Lockdown - Hospitality

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.

Tier 3 would be ‘writing on the wall’ for London pubs

10-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Many of the capital's hospitality businesses would be forced to permanently close should the city be placed into the toughest tier of coronavirus measures, a trade association has claimed.

650k hospitality jobs lost in 2020

08-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

This year has seen an estimated 650,000 job losses in the hospitality sector, a new study has revealed.

Second lockdown more than halved consumer spend in pubs

08-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs and bars saw a drop of 56.7% in spend for November compared to last year due to the second national lockdown restrictions, new data found.

Tier 3 operators apprehensive for reopening 'logistical nightmare'

07-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Morning Advertiser asked operators under the toughest band of England's coronavirus measures about their business hopes, ahead of a review of areas' tier statuses on 16 December.

Tiers hit Blind Tiger Inns for more than £1m

07-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The director of a pub company with 18 sites shut under the tier system has said he is “deeply concerned” by the lack of Government support.

Welsh Government ‘actively considering’ further coronavirus measures

07-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Wales’ health minister has warned further restrictions could be on the horizon after Christmas as the country records rising virus cases.

Majority of operators expect to be in strictest tier in January, survey finds

04-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Most operators (67%) believe the new year will bring a ‘tier three style lockdown’ an industry poll has found.

Tier review will 'try to be sensitive to local effort'

03-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government could take a more localised approach when it reviews coronavirus tiers, the Prime Minister has suggested.

Lockdown ends and new tiers apply today

02-Dec-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs will be operating under the new tier restrictions as the month-long national lockdown eases today (Wednesday 2 December).

lockdown live

Pubs hit by tier four closures in 'longest winter in living memory'

02-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

As pubs adapt to new coronavirus measures, The Morning Advertiser will bring you the latest updates and reaction on this live blog.

Government wins vote on post-lockdown tiers

01-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government’s new tiered system will come into force at one minute past midnight, after 291 votes to 78.

Cinemas serving pints without food 'outrageous'

01-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Operators have said it “beggars belief” that cinema-goers will be allowed to order just alcohol while pub goers must eat-in when lockdown laws lift.

Fury at pub alcohol ban in Wales

01-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A ban on serving alcohol in pubs has been met with anger from publicans in Wales, who say it means their businesses are not viable.

Welsh pubs to be banned from selling alcohol

30-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Hospitality businesses in Wales will not be allowed to sell alcohol under fresh restrictions.

Tier 2 operators 'still very unsure' on meal rules

30-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operators in tier two areas have said they still do not feel confident about what is permitted within the new rules.

'An injustice to an industry that has done everything to comply'

27-Nov-2020 By Ed Bedington

The announcement of the tiering system leaving 99% of the UK in higher and extreme restrictive measures has come as a hammer blow to the hospitality industry - as Greene King ceo Nick Mackenize said, a lockdown in all but name.

'Not sure I'll sleep tonight' ahead of tier announcement

25-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operators have described nerves and a sense of hopelessness ahead of finding out which coronavirus rules their areas will be subject to.

New tiered rules ‘killing Christmas and beyond’ for trade

24-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The new restrictions on how pubs can operate in the tiered system once lockdown is eased will mean closures and further job losses, a trade body has said.

Curfew extension 'meaningless' alongside tougher rules

23-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Publicans have dubbed an extended curfew time as a “distraction” and said it will do little to help revenues amid tougher restrictions elsewhere.

11pm curfew and new tiers confirmed

23-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs will face a raft of new rules including an 11pm curfew and a change in local tiered restrictions when lockdown is eased, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced today (Monday 23 November).

Christmas pub parties 'never going to happen'

23-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Operators have said they are gearing up for a very different Christmas this year, as they wait to see what will be permitted for the festive period.

Operators split about December reopening

20-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Confidence in the sector about reopening in December was split in the latest edition of a trade survey.

