Market confidence dips but bigger groups are more optimistic about survival: Fewer than 10% of business leaders in the out-of-home sector are confident about market prospects over the next 12 months, the latest Business Confidence Survey … view

Greggs aims to cut staff hours in half at its shops as CEO calls for relook at ‘disproportionate’ business rates: Roger Whiteside, chief executive of food-to-go retailer Greggs, has said the company is looking to reduce the hours staf … view

Bosses of more than 100 sector businesses urge PM to intervene to avoid ‘bleakest of winters’: Bosses of more than 100 hospitality businesses in the UK, including pubs, restaurants and hotels, have written to prime minister Boris John … view

“In order to reopen safely after the first lock-down, we reduced our capacity (drastically) to make sure our customers could follow the social distancing regulations, we introduced a QR … view

Greggs reports trade in September is 76.1% of 2019 levels: Greggs has reported that September company-managed shop like-for-like sales improved to 76.1% of 2019 level in the four weeks to 26 September 2020. The company stated: “Our team … view

Ban on singing, dancing and loud music vexes operators further as sector is to blame for just 3.2% of covid cases: Operators already finding economic recovery difficult enough now have to stop any singing and dancing at their venues, and … view

Pizza Hut Restaurants receives CVA approval: Pizza Hut Restaurants, the UK dine-in franchise business of the global Pizza Hut brand, has had its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approved by creditors. The deal means 29 Pizza Hut restau … view

The Times – two-week lockdown under preparation: The Times has reported ministers are preparing to enforce a total social lockdown across much of northern Britain and potentially London to combat a spiralling second wave of coronavirus. … view

Starbucks to receive £85m of support from US parent over three years – £45m related to covid-19: Starbucks UK is receiving £85m over three years from its parent company as it moves to an increasingly franchised estate – and gets th … view

Revolution Bars Group appoints advisers: Revolution Bars Group, which operates the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has appointed advisers as it explores options for the business, including a possible company voluntary arrangeme … view

 

Hugh Osmond’s Various Eateries to begin trading this morning on AIM: Various Eateries, the Hugh Osmond led business, begins trading on the AIM market this morning at 8am. It has raised £25 million (before expenses) by way of a placing … view

Sector voices concerns chancellor’s economic measures ‘don’t go far enough’: Sector operators and trade bodies have voiced concerns the economic measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak “don’t go far enough” to protect j … view

Sunak to set out new coronavirus rescue plan: Rishi Sunak will announce today a multibillion-pound package of support for the economy in an attempt to avoid mass redundancies this winter. The Times reports that the chancellor’s measures … view

Trade bodies urge government to take drastic action as quarter of businesses fear failure in next three months without further support: Trade bodies UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British Institute of Inn … view

Trade bodies urge government to take drastic action as quarter of businesses fear failure in next three months without further support: Trade bodies UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British Institute of Inn … view

SSP reports sales still 76% below last year: Transport hub foodservice company SSP Group has reported current weekly sales are running at approximately 76% below last year, representing an improvement from the third quarter when sales wer … view

Sector demands support package to prevent sector ‘devastation’: Sector trade bodies and operators have demanded government support and warned the industry will be decimated after the imposition of a curfew that will see all pubs, bars … view

Wahaca lenders and shareholders to write off £25m of debt to rescue chain: Lenders to and shareholders of Mexican restaurant company Wahaca will write off £25m of debt in an attempt to rescue the business. Sky News reported a company vo … view

Whitbread plans 6,000 redundancies – 18% of total workforce: Whitbread has reported total sales in its First Half to 27 August were down 77.2% year-on-year reflecting the closure of the vast majority of its hotels and restaurants for a … view

Sector voices dismay and anger at 10pm curfew: The government will today confirm that all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality in England will be required to close by 10pm from Thursday (24 September), in what UKHospitality has d … view

Threat of second industry lock-down leads to economic warning and sharp fall in sector share prices: The threat of a second mass closure of pubs and restaurants or yet more restrictions on the industry has resulted in a sharp fall in sect … view

“We put this festival on, you b******s, with a lot of love! We worked for one year for you pigs! And you wanna break our walls down and you wanna destroy it? Well, you go to hell!” … view

Borg-Neal says Hancock’s ‘lies’ blaming hospitality for coronavirus cases spike need scrutinising by parliament, 10pm curfew immediately impacts sector trading: Oakman Inns chairman Peter Borg-Neal has challenged health secretary Ma … view

Welcome Break boosted by staycation trend: Welcome Break has seen a sharp recovery through the summer thanks to government stimulus, increased traffic volumes and staycations, its owner Applegreen has stated. Chief executive Bob Etchingha … view

MOD Pizza UK in administration: The future of MOD Pizza UK, which is backed by Sir Charles Dunstone, has been thrown into doubt, after the company behind the business was placed into administration. Propel understands insolvency firm Camp … view

Loungers reports order at table now accounts for 42% of sales – from standing start: Loungers has reported customer orders using a web-based order-at-table app have reached 42% of sales since lock-down – from a standing start. Chief e … view

Government extends anti-eviction measures to end of year but UKHospitality warns move is only ‘stay of execution’: Businesses will be protected from the threat of eviction until the end of year, “providing commercial tenants with gr … view

UKHospitality warns at least 900,000 jobs under threat without sector-specific employment support: UKHospitality has warned at least 900,000 hospitality jobs are at risk unless government offers a sector-specific package of employment sup … view

