Ukhospitality

December revenue predicted to drop by a quarter

17-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

The Government need to step in and provide financial help before it’s too late as December revenue for the hospitality sector has been predicted to drop by a further quarter, according to industry body UKHospitality.

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.

Calls for urgent financial review following ‘work from home’ message

09-Dec-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hospitality bosses have warned the Government’s ‘work from home’ directive could kill off businesses as a result of diminishing consumer confidence and booking cancellations.

Omicron declared as ‘mild’ offers ‘crumb of comfort for sector’

02-Dec-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) having declared the latest Coronavirus variant, Omicron, as mild, this offered a 'crumb of comfort' to the sector as Christmas bookings were still down 12.4% based on expectations from 2019.

Trade bodies join forces to tackle drink spiking

26-Nov-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Four hospitality trade associations have teamed up in a bid to ensure customer safety amid increasing concerns about drink spiking in UK venues.

45% revenue drop shows 'industry in peril'

12-Nov-2021 By Rebecca Weller

Full 12-month figures were nearly half what they were over the same period pre-pandemic, according to data from latest edition of the UKHospitality and CGA Quarterly Tracker.

autumn budget 2021

‘Devil will be in the detail’ of business rates changes

28-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The trade has reacted to the Budget announcement of hospitality businesses being set to receive a 50% discount on business rates bills for one year.

Reduced VAT top of operators’ Budget asks

26-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Keeping the 12.5% VAT rate is the top priority for operators ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget tomorrow (Wednesday 27 October).

200 bosses urge Chancellor to permanently keep VAT at 12.5%

25-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than 200 chief executives of hospitality businesses have signed a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget this week (Wednesday 27 October), calling for the 12.5% VAT rate to be made permanent.

Increasing VAT to 20% will mean significant price hike, says UKH boss

11-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Putting the VAT rate back up to 20% next March will mean operators could be forced to push prices up, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has warned.

Campaign to call for permanent 12.5% VAT launched

07-Oct-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A campaign, urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to keep the 12.5% VAT rate beyond March next year has been launched by trade body UKHospitality (UKH).

UKH calls on Government for support package in Budget submission to Treasury

04-Oct-2021 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The industry body UKHospitality (UKH) has proposed a support package aimed at boosting growth in the hospitality industry, in its Budget submission to the Treasury last Thursday.

Pandemic was bad but it could have been ‘so much worse’

22-Sep-2021 By Gary Lloyd

The pandemic has caused huge suffering throughout the sector but the situation could have been “so much worse” said UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls.

Industry warns of devastating impact of ‘plan B’

15-Sep-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The Government’s has been warned that plans to hold vaccine passports in reserve while revealing it in its ‘Plan B’ Winter Covid plan that compulsory face masks and ‘last resort’ lockdowns could be implemented could have a drastic impact on the pub and...

Hospitality job vacancies soar by 75%

14-Sep-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Job vacancies in the sector increased by 57,600 in the period of June to August 2021, according to official figures.

Trade industry groups call for overhaul of business rates system

25-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Leading trade groups – the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), UKHospitality (UKH) and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) – have all called for business rates reform.

Customers returning to hospitality but businesses remain fragile

23-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Customers are returning to hospitality more quickly than last summer, but businesses remain fragile, new research from UK Hospitality (UKH) survey, supported by data from CGA has found.

117,000 job vacancies in hospitality sector

18-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

There are currently 117,000 vacancies in the accommodation and food service sector – up from 16,000 for the same period (May to July) in 2020, according to official figures.

Hospitality sector makes 'significant contribution' to UK economy growth

13-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The hospitality sector has made a “significant contribution” to the latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures that showed that the UK economy grew by 4.8% in Q2 2021 as coronavirus restrictions were lifted.

Industry responds to accusations about minimum wage

09-Aug-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The industry has responded to accusations the industry needs to review the payment of the minimum wage, highlighting the impact of the pandemic and loss of non-British workers.

NHS app change ‘not a silver bullet’

03-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A software update to the NHS Covid app, meaning it will notify fewer contacts from a Covid positive case has been cautiously welcomed by trade bodies.

267k hospitality staff off work thanks to ‘pingdemic’

02-Aug-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Six in 10 hospitality firms have had staff off work after being ‘pinged’ resulting in 267,000 – the equivalent of 13% of the industry’s workforce having recently been or are currently self-isolating, according to a trade survey.

Hospitality suffered £100bn in lost sales during coronavirus crisis

30-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The sector has lost £100.2bn in sales compared to pre-pandemic levels amid the Covid-19 crisis, new research has revealed.

