Coronavirus - Hospitality

Analysis

MPs back hospitality minister motion: what happens next?

14-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

A petition to appoint a dedicated minister for the hospitality sector hit Westminster boasting more than 200,000 signatures on 11 January. After a positive reception in both Houses of Parliament, where does it go from here?

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: New Year, new lockdown

13-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

With the pub industry back under full lockdown, the podcast team review the Christmas that wasn't, discuss the current dilemmas facing the trade, and kick around some practical ideas of what pubs can be doing while we await the next government decision...

MPs in favour of hospitality minister motion

12-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

MPs have backed a motion to appoint a dedicated minister of hospitality following a 90-minute House of Commons debate yesterday (11 January).

Hogs Back Brewery offers up space for drive-through vaccine centre

11-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Hogs Back Brewery has joined the likes of BrewDog, Oakman Inns and Loungers in offering the UK's vaccination effort a shot in the arm by suggesting that the NHS use its facilities to store and distribute Covid-19 jabs.

MA's review of the week

Takeaway alcohol restrictions ‘very very unfair’ given off-licence leniency

08-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

In the first review of 2021's on-trade news, The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls OBE to reflect on the week's biggest headlines.

Opinion

How could pubs switch from dispensing beer to dispensing vaccines?

08-Jan-2021 By Mike Williams, operations director, Food Alert

As we embark on yet another national lockdown the one glimmer of hope lies in the knowledge that we now have vaccines to fight against Covid-19.

Marston’s anticipates pubs will be closed until March at the earliest

08-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay has described an extended business rates holiday and a VAT cut throughout 2021 as a ‘minimum requirement’ after the imposition of England’s third national lockdown.

Pub rent review negotiations suspended until further notice

07-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The Pub Governing Body (PGB) England and Wales and the Scottish Pub Governing Body have agreed to suspend rent reviews until further notice amid fresh lockdown restrictions.

Michelin-starred Pony & Trap ‘ain’t closing but changing’

07-Jan-2021 By Nicholas Robinson

Michelin-starred Bristol gastropub the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna is not closing down, but will change its direction this spring, chef-patron Josh Eggleton has told The Morning Advertiser (MA).

Tell us: Has your pub been able to access Government grants?

07-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

Amid new lockdown measures and a freshly pledged £4.6bn fund to support shuttered businesses, The Morning Advertiser (MA) wants to hear from pub operators about their experiences of applying for Government grants.

Operators 'should be extremely careful' with delivery locations

07-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Deliveries from pubs should only be to fixed addresses, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has confirmed to The Morning Advertiser (MA).

Pubs' stories needed to help with report to Government

06-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

Pubs that have stepped up to help their local community are being urged to get involved with a report to celebrate the sector and showcase their role to Government.

Takeaway pint ban means 'lifeline strangled'

06-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has been slammed for banning pubs from selling takeaway pints during England’s third national lockdown.

One more kick in the teeth from Government

04-Jan-2021 By Ed Bedington

“What else can they do to us?” said one operator to me ahead of last night’s Government announcement.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

On-trade reflects on 'ultimate bombshells' and 'David versus Goliath' clashes in 2020

04-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

From a brewer who took on Hugo Boss to an operator who swapped the pub for the pulpit, The Morning Advertiser shared a selection of standout stories to close the book on a tumultuous 12 months for the on-trade.

Pubs offer themselves up as vaccine hubs

04-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A number of hospitality operators have put their venues forward as Covid vaccination hubs after it was revealed almost one in four people in England live somewhere with no vaccination centre.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

Business support measures discussed ‘as if the owners don’t exist as people’

04-Jan-2021 By Liz Hind, the Old Millwrights Arms, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Liz Hind of the Old Millwrights Arms in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, looks back on 2020 and reflects on how business owners have been perceived amid the ongoing pandemic.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘Everyone knew what they had, they just thought they’d never lose it’

04-Jan-2021 By Martin Barnes, director, Uphouse pubs

Martin Barnes of Cheshire-based operator Uphouse pubs, looks back on a ‘year of rapid change’ for the pub sector amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘Some NHS staff were actually crying with relief that they could get rid of some stress over a drink’

02-Jan-2021 By Peter Collie, the Horseshoe Inn, London

Peter Collie of the Horseshoe Inn, near London Bridge, describes 2020 as a year he will look back upon and say ‘I was there’. Here he reflects on the past 12 months.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

Either 'pretty damn brave, or very foolhardy’ to launch a brewery during an international crisis

31-Dec-2020 By Russ Clarke, Amity Brew Co

Though West Yorkshire-based brewer Russ Clarke describes 2020 as ‘a dumpster fire’, it was also the year he fulfilled a dream by opening his own brewery.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

Hugo Boss battle ‘a great source of empowerment and determination’

28-Dec-2020 By Sarah John, director, Boss Brewing

While 2020 has been punctuated by restrictions, setbacks, tragedy and loss according to Boss Brewery director Sarah John, there have also been positive moments she will look back on fondly.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘We waited 30 years for this and the celebration the team and fans deserved was far from possible’

27-Dec-2020 By Kate Stewart, the Sandon, Liverpool

Kate Stewart from the Sandon – a firm fixture on matchdays at Anfield – describes the ‘heart-wrenching’ feeling of not being able to celebrate Liverpool’s first Premier League title with supporters due to Covid-19 restrictions.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

'Pubs are part of human existence and the Government has now forgotten about us'

24-Dec-2020 By Mark Crane, general manager at Grove Lock, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire

Mark Crane of Grove Lock in Leighton Buzzard tells us that while 2020 began as a year full of hope and excitement he soon found himself deflated.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

'We've served 450,000 customers since July and are unaware of any Covid cases'

24-Dec-2020 By Patrick Frawley, owner, East London Pub Company

Patrick Frawley, who owns and operates five pubs and bars in central London as well as five restaurants and bars in Ireland via the East London Pub Company, believes hospitality has been 'thrown to the wolves' in 2020.

