Health & Safety

Health experts' claims ‘hospitality not Covid hotbed’ comes as ‘no surprise’

28-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Claims from local public health directors that hospitality venues are not a big risk of coronavirus transmission should come as no surprise, one trade body has said.

Pubs need to reopen when shops do, says Admiral Taverns boss

20-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

There is no reason for pubs to remain closed until May, the chief executive of Admiral Taverns has said.

Financial uncertainty has left operators feeling 'helpless'

12-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

After the pub sector experienced a year like no other, The Morning Advertiser (MA) spoke to operators about how they are protecting their mental health moving forward.

Opinion

How could pubs switch from dispensing beer to dispensing vaccines?

08-Jan-2021 By Mike Williams, operations director, Food Alert

As we embark on yet another national lockdown the one glimmer of hope lies in the knowledge that we now have vaccines to fight against Covid-19.

Pubs offer themselves up as vaccine hubs

04-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

A number of hospitality operators have put their venues forward as Covid vaccination hubs after it was revealed almost one in four people in England live somewhere with no vaccination centre.

Concern over New Year's Eve parties as rules for pubs unchanged

21-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Tough restrictions on pubs will see more people break coronavirus laws to attend illegal house parties on New Year's Eve, the sector has told the Government.

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 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.

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.

Cleanliness key in fight against coronavirus

13-Nov-2020 By Ed Bedington

Hygiene standards have proven to be a key weapon in the battle against the coronavirus, and with pubs gearing up to open at the end of the latest lockdown, they will continue to play a vital role.

How to manage your risk when closing a venue due to Covid

03-Nov-2020 By Mark Flanagan, CEO of Shield Safety Group

The recent introduction of tiered alert systems, fire breakers, lockdowns and circuit breakers across the UK and Ireland means that for thousands of hospitality businesses adapting, planning and preparing have never been more crucial.

1% of Test and Trace incidences ‘from hospitality’

28-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

A survey from leading hospitality trade organisations has claimed just 1% of respondents to a poll said their venues were linked to NHS Test and Trace contact incidences.

Low transmission levels mean measures 'unjustified'

26-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Health officials have hardly touched data provided to them by pubs, according to a survey carried out by UKHospitality (UKH).

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.

Scientist minutes prove 10pm curfew should be 'removed imminently'

13-Oct-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Leaked documents from the Government’s scientific advisers have revealed that ministers were told that the 10pm curfew would have only a 'marginal impact' on fighting Covid-19.

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

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...

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.

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.

Face coverings ‘only for customer-facing roles’

30-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Only customer-facing staff are required to wear a face covering, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) understands.

‘One for the road’ and 9:15pm last orders: how are pubs enforcing the 10pm curfew?

30-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

After almost a week of 10pm closure, The Morning Advertiser (MA) quizzed its readers on what steps they’d been taking to enforce the Government’s curfew.

How many coronavirus cases are from the hospitality industry?

29-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The hospitality sector has seen just 5.18% of cases recorded by Public Health England (PHE) data from the week pubs opened (commencing 9 July – week 28).

Westminster City Council extends outdoor eating and drinking ‘lifeline’ through October

29-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Westminster City Council has revealed temporary measures to enable al fresco dining and hospitality across areas including Soho, Covent Garden, and Chinatown will continue for an extra month.

Curfew review urged after crowded streets and house parties

28-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The 10pm curfew is doing more harm to public health than good, according to industry chiefs and operators across the country.

Operator confidence slips in just 7 days

28-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Hospitality operators' confidence levels have fallen by 10% in just a week, the latest results from an industry survey has found.

Scottish students told avoid pubs this weekend

25-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Scottish Government has told university students to not visit pubs this weekend following coronavirus outbreaks on several campuses.

Pubs legally required to display NHS app codes

24-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs are legally required to display an official QR code poster from today (Thursday 24 September) so customers can check-in on the newly-launched NHS coronavirus app.

Analysis

Why are pubs being blamed for a second coronavirus spike?

