Legislation

Greene King announces 40% rent concession for tied tenants

25-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubco Greene King has revealed £6m worth of financial support for its 975 tied tenants following the coronavirus lockdown including tapered rent concessions.

Aberdeen pubs must complete EHO check before reopening this week

24-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses in Aberdeen can reopen from Wednesday 26 August but only once an environmental health check has been completed.

Lights out for late night?

24-Aug-2020 By Georgia Cronin, MCA

Having already provided your full name and contact details, you pass by the thermal imaging camera and through the personal protection tunnel, where you remain for five seconds to ensure the chlorine dioxide has thoroughly disinfected your clothes and...

More than 35m meals claimed on Eat Out to Help Out

19-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Over 35m meals have been consumed during the first fortnight of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the Treasury has revealed.

Diversity issues ‘must be tackled on a company-by-company basis’

18-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality, and its recently launched Elevate Mentorship scheme, believes there is no ‘single solution’ for sectors lacking diversity in leadership and that individual companies must step up.

60% of EOTHO diners wouldn’t have visited venues without discount

18-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Though initially dismissed as a “gimmick” by some, new data from Streetbees and restaurant booking app OpenTable has highlighted the Eat Out to Help Out scheme could be among the Government’s most effective Covid-19 crisis policies.

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.

How to apply for second self-employed income support scheme

17-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The second support grant for self-employed workers is available to claim from today (Monday 17 August).

Pubs urge public to 'accept their role too' in tackling Covid-19 spread

14-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Greater Manchester’s mayor, night-time economy advisor, brewers and pub operators have collectively called on the public to step up and take their share of responsibility for controlling the spread of Covid-19.

MA's review of the week

'The biggest issue we face is consumer confidence'

14-Aug-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Black Sheep Brewery chairman Andy Slee to talk about the big issues from the news this week.

Still no clarity on nightclub reopening date

14-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

While the Government has announced a slew of hospitality businesses can now reopen, it has remained tight-lipped on when the late-night sector venues can trade again.

55% of operators saw weekend trade impacted by Eat Out to Help Out

14-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of hospitality operators saw their weekend affected by the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, new research has found.

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.

UK enters first recession in 11 years

12-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The UK economy has slipped into its first technical recession since 2009 after suffering its biggest slump on record as a knock-on effect of Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Petition demanding Government U-Turn on SBR passes 7k signatures in first day

11-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

A petition calling on the Government to reverse proposed changes to the Small Brewers Relief (SBR) threshold has received more than 7,000 signatures in 24 hours.

Tim Martin demands evidence that coronavirus is transmitted in pubs

11-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) boss Tim Martin has called for scientists to publish evidence of coronavirus transmission in pubs and questioned if it exists.

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 reopenings outstrip restaurants

10-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs are leading the way in hospitality sector reopenings despite only two thirds of licensed premises resuming trade before the end of July.

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.

Councils call for more power to shut pubs flouting Covid-19 guidance

10-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for local authorities to be entrusted with extra power to shut pubs and other licensed premises flying in the face of Covid-19 safety guidance.

'Mystery shoppers' to check Covid measures in Manchester pubs

07-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs that are reported to authorities in Greater Manchester for failing to enforce Covid-secure measures will be targeted by ‘mystery shoppers’ to ensure they are protecting public health.

SBR changes: hastening job losses and limiting choice or correcting ‘market distortion’?

07-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Morning Advertiser (MA) spoke to a number of brewers-cum-bar operators about the recent changes to Small Brewers Relief (SBR) and the impact it could have on both their businesses and the wider pub sector.

'Wartime footing’ as business rates appeals soar

06-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has revealed that almost 145,000 businesses registered to begin the process of challenging their property valuations during April, May and June.

Aberdeen lockdown 'gutting' for city pubs and bars

06-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The operator of two bars in Aberdeen, one of which is on the Top 50 Cocktails Bar list, has described a city-wide shutdown of hospitality venues as “gutting”.

Music fans can fight back against closures with new brews

05-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A brewery has launched a series of beers to support a campaign to save small music venues across the country as they remain closed because of coronavirus restrictions.