2m distancing suggestion 'fundamentally idiotic'

19-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

It would be “fundamentally idiotic” for pubs to operate with two metres between tables, a pub company chief executive has said.

The Lock In Podcast

The Lock In Podcast: Lockdown blues

18-Nov-2020 By Ed Bedington

In this week's episode of the Lock In podcast Ed Bedington, James Cuthbertson and Heath Ball talk about the challenges facing the sector in lockdown, how pubs can adapt and what the future might look like. Tune in to the latest episode of the Lock...

Brewers call for more support ahead of return to tiers 'disaster'

13-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Brewers have called tier three measures a “real disaster” and called for more evidence to justify the tough rules imposed on pubs.

Tiered system ‘further depressed sales’ in October

13-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Regional coronavirus restrictions last month (October) pushed managed pub, restaurant and bar group sales into reverse, new research has found.

Map: Scottish pubs hit by level system

12-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Morning Advertiser (MA) has mapped out the varying restrictions in Scotland under its five-level system of coronavirus rules.

Scottish Government urged to extend opening hours

11-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pubs have been severed a “sucker punch” by the Government with its new levelled system of coronavirus measures, according to one trade group.

Publican Awards aims to celebrate sector

11-Nov-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

The coronavirus crisis has battered our sector, yet companies have remained resilient and strong, supporting their teams and customers. The Morning Advertiser (MA) aims to celebrate this with the launch of the Publican Awards.

Second lockdown ‘costs JDW £14m’

11-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has estimated the ‘cash burn’ of the month-long enforced closure of its pubs under national lockdown will be approximately £14m.

Tier three is 'ticking time bomb' for Greater Manchester

10-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has been asked to provide more data before imposing the same restrictions on Greater Manchester that it faced before lockdown.

Birmingham pub hit with £10k fine as pubs warned about lockdown breaches

09-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs have been warned not to break coronavirus rules after one site was slapped with a £10,000 fine.

Welsh reopening: proof of residency, 'rule of 4' and no English visitors

09-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Wales can reopen today (Monday 9 November) after more than two weeks closed under the nation's 'firebreak' lockdown.

39% of operators 'somewhat prepared' for second lockdown

06-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Almost two fifths (39%) of operators have stated they feel 'somewhat prepared' for the second national lockdown, which came into force yesterday (Thursday 5 November).

Three quarters of hospitality anxious about job security

06-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Nearly three quarters of hospitality workers have said they are worried about losing their job amid the current lockdown, according to a snap survey.

Pubs operating takeaways are eligible for grants

06-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hospitality businesses serving takeaways are able to claim the business grants as their main mode of business has been banned, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has learnt.

PM assures ‘lockdown will end on 2 December’

05-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reiterated the current national lockdown restrictions will expire on 2 December and the tiered system will come into force thereafter.

Furlough extension welcomed ahead of 'tough winter'

05-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the furlough scheme will be extended until the end of March.

12,000 pubs at risk of permanent closure

05-Nov-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Almost a third (31.9%) of England’s pubs will not reopen after the second lockdown is lifted, a trade body has predicted.

'Christmas Eve atmosphere' as pubs shut for lockdown

05-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Punters came out in force last night for one last hurrah and to support their locals ahead of a four-week lockdown in England.

breaking

MPs approve pub closures in second lockdown

04-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

MPs have voted in favour of the new set of lockdown rules, which will come into force later tonight.

Welsh pubs subject to 'rule of 4'

04-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Welsh pubs have received confirmation of operating rules before they resuming trading next week.

Pub companies announce lockdown rent plans

04-Nov-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pub companies including Greene King and Stonegate Pub Company have confirmed rent reductions for tenants to 10% for the second lockdown period.

Lockdown revisited

04-Nov-2020 By Ed Bedington

With a second lockdown looming, The Morning Advertiser revisited some of the operators we spoke to during the enforced spring and early summer closure, along with a Great British Pub Award winner, to gauge their response to the news and what preparations...