Legislation

Cash grants for 'open but struggling' tier 2 pubs

22-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined additional support measures for tier two pubs, including cash grants for "open but struggling" businesses.

Sales in 'high' Covid alert tier pubs halved

22-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs, bars and restaurants in the ‘high’ alert tier saw a sales drop of between 46% and 54% from Thursday 15 October to Saturday 17 October, new figures have found.

Judicial review launched into Greater Manchester restrictions

22-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Greater Manchester’s night czar has initiated a judicial review into the legality of restrictions imposed on the city region's pubs and bars.

Scottish pubs in 'stranglehold'

21-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in the central belt of Scotland have been dealt another blow, with their closure period extended by a further week.

16,436 pubs under tier two and three restrictions

21-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 43.69% of all pubs in England are currently under ‘high’ or ‘very high’ restrictions including closures.

Greater Manchester tier three restrictions a ‘bitter disappointment’

21-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Placing the Greater Manchester region into the strictest ‘very high’ tier is another “huge blow” to the trade, industry bodies have said.

THE LOCK IN PODCAST

The MA launches new Lock In podcast

21-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's new weekly podcast, The Lock In, sees editor Ed Bedington and co-hosts James Cuthbertson and Heath Ball explore different aspects of the pub trade over a drink or two.

Pubs slam pressure to ensure customers from same households

21-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Publicans have slammed the “impossible” expectation on them to enforce household mixing bans, as London operators were advised to request customers' proof of address.

'Urgent clarification' sought over working lunch loophole

21-Oct-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

Working lunches could be exempt from coronavirus lockdown restrictions after an apparent loophole emerged.

opinion

'It is unviable to turn the lights on and open the door'

21-Oct-2020 By Sandra Hughes, the Neuadd Fawr Arms, Carmarthenshire

John and I have owned the Neuadd Fawr Arms in Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire for six years.

South Yorkshire moving to tier three

21-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

South Yorkshire pubs will face tough tier three rules from this Saturday (24 October), it has been announced following lengthy discussions.

Greater Manchester pubs to close under tier three restrictions

20-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs in the Greater Manchester region are the most recently hit by the Government’s tier three ‘very high’ measures with restrictions coming into play later this week.

London Mayor blasts Government's continued curfew

20-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has criticised the Government’s 10pm curfew, saying it needs to be “rapidly reviewed” and that it now makes less sense since the capital moved into tier two restrictions.

Two thirds of operators favour full lockdown now to enable Christmas trading

20-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 64% of hospitality operators would rather have a temporary lockdown now if it meant they could open over Christmas, a trade survey has found.

Hospitality makes some noise at Parliamentary protest

20-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

Crowds of hospitality staff descended on parliament yesterday (Monday 19 October) to make some noise and remind politicians of the ongoing struggles restrictions are causing to the sector.

Welsh pubs consider indefinite closure after lockdown

19-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A number of Welsh pubs have said they may not reopen immediately after a brief Government ordered shutdown.

Welsh pubs to close for over two weeks

19-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced a 17 day lockdown for Wales, including the closure of hospitality businesses.

Drink-led sites saw 22.7% sales dip in September

19-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Wet-led pubs suffered the most last month (September) as they saw total sales drop 22.7% on the year before, according to numbers from CGA.

‘Help us or we’ll lose three quarters of a million jobs’ trade warns

19-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 750,000 hospitality roles will be lost by February 2021 without further Government support, a survey from trade bodies has found.

Parliament Square protest urges Government save pubs

19-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pub sector voices are calling on the Government for more support with a protest outside Parliament today (19 October).

Public reluctant to back pub closures to counter Covid spike

19-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

New research has found that despite almost two-thirds (61%) of Brits believing pub closures will make a difference to rising Covid-19 infection rates, only half (50%) think they should be temporarily shuttered.

1 in 7 English pubs hit with ‘death knell’ tier two restrictions

15-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 5,090 of England’s 37,616 pubs will be affected by the Government’s decision to move eight regions into the ‘high’ tier of its local Covid alert system.

‘Police yourselves, vigorously or I will do it for you’ PCA warns pubcos

15-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Pubs code adjudicator (PCA) Fiona Dickie has told The Morning Advertiser (MA) her decision to fine Star Pubs & Bars for pubs code breaches demonstrates she is both ‘a regulator with teeth’ and is 'prepared to bite'

More areas including London moved into 'high' Covid tier

15-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Reports the capital is moving from 'medium' risk tier one to the 'high' tier two have been confirmed by health secretary Matt Hancock.

Star Pubs & Bars fined £2m after ‘seriously breaching’ pubs code

15-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Pubs code adjudicator Fiona Dickie has fined Heineken’s pub arm, Star Pubs & Bars, £2m for 'seriously and repeatedly' breaching the pubs code over nearly three years – a charge the operator is 'actively considering' appealing....

