Coronavirus

Parting present from the partying PM?

19-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And just like that Boris Johnston announced the end of Plan B, and much rejoicing was heard throughout the country.

Welsh Six Nations games to be played in Wales

14-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed Wales’s Six Nations rugby matches are to be hosted in Wales as planned after restrictions were lifted, offering a chance for hospitality businesses in the country to recoup some revenue from lost trade...

Welsh government accused of ‘reckless posturing’ as anger in hospitality grows

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While Welsh operators will be looking forward to the lifting of restrictions in a couple of weeks, anger is growing as to whether the restrictions were needed at all.

Opinion

Infection rates and restrictions - has the anti-hospitality bubble burst?

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

While it’s good news that Wales has now pledged to lift restrictions on pubs, the question does remain - what purpose did they serve in the first place?

Review of the Week

Restrictions have had no impact on infection rates

14-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Castle Rock Brewery boss Colin Wilde to hear his thoughts on the weeks news, from the impacts of restrictions, frustrations over government behaviour and isolation rules changing.

The Lock In Podcast

Hard times ahead?

13-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

The Lock In team review the Christmas that wasn't and take a look to the months ahead and what to expect. We talk the challenging financial situation with top advice from expert advisor Chris Worden from 1st Business Rescue, hear from award winning...

Pubs could lose £20m if the Welsh Six Nations games move to England

13-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Moving the Welsh matches outside of Wales during the Six Nations rugby tournament would be an “insult” to hospitality businesses because losing out on the trade provided through these key events would be a “catastrophe”.

‘Everyone loves going out to eat, but they don’t appreciate the work in the industry'

10-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Staffing problems are an “ongoing struggle” at top Hertfordshire gastropub the Fox & Hounds in Barley, which was down 50% staffing levels when reopening in the new year.

NTIA calls for Gov to reduce Covid isolation period

10-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called for the Government to consider cutting down the Covid isolation period for hospitality workers, with the industry to examine a ‘Test & Release’ system.

Welsh pubs lost £16k over Christmas as WBPA calls for relaxed restrictions

07-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Welsh pubs lost £16,000 in revenue over the fortnight festive period from 19 December to 1 January, the Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) recently revealed as the First Minister announced no change to Covid restrictions in Wales.

Kent pub offers customers a second chance at Christmas

07-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Following announcements from Prime Minister Boris Johnson in December, including the advice to limit socialising over Christmas, the Kings Arms in Bexleyheath saw 400 cancellations in just six days, but licensee Pete Marshall is giving customers a second...

'People who elect not to be vaccinated may be denied the opportunity to do certain things'

07-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

With the post-Christmas dust settling, MA editor Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's ceo Simon Emeny to see what had caught his attention in the past few weeks, from political machinations to the vaccination debate.

Hayfield pub sees busy Christmas followed by a devastating New Year

06-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

In the lead up to Christmas, the Pack Horse, Hayfield, Derbyshire, was surprised to be busy over the festive period, however the New Year bought in closure and coronavirus for the pub.

New isolation rules for Scotland welcomed by sector

06-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

New isolation rules for Scotland, including reducing self-isolation time from 10 to seven days, have been welcomed by trade bodies across the hospitality sector.

Welsh pubs see a quarter of the revenue of English pubs

05-Jan-2022 By Rebecca Weller

Welsh pubs have seen at least 25% less revenue than their English counterparts due to the more stringent restrictions imposed in Wales.

It's not biting the hand that feeds if its scraps from the table

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It wasn’t so much a shining knight, riding to our rescue on the white horse, more like a clown on the back of a knackered old seaside donkey.

£1bn fund for hospitality like ‘sticking an Elastoplast over a gaping wound’

22-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor’s announcement of a £1bn fund for hospitality venues has come under fire from operators, who claim the support does not come close to recovering lost trade.

Pubs encouraged to offer free pints to tackle vaccine crisis

22-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

House of Greenland has launched a campaign in a bid to tackle low vaccination rates in the under-30s and encourage customers to visit the pub, as well as their nearest vaccination centre, before Christmas.

Licensee receives 130% capital allowance by investing in new equipment

21-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

A Lincolnshire-based licensee has received a 130% tax relief from the Government by simply investing in new equipment for the pub.

‘Absolutely no way’ operators can unofficially enforce restrictions

21-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UK Government must make an official decision on hospitality Covid measures, otherwise staff could face "fed up" customers refusing to obey unofficial rules, said the owner of the Atlas Bar in Manchester.

‘Catastrophic figures’ show December trade is set to be disastrous

21-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub revenue was down more than 40% over the past weekend with one in five businesses having reported a sales drop of more than 60%, according to UKHospitality.

More than 100,000 businesses call for financial reassurance

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

More than 100,000 retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have called for a #BusinessBooster and urgent assurances financial support will be provided to these sectors who are hitting rock bottom following Plan B measures.

Fuller’s closes the majority of its city sites

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Pub operator and brewers, Fuller’s, has closed the majority of its city pubs temporarily and called on the Government to provide immediate suspension of business rates and an extension on VAT reduction.

CAMRA calls on the Government for "urgent support packages" for pubs

20-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, has called for the Northern Ireland Government and UK Government to work together and “come up with an urgent support package for pubs”.

