Legislation

Government publishes tipping code of practice

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie, MCA

The Department for Business and Trade has published a draft code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips.

Review of the Week

'We have a vital role'

15-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington caught up with Frederic Robinson's William Robinson to hear his thoughts on the week, from Christmas trade to changing of the political guard.

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Top tips - children in pubs

14-Dec-2023 By Suraj Desor, associate solicitor, Poppleston Allen

The busy Christmas trading period and families with children in pubs can increase risk of falling foul of the law around children in pubs

NTIA: Covid inquiry a waste of money without sector insight

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Failing to include representation from the hospitality sector in the Covid-19 inquiry will be a waste of taxpayers’ money, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

New immigration plans 'will worsen staff shortages'

05-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s changes to the immigration system will “further shrink” hospitality’s talent pool and contribute to greater shortages, one trade body has warned.

Review of the Week

Better Government leadership needed

01-Dec-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington caught up with Fuller's CEO Simon Emeny to get his take on the week's events, from the Covid Inquiry to the death of a footballing icon.

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Reminder to check your licence for Christmas trading

01-Dec-2023 By Jonathan Smith, partner, Poppleston Allen

Be careful, it will not have escaped people’s notice that this year both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday.

Xmas rail strikes cast 'dark shadow' despite RMT deal

30-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Industrial action will cause a “dark shadow” over festive trade despite rail unions pay deal to end dispute ahead of next year’s Spring strikes.

POLL: How much of an impact will the NLW rise have on your business?

29-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

From April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be eligible for NLW with the rate for that age bracket being £11.44, rising from its current level of £10.42.

Hospitality Ulster: Gov a ‘disgrace’ as business rates relief not granted in NI

27-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster members have demanded an explanation of why the sector has not been afforded business rates relief in the Autumn Statement in line with England, Scotland and Wales.

A look at NLW rises since it began

24-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

24-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.

UKH calls for VAT cut to boost tourism

23-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to address the UK’s lack of competitiveness on the global tourism market, beginning with a cut to VAT for hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

Autumn Statement

What's the opposite of exceeding expectations?

22-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

Expectations ahead of the Autumn Statement were already pretty low in the pub sector and I think it’s fair to say they have been duly met.

Mixed reaction to Autumn Statement from sector bosses

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Sector chiefs have issued a mixed response to Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement with many welcoming parts of it while others see “missed opportunities”.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

NLW increase will ‘eliminate low pay altogether’, NI contributions down 2%

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

UK Government Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the rise in national living wage from £10.42 to £11.44 from April next year will “eliminate low pay altogether”.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Business rates discount extended

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

On Wednesday 22 November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extension to the 75% discount for business rates up to £100k for the sector as part of the Autumn Statement.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Hunt confirms alcohol duty freeze

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday 22 November Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a freeze to alcohol duty until August next year.

What is expected in the Autumn Statement?

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will reportedly announce cuts to business taxes and a National Insurance reduction in today's Autumn Statement.

NLW rise could put many operators ‘over the edge’

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Sector bosses fear the Government announcement on a rise in the national living wage (NLW) could put many hospitality businesses “over the edge”.

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

20-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

Number of pub and bar insolvencies jumps 66% YOY

20-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The number of pub and bar company insolvencies soared by two thirds in the year to September as high inflation and interest rates make turning a profit “impossible”.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Business rates support ‘is the big one’

17-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington spoke to Oak Taverns managing director Simon Collinson to get his thoughts on the week's news and the upcoming Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22 November.

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

17-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Duty increase will 'damage growth and prosperity'

16-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Voices from across the brewery sector have joined calls urging the Chancellor to scrap the duty increase in February next year in next week’s Autumn Statement.

LICENSING HUB – LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Ho! Ho! No! How to deal with festive drunkenness

16-Nov-2023 By Alex Tomlinson, licensing solicitor, Poppleston Allen

Now that we’ve seen the back of Halloween and Bonfire Night, and the annual debate has started over whether the John Lewis advert is the best campaign on TV, it must be fast approaching Christmas.