Pubs in second tier 'better off closed'

14-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in the second tier of coronavirus measures have said they would be “better off” closed as they brace for slumped trading with a household mixing ban.

New job scheme v furlough - which is best?

How does the new jobs scheme compare to furlough?

14-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser takes a look at the difference the enhanced Job Support Scheme (JSS) will make to employees on minimum wage compared to the original Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Labour leader calls for ‘circuit breaker’ including pub closures

14-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer has called on the Government to enforce a “two to three week” national lockdown, closing hospitality venues while keeping schools open.

London could be classed as 'high' risk within days

13-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

New tier two Covid-19 restrictions banning different households from mixing indoors could be introduced across the capital as early as this week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned.

Analysis

What does the Government’s new three-tier Covid system mean for pubs?

13-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

In its latest attempt to stem the pandemic tide, the Government has unveiled three new levels of lockdown measures across England – but how will pubs in different tiers be affected?

Half a million hospitality jobs lost since January

12-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

A survey of more than 700 companies across the restaurant, pub, bar and fast-food sectors has found an estimated one in five workers have lost their jobs since January.

How has coronavirus impacted pubs in Scotland?

12-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser takes a look at how coronavirus has affected pubs in Scotland from when lockdown was first announced at the beginning of spring this year.

Legal bid against local lockdown launched

12-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord has initiated legal proceedings to challenge a reported Government lockdown of hospitality venues in the north.

Enhanced job support package ‘welcome’ but more help needed

12-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Chancellor’s expansion of the Job Support Scheme (JSS) for areas in local lockdown has been lauded by the on-trade however, industry bodies have called for further financial aid.

25,000 fewer licensed premises open now than before lockdown

12-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Britain has almost 25,000 fewer restaurants, pubs, bars and other licensed sites open than it did prior to Covid-19 lockdown in March, new research from CGA and AlixPartners has found.

BREAKING

Hospitality furlough scheme for coronavirus hotspots

09-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the Government will pay employees who cannot work 67% of their salaries up to £2,100 a month.

MA’s review of the week

Pub restrictions ‘cruel’ without explanation

09-Oct-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Berkeley Inns’ boss Howard Thacker to discuss the big issues from the news this week.

Fuller's boss 'rightsizing business'

09-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Fuller’s chief executive has said he is optimistic his London-based estate can overcome “short term challenges”, in an interview with The Morning Advertiser (MA).

1 in 5 English pubs facing second shutdown

08-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

One in five English pubs could be closed if the Government chooses to shut down pubs in the north of England next week.

Analysis

Who did it best? How other countries are treating pubs during Covid-19 second spike

08-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

With pandemic restrictions being imposed on hospitality businesses both across the UK and further afield, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has taken a closer look at how night spots in some of Europe's major cities are being affected by Covid-19's...

New measures will be outlined 'in the coming days'

08-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick has said there will be an announcement on further coronavirus measures “in the coming days”.

87% of operators say curfew has hit consumer confidence

08-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Almost nine in 10 (87%) operators said the Government’s 10pm curfew has hit customer confidence, an industry poll has revealed.

Pubs handed 'death sentence' by Scottish Government

07-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Scottish Government have made pubs and bars a “sacrificial lamb” according to one trade body ahead of a temporary closure of hospitality in parts of the country.

Pubs in central Scotland ordered to close for 16 days

07-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined further restrictions for pubs in Scotland, including the two-week closure of pubs in five areas in the central belt.

What is the guidance for soft play areas in pubs?

07-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Morning Advertiser takes a look at how pubs with children’s soft play can ensure these areas are Covid-secure.

Covid-19 accreditation scheme to support safe reopening of Nottingham's night-time venues

07-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Nottingham’s night spots will receive mystery visits as well as social media and review site checks under the city’s new Covid-19 Aware Nightlife Accreditation Scheme.

'Arrogant ignorance towards hospitality must end,' says Manchester night czar

06-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester has said that the Government must issue a sector-specific support package to prevent mass job losses this winter.

Could the ‘new normal’ mean game over for competitive socialising venues?

06-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

From darts and touch screens to shuffleboard pucks, the average competitive socialising venue is armed to the teeth with more potential fomites than you can shake a crazy golf putter at.

MPs urged to oppose 'reckless' curfew

06-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

MPs are being urged to oppose the nationwide curfew on hospitality in a retrospective vote.

Adapt support or face enormous hospitality job cuts Government warned

06-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Colossal job losses in hospitality can be expected if the Government does not adapt its current support package for the sector or even limit restrictions on the trade, it is feared.