Government - Hospitality

Trade bodies call for ‘radical reform’ of business rates system

22-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Trade bodies have called for a rapid reform of the business rates system, which in its current state, has been deemed “unfair” for local pubs.

Trade bodies welcome scrapping of Covid restrictions

21-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Prime Minister’s decision to drop all Covid restrictions will be a “boost” for the sector, according to trade bodies.

BBPA calls for Gov help as inflation hits 30-year high

16-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has urged the Government to help the sector after inflation hit a 30-year high last month (January).

'Price rises are only going to widen the gap between the on and off-trade'

14-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington catches up with Lincoln Green Brewing's founder Anthony Hughes to talk beer, recycling, unsustainable price rises and what challenges the next few months hold for brewers and pub operators across the UK.

The MA's Review of the Week

"The only way we'll affect change on business rates is if we don't pay it"

04-Feb-2022 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington speaks to Frisco pubs Heath Ball to get his take on the week's news, from the rising costs of running a pub to the challenges facing the sector on taxation.

More Government commitment needed if it is 'serious' about levelling up

03-Feb-2022 By Rebecca Weller

The Government needs to be more committed in backing the hospitality sector if it is ‘serious’ about ‘levelling up’ the nation, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

BBPA ‘encouraged’ by fresh CO2 deal yet more details needed

02-Feb-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Government’s new deal, which will keep supplies of industrial-grade carbon dioxide (CO2) flowing is encouraging, yet details are “urgently needed”, said the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Renewed fears CO2 crisis could fuel supply shortages

31-Jan-2022 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UK food and drink trade bodies remain concerned about supply shortages after a deal that ensured carbon dioxide (CO2) supplies nears its end.

Business secretary urges councils to distribute Omicron grants

26-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Kwasi Kwarteng has written to councils across England, calling on them to allocate the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants.

‘VOA aggressively pursuing fines to hospitality firms’ says Colliers

25-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is issuing and “aggressively pursuing” fines for late Valuation Forms of Return, according to real estate property agent Colliers business rates team.

Plan B rules lift ‘good news’ but severity of impact ‘must not be underestimated’

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government's latest announcement that Plan B rules are being scrapped has been cautiously welcomed by trade bodies, alongside calls for further support.

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.

Work from home advice scrapped, Gov confirms

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Plan B measures including guidance to work from home and mandatory Covid passes for nightclubs are to be dropped, the Government has announced.

Plan B easing announcement expected

19-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to reveal the lifting of Plan B rules will be implemented next week in an announcement later today (Wednesday 19 January).

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...

Licensing hub - legal with Poppleston Allen

Every little helps…

10-Jan-2022 By Andy Grimsey, partner at Poppleston Allen

So, we enter the New Year and it has a surprisingly and rather depressingly familiar feel to it. Putting Covid-related matters aside for once (if that is even possible nowadays) let’s look at some of the more positive things to come in the licensing calendar...

'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.

Councils receive Omicron grant cash

07-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Local authorities will receive the funding for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grants from today (Friday 7 January), the Government has announced.

Testing delays ‘causing havoc’

06-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Delays in Covid testing has meant sector staff have had to isolate for almost a fortnight, according to reports.

Grim situation as lockdown by proxy bites

06-Jan-2022 By Ed Bedington

And so the trade wakes up to January, the most miserable month for the sector and the much anticipated lockdown appears to be currently receding, Tory scandal dependent of course, into the distance.

‘Good chance’ fresh restrictions won’t be imposed says PM

05-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson implied it was unlikely further Covid measures would be implemented to tackle the spread of Omicron.

Trading restrictions cost Everards more than £3m

05-Jan-2022 By Nikkie Thatcher

Covid measures for nine months of this year have meant Leicestershire-based firm Everards reported an operating loss of £3.4m for the financial year ending September 2021.

Sector welcomes no new Covid rules in England before new year

28-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Health secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed there will not be any further Covid restrictions in England before new year.

37 pubs a month ‘vanished’ in 2021

23-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than 400 pubs have disappeared from communities in England and Wales this year compared to a year earlier, figures have revealed.

Rule of 6 and table service return ‘devastating’ for Welsh pubs

22-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Fresh measures including the rule of six and face masks will be in place for Welsh hospitality businesses from 6am on Boxing Day (Sunday 26 December).

Shutdown preferable to outside only restrictions, survey reveals

22-Dec-2021 By Ed Bedington

More than 90% of operators would rather be shut down than face post Christmas trade with indoor restrictions, a snap survey has revealed.

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.

Local authorities to distribute latest grants

22-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The one-off grants of up to £6,000 will be administered by local authorities “in the coming weeks”, according to the Government.

£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.

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.

Sunak says ‘there are existing support measures in place’

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Chancellor Rishi Sunak reiterated that there are “existing support measures” for the hospitality sector.

Footfall down by a third compared to 2019

17-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Visits of guests to hospitality venues have fallen by between 31% and 35%, according to data logged in the first half of this week.

Kerridge: ‘Hospitality is being hung out to dry yet again’

16-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has revealed 654 cancellations at one of his sites to shine light on industry-wide problems caused by the UK Government’s “mixed messages” about the Omicron variant.

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.

‘Hospitality is the victim’ of Gov’s indecision

16-Dec-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The UK Government’s response to the Omicron Covid variant has been a “fiasco” that has undermined customer confidence and victimised hospitality, said the owner of the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk.

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.

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.