Jobs round-up

Biggest pub job and company news in 2020

23-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

In the final jobs round-up of 2020 The Morning Advertiser (MA) reflects on 18 of the biggest people move, job, training and company updates from the past year.

Marston’s takes on SA Brain’s 156-strong pub stable

23-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Pub company Marston’s has announced it will operate SA Brain’s portfolio of 156 pubs in Wales on a combination of leased and management contract arrangements, safeguarding 1,300 jobs.

Leicestershire County Council tops up festive grants for hard hit pubs

22-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has voiced support for Leicestershire County Council after the authority pledged to double funds provided by the Government with an extra £1,000 for struggling rural pubs.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘We spent more than £100k to trade for 6 hours’

22-Dec-2020 By Chris Tulloch, MD Blind Tiger Inns

In the third instalment of our series looking back on the past 12 months, we hear from Blind Tiger Inns’ Chris Tulloch and his reflections on opening a pub on the day the UK entered its first nationwide lockdown.

Concern over New Year's Eve parties as rules for pubs unchanged

21-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Tough restrictions on pubs will see more people break coronavirus laws to attend illegal house parties on New Year's Eve, the sector has told the Government.

Government must commit to 'clear exit strategy' from restrictions

21-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

UKHospitality (UKH) has written to the Prime Minister outlining the sector’s need for a “rolling back” of tiered restrictions and financial support similar to that provided by other countries.

Government should use temporary increase in EU State Aid limits to support hospitality

21-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Real estate service provider Colliers International has urged the Government to take advantage of the European Union’s increase in State Aid limits due to Covid-19 to support the UK’s ailing hospitality sector.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘2021 is a major opportunity for a reset of our industry’

21-Dec-2020 By Piers Baker, the Sun Inn, Dedham and Church Street Tavern, Colchester, both Essex

In the second instalment in our series looking back on the last 12 months, Piers Baker explains that 2020 hasn't necessarily changed his pub but highlighted the importance of people to both it and the wider industry.

How has 2020 changed people and pubs?

‘When you’re a publican and you’ve retrained as an actress. Just call me Lucky’

18-Dec-2020 By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex

To kick off a series looking back at a turbulent 12 months in the on-trade, Debbie Baisden, a multi-tasking, performing publican, explains how she is confronting Covid-19 challenges with hopes to continue both her careers in the arts and hospitality.

Pub operator chasing more than £25,000 in outstanding grant payments

17-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A Chester-based multiple operator has told The Morning Advertiser (MA) that he is pursuing a total of £26,335 in Covid grant funding from 15 different local authorities – with one yet to process any payments at all.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Review of the year and challenges ahead

16-Dec-2020 By Ed Bedington

With 2020 drawing to a close, and the last episode of the Lock In podcast for the year, the team take a look back at a year which has had few highlights, but plenty of challenges for the sector and more on the way. We take a look forward at what 2021...

Minister for hospitality debate after 150,000 sign petition

16-Dec-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

The UK Government could appoint a minister for hospitality after a widespread campaign garnered near 150,000 signatures, meaning the sector’s demand must now be debated in Parliament.

New bar group Nightcap to list on AIM after London Cocktail Club acquisition

15-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A new company led by hospitality entrepreneur and ex-Dragon’s Den investor Sarah Willingham, has unveiled plans to float on AIM after agreeing a deal to acquire the London Cocktail Club’s bar portfolio.

Pubs in London, Essex and Hertfordshire to close

14-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire must close as the areas are to be placed into the toughest band of coronavirus measures.

Health secretary warns lower-infection areas could 'overtake' neighbours if 'decoupled'

14-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Operators in rural areas hoping to not be grouped in with cities after a review of tiers may be disappointed, according to newspaper reports.

Almost three quarters of Brits believe hospitality has been harshly treated amid pandemic

11-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

New research has claimed that the majority of the British public sympathise with hospitality business operators over the way they’ve been treated during the Covid-19 crisis.

Opening hospitality ‘lowers Covid cases’, claims Dutch report

11-Dec-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

An analysis of coronavirus infection rates given to the Dutch Government and then leaked to the press has claimed opening hospitality venues will decrease and not increase coronavirus infection rates.

Sales 'wipe out' for wet-led pubs

11-Dec-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Wet-led pubs saw sales all but wiped out during November, data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker shows.

Oakman Group launches £4.5m share issue to bankroll expansion

11-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The independent owner and operator of 27 pubs across southern England and the West Midlands, the Oakman Group, is seeking £4.5m to accelerate plans to double its estate by 2026.

MA's Review of the week

Morning Advertiser

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