Government Spending

‘Very disappointing’ Spring Statement delivers ‘fatal blow’ to industry

24-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement, which was delivered yesterday (Wednesday 23 March), has come under fire from operators as a “real setback”, that failed to deliver vital support for the “fragile” sector.

Spring Statement March 2022

Sunak silent on VAT in Spring Statement

23-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor made no reference to keeping the VAT rate at 12.5% permanently in the Spring Statement on Wednesday 23 March, meaning the rate will rise to 20% in April.

Firms will rely on Spring Statement to survive, says NTIA

22-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hundreds of thousands of businesses are at the mercy of Wednesday’s Spring Statement (23 March), according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Sacha Lord: Sunak must help hospitality recover from ‘perilous financial position’

21-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Hospitality needs help bouncing back from its “perilous financial position” in Wednesday’s Spring Statement (23 March), to stave off closures and save thousands of jobs, said night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord.

Rising costs to plunge night-time economy into ‘new period of darkness’

14-Mar-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The UK’s night-time economy faces a “new period of darkness” amid the cost of living crisis, according to the Great Manchester night-time economy adviser Sacha Lord, ahead of the Chancellor’s spring statement next Wednesday (23 March).

Hundreds of sector bosses call on Sunak to hold 12.5% VAT

08-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

More than 250 hospitality business leaders, including pioneering voices in the pub sector, have written to the Chancellor urging the Government to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022.

Gov support ‘doesn’t touch the sides’

07-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade over the Christmas period was “pretty dire” at the Curlew in Bodiam, East Sussex, with the Government’s support packages doing little to provide sustained support to hospitality, said operator Matthew Devlin.

Operators “realistic” in face of expected decline in food sales

30-Oct-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Operators across the eating out sector are confident despite expectations that food sales will slow, according to a new survey by Horizons.

Many recruits to pub sector lack necessary skills

07-Jun-2010 By Hamish Champ

The UK's pub and restaurant sectors are experiencing a 'talent hole', despite the recession making it easier for companies to hire and retain staff,...

Diageo: sitting tight

22-Feb-2010 By Hamish Champ

Everyone and his or her dog appreciates the extent of the current global slowdown. With the exception of China, whose economy seems to have closed...

Is this the end of the 'crunch' beginning?

24-Apr-2009 By Peter Linacre

This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning, says Peter Linacre.

Pub-goers choosing cheaper wine

31-Oct-2008

Pub-goers are choosing cheaper wines in the economic downturn, according to new research from the Wines and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).The Wine...

Pubs can capitalise on "sod it" factor

25-Sep-2008 By Martyn Leek, M&C Report

Pub retailers should concentrate on the segmentation of their offering if they are to survive a recession, according to a leading futurist and...