Famous Brands pushes button on GBK sale process: South Africa-based Famous Brands has pushed the button on a sale process for its better burger brand Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), Propel has learned. Propel understands that bids are due b … view

High Court favours policyholders in FCA business interruption test case: Business interruption insurance policies with pandemic or notifiable disease clauses should be read as to cover covid-19, and claims should be met “in most cases� … view

Labour to call for furlough flexibility amid expected rent eviction ban extension: Labour leader Keir Starmer will on Tuesday call for the government’s job retention scheme to be replaced by a more flexible system to avoid mass unemploy … view

Weekly sales down 9% on last year but food still in growth, overall sales up 10.4% on pre-Eat Out To Help Out levels: Sales last week were down 9% on last year in the first full week following the end of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme but … view

Mie Tye appointed as chairman of The Big Table: The Big Table, which was recently formed to acquire and operate the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas restaurant brands, has appointed Mike Tye as its non-executive chairman. With ex … view

Quarter of Britain’s licensed premises yet to reopen since lock-down: Almost a quarter of Britain’s licensed premises were still to reopen at the end of August, with the London market particularly slow to recover, the latest edition o … view

Côte exploring its options, eyes debt-for-equity swap deal: Côte, the circa 100-strong French brasserie chain backed by BC Partners, has appointed advisors to explore its options, including a possible debt-for-equity swap deal. Propel u … view

Sir Terence Conran dies aged 88: Designer, retailer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran has died aged 88. His family, who described him as a “visionary”, said he had “passed away peacefully today at his Barton Court home”. A state … view

Stonegate announces up to 300 head office redundancies: Stonegate Pub Company has announced up to 300 head office redundancies are to be made with the integration of Ei Group into the business “now well under way”. Stonegate stated: � … view

MPs urge targeted extension of furlough as UKHospitality warns cliff-edge end risks at least 350,000 jobs: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been urged by MPs to extend the taxpayer-funded furlough scheme for businesses with a chance of survivin … view

Sector like-for-likes bounce back to 2019 levels thanks to Eat Out To Help Out but market ‘more unstable than ever’: Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups saw collective like-for-like sales bounce back to 2019 levels in A … view

Caffe Nero brings in advisers on talks with landlords: Caffe Nero has become the latest sector company to appoint advisers to aid in its negotiations with landlords. The company is at the early stages of working with KPMG on said talks in … view

Epiris paid £9m up front for Casual Dining Group £9m to follow: Private equity company Epiris paid £18m to buy Casual Dining Group sites out of administration – £9m up front with a further £9m deferred until assignment of its lease … view

Various Eateries unveils float amid ‘biggest event outside of war-time’: Various Eateries, which operates Coppa Club and Tavolino, has announced its plan to float on AIM with the intention of raising up to £25 million by way of a pla … view

Propel Multi Club returns with live digital webinar focusing on delivery opportunity, open for bookings for operators: The next Propel Multi Club Conference, taking place on Thursday, 8 October, will take the form of a day-long digital li … view

At last… having talked to my fellow partners over the past few days about how nightclubs – the seemingly forgotten members of the hospitality industry – can survive covid- … view

Government makes taking contact details mandatory for English hospitality venues: Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be ordered to take customers’ details for the NHS Test and Trace programme. Health secretary Matt Hancock has r … view

Time Out turning to managed agreements as it pushes on with expansion plans as landlords clamour for business: Time Out Group chief executive Julio Bruno has told Propel the company expects the majority of its new markets to open under ma … view

Up to 12,500 jobs at risk across Scottish pubs and bars as 90% of operators report revenue drop: Up to 12,500 jobs could be lost across Scotland’s pubs and bars as a new survey revealed the “significant” impact of coronavirus of the … view

Nightclub bosses to meet business minister to discuss rescue plan: Nightclub bosses are to meet business minister Paul Scully on Monday (7 September) to discuss a rescue plan for the nightclub sector. Britain's biggest nightclub operator … view

Eat Out To Help Out – diners enjoy more than 100 million meals: Britons ate more than 100 million meals last month as part of the Eat Out To Help Out discount scheme. The final day of the scheme – Monday, August 31 – saw a 216% jump … view

Pret to launch in-house coffee subscription service as part of major strategic shift: Pret A Manger plans to revamp its business model beginning with a drinks subscription service that allows customers to enjoy up to five beverages per da … view

Pret to launch in-house coffee subscription service as part of major strategic shift: Pret A Manger plans to revamp its business model beginning with a drinks subscription service that allows customers to enjoy up to five beverages per da … view

Revolution Bars Group – trading has been ahead of expectations: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has reported trading ahead of expectations si … view

Bill’s begins working with advisers on discussions with landlords: Bill’s, the Richard Caring-backed restaurant group, has begun working with adviser KPMG on the future shape of its estate, Propel has learned. It is thought KPMG’s w … view

YO! secures CVA approval, to push on with new concept roll out: YO!, the global multi-brand, multi-channel Japanese food group, is to push on with the roll out of its new “kaiten” conveyor belt format to the rest of its estate, after … view

Hawksmoor – a time is coming soon when restaurants have to stand on their own two feet without government help: Hawksmoor, the Graphite Capital-backed steakhouse concept, has said it won’t be extending the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, … view