‘There are lots of opportunities’
The MA’s Ed Bedington catches up with Inception Group’s Charlie Gilkes to get his take on the week’s news.
Archives for May 1, 2026
Unite calls for talks over ‘cruel’ Whitbread job cuts
Unite the Union has called on Whitbread to enter formal consultations over its proposed 3,800 job cuts.
THE LOW & NO PROJECT
OPINION: ‘Proper Job 0.5% should be treated like cask’
There’s been a noticeable groundswell in the popularity of no and low beers, and with it a tendency to move fast, grab shelf space and plant a flag. With Proper Job 0.5%, we chose a different pace - and it’s paid off.
Tommy Banks: ‘We are at a crisis point’
Michelin-starred chef and hospitality operator Tommy Banks has called for a VAT cut while highlighting the ongoing venue closures.
Ramsay 20% service charge highlights tipping divide for operators
Gordon Ramsay’s decision to apply a 20% service charge at his Lucky Cat restaurant in London has reignited debate among operators over how far UK consumers will accept rising tipping levels.
ANALYSIS
Closure hotspots: Where pubs are disappearing fastest in England
The East Midlands saw the most pub closures in England last year, analysis of data by The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has revealed.
Operators raise concerns over guaranteed hours policy
Pub operators have warned the Government’s proposed guaranteed hours policy risks undermining flexibility and increasing costs, as fresh concerns emerge over the impact of the Employment Rights Act.