23-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, pubs have been the subject of an inflated number of newspaper column inches with one outlet claiming they have become the focus for 'pandemic Britain’s culture wars'. But is it unfair the spotlight remains...

Curfew measures will not curb virus, say pubco bosses

22-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Chief executives have called the Government’s pub curfew decision “pointless” and “unnecessary” in the fight to curb a second coronavirus wave.

How many coronavirus cases since pubs reopened?

21-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

With Government and health experts seemingly pointing the finger at pubs, The Morning Advertiser analyses the number of coronavirus cases reported since the sector reopened up until 15 September.

What are the Covid-secure rules for pubs?

21-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Read a summary of the rules pubs must adhere by in order to make them Covid-secure.

Pub staff to receive payment if asked to self-isolate

21-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pub workers who need to self-isolate will soon receive a payment to make up for their lost income and bosses could risk fines for threatening staff who ask to take time off.

Curfew for north east pubs in 'compromise' with businesses

17-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A 10pm curfew on pubs and bars in areas of the North East has been confirmed in an endeavour to tackle rising coronavirus cases.

Opinion

Could new coronavirus laws be helpful?

09-Sep-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

New laws announced by the Government to help protect the public from the coronavirus may sound like another layer of damaging bureaucracy for pubs, but they could be helpful.

Bolton pubs limited to takeaways

08-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in the Greater Manchester town of Bolton will only be allowed to operate as takeaways in a tightening of local coronavirus restrictions there.

Pubs asked to reduce calories by 20%

08-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has set out voluntary calorie guidelines for hospitality venues as part of its plan to tackle obesity.

Several Bolton pubs shuttered as infection rate spikes

07-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A handful of pubs in Bolton have temporarily closed their doors to protect public health amid a rapidly increasing infection rate.

Pub crawls should be 'things of the past still', says minister

26-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Punters should not be drinking in large groups such as stag and hen parties, the Welsh health minister has said.

Government recognises pubs' 'good work' with economic lockdowns avoided

24-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs remaining open in parts of northern England where new restrictions on social gatherings have been imposed is a sign that authorities recognise the sector’s commitment to public health, trade bodies have said.

Operator defends closure as 'right choice' after confirmed link to coronavirus case

21-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A publican insists she did the right thing in closing her site after a customer received a positive coronavirus test after visiting her venue, despite not being instructed to do so by officials.

Sam Smith’s refuses to support track and trace

19-Aug-2020 By MCA Editorial

Yorkshire-based brewer and pub operator, Samuel Smith, is refusing to cooperate with the Government’s track and trace system.

County Durham pubs voluntarily close after cases linked to site

18-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubgoers in County Durham are being asked to self-isolate if they visited a site linked to a confirmed case of coronavirus.

85% of Brits feel pubs are meeting or exceeding Covid-secure guidance expectations

18-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The vast majority of customers who’ve visited post-lockdown pubs have found operators to be compliant with guidance to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Pub sector 'working incredibly hard' on contact guidance

13-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The pub sector has responded to claims many venues are not taking their role in coronavirus contact tracing seriously by arguing the majority of sites are following guidance correctly.

What PPE do pub operators need to provide for staff?

11-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

With personal protective equipment (PPE) something operators are now having to take into account when running their reopened pubs, we take a look at what this means for staff.

Top up sick pay for self-isolating workers, campaign urges

11-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Workers who need to self-isolate must receive their full wage, a new campaign has demanded.

Pub praised by authorities for response to potential Covid-19 outbreak

10-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A pub has been praised for voluntarily closing and contacting public health officials after several coronavirus cases were linked to an event it hosted on 2 August.

Boris Johnson would close pubs before schools in severe local lockdowns

10-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has labelled getting children back in schools “a moral duty” amid suggestions that he would force the closure of pubs, restaurants and shops ahead of shutting schools in the event of severe local spikes in coronavirus cases.

Publican of site linked to 22 Covid-19 cases describes 'deepest regret'

10-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The operator of a pub linked to more than 20 coronavirus cases has shared his regret about being “complacent” with enforcing social distancing guidance on a busy weekend.