One-in-three operators struggling to break even post-lockdown

05-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

More than a third of pubs in the UK (37%) cannot break even one month after reopening, according to a survey of members of The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

64% of operators not optimistic about Eat Out scheme

03-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Some six in 10 reopened pub businesses are currently not making a profit, according to a survey of British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) members.

Welsh pubs try to capture last of summer trade

03-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Wales can reopen indoors from today after they were the last in the UK to be permitted to reopen fully.

No plans to shut pubs in ‘trade-off’ to reopen schools, minister confirms

03-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has moved to quell speculation the Government could call time on reopened pubs and restaurants as part of a ‘trade-off’ to allow children to return to classrooms in September.

Different households can meet in pub gardens in restricted areas

03-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Separate households can meet up in beer gardens in parts of England where restrictions on gatherings are in place, it has been confirmed.

One household rule extra blow for northern pubs

31-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

News of strict restrictions on socialising between households has been dubbed “devastating” for the hospitality trade in the parts of England affected.

Live music restart paused as lockdown relaxations postponed

31-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The relaxation of restrictions affecting indoor live music performances and larger gatherings at weddings has been postponed a further two weeks.

Pubs told to ‘take steps’ to enforce local restrictions

31-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Operators in a number of regions of northern England have been told to “take steps” to discourage people from meeting up with different households at their pub.

Calls to extend VAT reduction to beer

31-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said VAT reduction should be extended to pints as well as food to aid businesses less likely to benefit from the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Extended VAT reduction scheme tops hospitality operators’ wish list

31-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

The extension of VAT relief tops hospitality business owners’ list of priorities ahead of a freeze in business rates and a furlough scheme extension according to new research.

MA'S REVIEW OF THE WEEK

Eat Out to Help Out ‘quite a partial, divisive’ move

31-Jul-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's (MA) editor Ed Bedington catches up with Admiral Taverns' Chris Jowsey to discuss what’s grabbed his attention from the week’s headlines.

New food measures 'must avoid burdening sector’

30-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs and restaurants have an influential role in promoting healthier attitudes to food, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has said in response to a government-commissioned report into Britain’s eating habits.

£30bn lost revenue in second quarter

28-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs, restaurants and bars experienced a sales drop of 87% in the second quarter of 2020, which equates to almost £30bn in lost revenue.

Government obesity measures ‘slap in the face’ for pubs

27-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has said the Government’s obesity strategy, which includes compulsory calorie information on menus, signals extra pressure for businesses already struggling.

Professional support vital on pub trigger event claims, PCA warns

27-Jul-2020 By Ed Bedington

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) is seeking to clarify the situation when it comes to trigger events for pubs in light of the ongoing challenges to the hospitality sector, however operators are being warned to seek professional advice before proceeding.

85% of hospitality operators not passing on VAT cut to customers

23-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Most operators in hospitality will not be passing on the discounted rate of VAT on food and soft drinks to guests, new research has revealed.

Trade bodies welcome Government’s evidence call for business rates review

22-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Industry associations have hailed the Government’s decision to call for evidence for a business rates review by the end of September.

Alcohol duty review appreciated but calls made for further support

22-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s announcement that it will be launching a review into alcohol duty has been met with optimism from trade bodies alongside calls for more help for the beer and pub sectors to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis.

‘Pass on VAT cut benefit to customers if possible’

20-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government has confirmed it would like to see businesses pass on the benefits of its VAT cut to customers where possible.

Closure decisions must be 'proportionate, transparent and based on clear science'

17-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

The Government must help out pubs that are closed by councils under new powers to limit local outbreaks of coronavirus, trade bodies have said.

Councils given new powers to close businesses

17-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new powers for local authorities which could see them able to shut down pubs in their areas.

MA500

Late-night operators ‘desperate for clarity on reopening’

17-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Two wet-led late-night businesses have voiced their concerns about not having any Government guidance on when or how they can reopen.

MA’s review of the week

Consumers will have a difficult time deciphering the purpose of face masks

17-Jul-2020 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's (MA) editor Ed Bedington catches up with The Alchemist’s Simon Potts to discuss what’s grabbed his attention from the week’s headlines.

MA500

UKH boss: 'Trade support cannot stop now'

17-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has called for the Government to continue to support the trade into next year.