Wetherspoon rebuts CAMRA and SIBA criticism: JD Wetherspoon has rebutted a number of claims by CAMRA and SIBA in relation to its VAT reduction to customers. A joint statement by Tom Stainer, chief executive of CAMRA, and James Calder, chi … view

Coffeesmiths Collective undergoes restructure: Coffeesmiths Collective, which runs coffee chains including the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs (DoCaSA) and Filmore & Union, has undergone a restructure, Propel has learned. The comp … view

JD Wetherspoon is to reduce prices on a range of meals and drinks after VAT cut: Pub operator JD Wetherspoon is to reduce prices on a range of meals and drinks following the Chancellor’s decision to reduce VAT on food, coffee and soft d … view

Prezzo seeking £15m of investment to restart business and accelerate growth: Prezzo, the Karen Jones-led chain that earlier this month became the latest sector operator to push the start button on a sale process, is seeking to secure £1 … view

Exclusive – Itsu appoints advisers as it eyes restructure: Itsu, the healthy Asian food chain created by Pret A Manger co-founder Julian Metcalfe, is understood to have appointed advisers as it looks to step up conversations with landlo … view

Ford – Caffe Nero saw 10% to 15% jump in revenue when seating areas reopened: Gerry Ford, founder and group chief executive of Caffe Nero, has said the business saw a 10% to 15% jump in revenue when the business reopened seating in its … view

As lock-down restrictions are eased further across England, Scotland Wales and we look forward to the sector opening up further, it’s a good time to reflect on the journey of the past four m … view

Burger King UK could permanently shut 10% of outlets: Burger King UK chief executive Alasdair Murdoch has warned up to 1,600 jobs could be lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Only about 370 of the company’s 530 UK stores have … view

Operators frustrated by slow Welsh approach to reopening: Operators in Wales have expressed their frustration at its government’s slow approach to reopening. First minister Mark Drakeford has said indoor hospitality won’t reopen on Mo … view

Operators react as chancellor announces VAT cut and voucher initiative: Operators have hailed chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to cut VAT from 20% to 5% on food, accommodation and attractions for six months and launch a vouchers initia … view

Andy Laurillard – there are three waves to this crisis and we’ve just got over the first: Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Thai restaurant brand Giggling Squid, has said there are three waves to the covid-19 crisis and the hospitality s … view

Whitbread – we are in a good position to take advantage of structural opportunities: Whitbread has reported it now has more than 270 UK hotels and 24 restaurants now reopened with the majority of the rest of the estate due to reopen thr … view

More than one-quarter of adults visited a pub or restaurant during reopening weekend: More than one-quarter (28%) of UK adults visited a pub or restaurant during reopening weekend, according to new research from KAM Media. However, the cu … view

Treasury reviews access to coronavirus business loans after EU relaxes rules: The Treasury is considering ways of making it easier for businesses to access coronavirus support loans – ahead of expected measures from the chancellor desig … view

Super Saturday – operator reactions and early trading data: Early data from Wi-Fi solutions provider Wireless Social and feedback from operators seem to imply the easing of lock-down regulations on ‘Super Saturday’ (4 July) led to � … view

Exclusive – Wasabi considers funding options including possible sale: Wasabi, the sushi and bento chain led by Henry Birts and backed by Capdesia, is looking to secure new investment that could include a sale of the business, Propel has … view

Exclusive – Bistrot Pierre filing notice of intent to appoint administrators: Bistrot Pierre, the Livingbridge-backed group, is to file a notice of intent to appoint administrators today (Friday, 3 July), Propel has learned. The 25-stro … view

Phil Urban – M&B discounting unnecessary to entice customers, reduced capacity a bigger issue: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) chief executive Phil Urban has said the company isn’t planning on widespread discounting to encourage customers b … view

91 restaurants close permanently as Casual Dining Group goes into administration: Casual Dining Group (CDG), the Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas operator, has been placed into administration leading to the closure of 91 of its 2 … view

Trade bodies clarify reopening rules for operators and councils: UKHospitality, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) have produced updated FAQ guidance to help operators understand the go … view

Almost 500,000 sector supplier jobs at risk without extended government support: Almost 500,000 jobs are at risk if the government fails to extend sector support to include suppliers, a new survey has revealed. The findings by the UKHospi … view

SSP to axe up to 5,000 jobs in the UK: UK transport hub foodservice company SSP Group is to axe up to 5,000 jobs in the UK to reflect the current low level of passenger demand – traffic is still down 85% year-on-year – resulting from … view

Hornby – industry needs to be relentless, because it will get harder as the year goes on: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group, the Wagamama and Brunning & Price owner, has told Propel the industry will need to be “rel … view

Cineworld to re-open UK cinemas on 31 July: Cineworld is to re-open its cinemas in the US and the UK starting Friday 31 July. The company stated: “Cineworld has and will continue to reopen cinemas in its other markets as previously stat … view