Lockdown by proxy must come with support

20-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

It was a sobering experience watching my social feeds this weekend, as operator after operator voiced their despair as they watched Christmas trade fall off a cliff.

The MA's Review of the Week

'The least Mad Friday we've had for years...'

17-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Christmas looming, The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington caught up with Revolution Bars CEO Rob Pitcher to get his take on the headlines of the week, from the lack of support from Rishi, through to the "over-reaction" in Wales which...

Welsh nightclubs to close day after Boxing Day

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Nightclubs in Wales will be forced to close from Monday 27 December under new restrictions from the Welsh Government.

BII calls for Gov support after 78% of operators see trade plummet

17-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has called for support to safeguard the future of UK pubs after releasing the results of its Christmas Trading survey which showed trade dropping dramatically for many pubs.

December revenue predicted to drop by a quarter

17-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Government need to step in and provide financial help before it’s too late as December revenue for the hospitality sector has been predicted to drop by a further quarter, according to industry body UKHospitality.

Shepherd Neame announces 10% rent deduction for its licensees

16-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Shepherd Neame has announced a 10% rent deduction for its licensees from 1 January 2022 in light of the Governments new ‘Plan B’ restrictions and damage to consumer confidence.

NTIA urges the Chancellor to 'come out of hiding'

16-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Night-Time Industries Associations (NTIA) has called on the Chancellor to "come out of hiding" following a week of "sledgehammer" announcements for the sector, and outline how hospitality businesses will be supported through the...

Support needed now, not later, pub boss warns

16-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

Further Government support ahead of any future potential restrictions is “critical” for the pub sector, according to one of the UK’s leading operators.

Covid passports and chocolate fireguards - a study in stupidity

15-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

And so, the divisive Covid passports come into effect today for nightclubs and large gatherings across England.

December set to be weakest trading period of 2021

15-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

December is set to be the weakest trading month of the year following the surge in Omicron cases and the announcement of Plan B restrictions causing cancellations, lost revenue, and decreased footfall, according to one Kent-based operator.

New rules 'kill Christmas' for Scottish pubs

15-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday (14 December 2021) the reinstitution of tighter coronavirus restrictions for pubs across Scotland such as social distancing and data collection for contact tracing.

Two thirds of operators 'optimistic' about trade before Plan B

14-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Two in three (66%) hospitality leaders were optimistic about the next 12 months for their business, the fourth-quarter Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has revealed.

Hospitality divided on whether Plan B restrictions will knock consumer confidence

14-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The industry is torn by whether consumer confidence would dramatically be influenced by additional Plan B restrictions, according to Guest Experience Management expert HGEM’s snap poll.

CAMRA urges ‘extreme caution’ from Gov over warning consumers away from pubs

14-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has compelled the UK Government to exercise caution when making statements about cancelling social plans in light of the Omicron variant, as such statements would be “devastating” for venues.

MA Review of the Week

'There'll be a hell of a lot people thinking April doesn't matter anymore because I'm not getting to the end of January'

10-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

With Plan B dominating the headlines, MA editor Ed Bedington chatted with Brucan Pub's James Lyon-Shaw about the impact he can see from the move and how Christmas trade was likely to shape up for the wider trade.

November sales up but Omicron threatens future of fragile businesses

10-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Managed pub and bar sales grew by 3% in November compared to pre coronavirus levels, the latest CGA tracker has shown.

Industry 'shafted' by Government

09-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

Cancellations are reported to be flooding in from across hospitality in the wake of the Government's shift to Plan B.

NTIA's message to PM: ‘Don’t throw us under the bus to save your skin’

08-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has pleaded with the Government to ‘not throw us under the bus to save your skin’, as vaccine passports seem an imminent requirement for late-night businesses just before the sectors most crucial trading period...

Virtual spaces key to high-end venues

07-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Virtual spaces are here to stay, with high end venues using them to unite customers safely, increase revenue and engage with a global audience, operators have said.

Omicron declared as ‘mild’ offers ‘crumb of comfort for sector’

02-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) having declared the latest Coronavirus variant, Omicron, as mild, this offered a 'crumb of comfort' to the sector as Christmas bookings were still down 12.4% based on expectations from 2019.

Vote now: have you seen Christmas cancellations?

01-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Poor communication about coronavirus variants from the Government has caused widespread uncertainty in the hospitality sector and has impacted cancellations, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

opinion

Death by a thousand cuts?

01-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

And so we find ourselves, once again, standing at a potential cliff edge, waiting for the casual and careless shove of our political leaders to send us into the abyss.

Hospitality Rising recruitment campaign starts £5m raise

19-Nov-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hospitality Rising started fundraising this week for a recruitment campaign to attract talent to the hospitality industry, with a goal of raising £5m to help speed up post-lockdown recovery.

Managed pubs, bars and restaurants rolling 12-month sales down 4.5%

15-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Managed pubs, bars and restaurants rolling 12-month sales were down 4.5% in October but overall sales were up 3% from pre-coronavirus levels, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

45% revenue drop shows 'industry in peril'

12-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Full 12-month figures were nearly half what they were over the same period pre-pandemic, according to data from latest edition of the UKHospitality and CGA Quarterly Tracker.

Christmas is coming, or is it?

08-Nov-2021 By Ed Bedington

The entire trade has its fingers, and even toes, crossed that we’ll be given the opportunity to get a clear shot at a decent Christmas trade this year.