Review of the Week

Pingdemic fuels no-show excuses and wine woes

29-Jul-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington and Frisco Group managing director Heath Ball reflect on the week’s headlines and how the pingdemic is ratcheting up and fuelling no shows.

Hospitality qualifications to be included in Lifetime Skills Guarantee

29-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Trade bodies have welcomed the announcement of catering and hospitality qualifications are set to be featured as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Gov appoints hospitality sector ambassador as it vows to 'focus on improving the lives of the disabled'

28-Jul-2021 By Michelle Perrett

The Government has appointed UKHospitality (UKH) CEO Kate Nicholls as the hospitality sector's Disability Ambassador.

UKH calls for more ‘pragmatic solution’ to Covid-19 staff isolation crisis

26-Jul-2021 By Michelle Perrett

Trade association UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to offer a ‘pragmatic solution’ to help the sector tackle the issues around self-isolation.

All hospitality firms looking for workers

22-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Every business in the hospitality sector has job roles to be filled currently, an industry-wide survey has revealed, with recruitment for front-of-house staff at the fore.

Pavement licences here to stay

16-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government has announced pavement licences "have been extended and made permanent".

Government launches ‘Hospitality Strategy’ to help sector recover

16-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government has unveiled a new ‘Hospitality Strategy’, spearheaded by business minister Paul Scully, to support the sector in its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

NHS app sensitivity could be changed 'within weeks'

15-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The NHS app could be adapted so it is less sensitive amid large numbers of hospitality staff being forced to self-isolate, a minister has suggested.

Bosses celebrate 'possibility of profitable trading'

06-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Industry bosses have celebrated plans to remove all restrictions on the pub trade from Monday 19 July.

'Major milestone' as PM confirms pub restrictions will end

05-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined how England will learn to live with coronavirus, announcing the end of the rule of six and social distancing for pubs.

PM to announce end of restrictions

05-Jul-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to set out how he will “restore people’s freedoms” by removing all Covid measures including face-covering and social distancing laws.

Urgent review of ‘massively disruptive’ Test & Trace isolation needed

02-Jul-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government has been urged to amend the Test & Trace system, which is forcing businesses to close and resulting in mass isolations, one trade association has warned.

Business rates holiday ending

29-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Full business rates will return this week (from Thursday 1 July) after a 15-month exemption period amid the pandemic.

10 coronavirus cases linked to clubbing pilots

25-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Nightlife bosses have said the sector has been “marginalised” after a long awaited Government report found just 10 coronavirus cases associated with clubbing pilots.

Wages driven up by staff shortages

22-Jun-2021 By MCA

The average wages of pub and restaurant workers have risen by as much as 14%, driven by a shortage of staff in the hospitality sector.

Mandatory calorie labelling timing ‘counterproductive and damaging’

22-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The introduction of mandatory calorie labelling is set to come into force in April next year, which would “badly damage the sector at a time when the focus must be squarely on recovery”, one trade body has said.

‘Bitterly disappointed’ trade bodies write to PM demanding further support

16-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Industry associations including the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), UKHospitality (UKH), the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have written to Boris Johnson calling for further support.

Restriction easing delay 'to cost pubs £400m'

15-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The four-week postponement of lockdown easing from Monday 21 June to Monday 19 July will cost the trade £100m per week, one trade body has estimated.

Freedom day 'set to be delayed until 19 July'

14-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Prime Minister is expected to announce a delay of up to four weeks to the final unlocking step at a press conference tonight (Monday 14 June).

Furlough 'still a cost to businesses'

07-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls has defended pub bosses who have had to lay off staff since the start of the pandemic despite job support schemes.

Lockdown easing uncertainty has 'impacted momentum'

04-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

A trio of trade bodies representing publicans and brewers have written to the Chancellor and business secretary urging clarity and support.

Smoke free policies 'hugely disproportionate step'

03-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Councils have been lambasted after introducing smoke free zones on pavements where pubs and bars have set up shop for outdoor service.

'Cancellations coming in fast': pubs hit by variant hotspot advice

26-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operators in variant hotspots are attempting to reassure customers of their safety measures after confusion over Government coronavirus guidance.

Slash beer duty by 50% to boost pubs, Chancellor told

19-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pub and brewing trade bodies have called on the Chancellor to slash draught beer duty in order to help pubs recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Calls to delay calorie label plans as pubs recover

14-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

There have been calls to delay legislation that would force pubs to display calorie information on their menus.

Indoor reopening confirmation ‘psychological rather than economical’

11-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday (Monday 10 May), confirming pubs can reopen inside from next week has been welcomed alongside calls for restrictions to be lifted in June.

Easing of travel rules ‘welcome first step on path out of pandemic’

10-May-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s announcement relaxing the rules around international travel has been welcomed by one trade body.