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

16-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

Administrators appointed to former Wear Inns pubco

15-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The property company that operated north-east-based pub business Wear Inns after it was acquired in August 2018 has gone into administration meaning all 25 sites are now on the market.

WSTA: 'duty freeze only way to stop budget-busting price rises'

13-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

A freeze on alcohol duty is the “only option” to prevent “inflation-stoking” and “budget-busting” price rises, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned.

Hospitality leaders call for ‘urgent action’ in Autumn Statement

10-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Publicans, chefs and pubcos are among those who have signed an open letter calling or 'urgent action' ahead of this month’s Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement 2023: how can Gov support the sector?

10-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

With the Autumn Statement due to take place in less than two weeks, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has looked at what voices across the sector want from the Chancellor.

Review of the Week

‘It doesn't feel like inflation is under control’

10-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The MA's Ed Bedington spoke to Brucan Pubs’ James Lyon-Shaw to get his take on the week's events.

London tube strikes over Xmas 'challenging' for sector

10-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms in London “poised for an exceptionally challenging festive period” as RMT members vote to extend industrial action in the capital.

Lord: Gov must make major statement on 22 November

09-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

The Government must make positive changes in the upcoming Autumn Statement because pubs are already in a precarious position says night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord.

Christmas hopes pinned on rail strikes deal

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Christmas will “come early” for hospitality businesses if RMT members vote in agreement of a new deal that could see the end of rail strikes.

King's speech will 'unite or divide' sector and authorities

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The measures announced in the King’s Speech will either “unite or divide” the sector and authorities, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

King's Speech start of 'disappointing agenda' for sector

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The King’s Speech marked the start of a “disappointing agenda” for the hospitality industry at a “crucial” and “challenging time” for many firms, voices from across the sector have said.

Firms to reduce investment and staffing without rates help

04-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of hospitality businesses will be forced to cut staffing levels and reduce investment without Government intervention on business rates, research has found.

Sector 'deeply concerned' as BoE keeps interest rates at 5.25%

03-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Industry leaders have expressed “deep concern” for the future of the sector as interest rates remaining at 5.25% “piles further pressure” on hospitality firms.

PCA review divides opinion

01-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Voices from the sector have clashed over the results of the review into the operation and performance of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA).

Pub closure stats show 'uphill battle' faced by firms

31-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The growing number of business closures in the sector demonstrate the “sheer weight” of escalating costs and the “catastrophic predicament” faced by many hospitality firms, industry leaders have said.

Number of licensed venues drop to below 100,000

30-Oct-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of licensed premises has decreased by almost a third (31%) in the past 20 years, according to new figures.

750 pubs set to close in first half of 2024

28-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is calling for Government action after new data revealed 750 pubs are set to close in the first half of 2024.

43 late-night firms vanishing per week

26-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

More than 8,000 businesses have vanished from the late-night sector since 2020, new figures released by the Night-Time Industries association (NTIA) have revealed.

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

Morgan Pub Collective site opens after £270k refurb

24-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Morgan Pub Collective has taken on its sixth pub with Greene King Pub Partners, a Surrey operator has taken on his second pub and Brakspear pumps £2m into two L&T sites.

PCA COLUMN

Improving the tied tenant and business development manager relationship

24-Oct-2023 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

The relationship between the business development manager (BDM) and tenant is a significant one.

NTIA launches 2024 Night Time Economy Manifesto

24-Oct-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has announced the official launch of its 2024 Night Time Economy Manifesto today (24 October).

Fuller’s: Pub closures will increase tenfold without business rates relief

23-Oct-2023 By Hannah Currie, MCA

Pub and restaurant closures will increase tenfold unless the government finds a more equitable way of raising tax through business rates, says Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s.

Brakspear boss: business rates rise threat hangs over the sector

20-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies has described the threat of business rates rises and the current discount being axed in April next year as “the Sword of Damocles” hanging over the sector.

Government ‘must act’ to avoid £1.95bn business rates rise

18-Oct-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Pubs and bars have been warned they face huge multimillion-pound hikes in business rates bills from April 2024 if the Government fails to act when it comes to freezing rates and failing to retain discounts currently offered.