins

Insurance companies Aviva and QBE (UK) Limited have been chosen as the focus of an action group that intends to launch a group claim against insurers refusing to pay out to pubs for loss of income during the coronavirus crisis.

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