Capdesia and Toridoll enter JV to launch Marugame Udon in UK, Keith Bird to lead business: Capdesia Group, the backer of Wasabi, and Toridoll Holdings Corporation, the backer of Shoryu Ramen and Wok to Walk, have formed a new joint ventur … view

Creditors approve TRG leisure estate CVA: Creditors of The Restaurant Group (TRG) have approved the company voluntary arrangement (CVA) for its leisure business. More than 82% of all creditors voted in favour of the proposal, with 75% app … view

Spending in pubs this coming weekend forecast to be £210m: Spending in pubs is forecast to reach £210m when premises open their doors this coming weekend. Industry research suggests that 35% of adults will return to pubs within a week o … view

Findlay – government needs to be ‘big and bold’ on VAT cut: Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, has said the government needs to be “big and bold” when it comes to a VAT cut to help stimulate the economy as the hospit … view

Marston’s – ‘we are well-placed in the medium term’: Marston’s has insisted it is well-placed for a post covid-19 recovery in medium term. It said plans are in place for pubs to reopen from 4 July, although initial revenue and e … view

Former TGI Friday’s and Parkdean Resorts backer in running for Azzurri Group: Epiris, the private equity firm, which formerly backed TGI Friday’s and Parkdean Resorts, is one of the parties bidding to acquire the Azzurri Group, the Zi … view

Greene King to open two-thirds of managed estate on Monday 6 July: Brewer and pub retailer Greene King is to re-open 1,294 of its managed pubs from Monday 6 July, with the remaining one third of the managed estate following in the second … view

Christou – Pret in eye of the storm, to pay 30% of June quarter’s rent: Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, has written to the group’s landlords stating the brand is “currently in the eye of the storm”, with UK sale … view

CMA determines Amazon investment in Deliveroo would not result in significant lessening of competition in restaurant or grocery sector: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo will not … view

Government publishes re-opening guidance: The government has this morning published a 41-page document offering the sector guidance of safe re-opening on 4 July. The guidance covers areas such a “keeping customers and staff safe”, “ … view

Leon-led group among bidders for Busaba: Natural fast food brand Leon is involved in one of the main bids for Busaba, the Thai chain founded by Alan Yau, Propel understands. It is thought the John Vincent-led business, which is backed by … view

Brasserie Bar Co ramps up talks with landlords, plans August reopening: Brasserie Bar Co, the Richard Ferrier-led operator of the Brasserie Blanc and White Brasserie Company, is working with advisors as it considers its options in regards … view

A tweet from this weekend courtesy of MeatLiquor founder Scott Collins: “If 4 July is the ‘legal’ reopening date for pubs/bars/restaurants can they open at 12.01am (licence p … view

Industry survey reveals protracted recovery and need for confirmation of 4 July reopening: Hospitality businesses are predicting a lengthy and painful recovery with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to … view

Industry survey reveals protracted recovery and need for confirmation of 4 July reopening: Hospitality businesses are predicting a lengthy and painful recovery with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to … view

Exclusive – Luke Johnson among bidders for Bistrot Pierre: Serial sector investor Luke Johnson is among the interested parties bidding to take control of Bistrot Pierre, the Livingbridge-backed group, Propel has learned. Johnson, who is … view

Government extends anti-eviction measures for businesses: The UK government has extended measures to prevent struggling companies from eviction over the summer. It said it would lay a statutory instrument to amend the Coronavirus Act to e … view

Scottish government publishes sector reopening guidelines: The Scottish government has published its reopening guidelines for the hospitality and tourism sectors. As well as reaffirming the proposed reopening of the industry from 15 July, … view

Living Ventures places Blackhouse business into administration: Blackhouse and Newgate Restaurants, the Living Ventures-owned business, has appointed administrators following the closure of its restaurants in March due to the covid-19 pan … view

Wagamama sees encouraging sales performance from reopened sites: Wagamama, The Restaurant Group (TRG)-owned brand, has said it has seen an “encouraging sales performance” from the 81 sites its has so far reopened over the past few wee … view

Parkdean Resorts reports bumper staycation bookings through to autumn, agrees £25m refinancing: Holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts, which is led by former Casual Dining Group chief executive Steve Richards, has said it was seeing “ … view

Westminster Council sets out reopening strategy for hospitality: Westminster Council has published its plans to help the hospitality industry reopen, including the temporary closure of a number of roads to make room for external seating. … view

McDonald’s reports global sales down 30% in current quarter but seeing recovery in demand: McDonald’s said global sales fell about 30% in the first two months of the current quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic but signalled a reco … view

Seafood Pub Company to enter administration: Seafood Pub Company, the north west based, ten-strong country inns business, is set to go into administration. The award-winning company, which was founded in 2010 by Joycelyn Neve, filed a Not … view

Sector CEOs and Deliveroo write to PM calling for urgent support for industry: Deliveroo and the chief executives of its leading restaurant partners, including Itsu, Pizza Hut, Pret A Manger and Wagamama, have called on the government to … view