Alex Reilley – let’s give the entrepreneurs and job creators of the future one last shot of support: Loungers chairman Alex Reilley has called on the government to give the entrepreneurs and job creators of the future one last shot of … view

 

Britain’s managed pub and restaurant sales drop 72.6% in December: Britain’s managed pub and restaurant groups saw total sales drop 72.6% over the festive season, in what should have been the sector’s busiest trading period of the y … view

PizzaExpress fell to £350m loss even before pandemic: PizzaExpress reported a £350m loss even before the pandemic restrictions impacted the businesses. In its accounts for 2019, the chain also warned that the coronavirus crisis had “a … view

Marks – ‘government has acted like a triage department’, company looking at growth opportunities: Peter Marks, chief executive of Rekom UK, formerly Deltic Group, has accused the government of acting like a hospital triage departmen … view

Monday, 4 January 2021, served to be the first working day of the year for many people. Children returned to school and the welcome relief of a new year kicked things into swing. Hope, op … view

More than £300m a month would be wiped from Britain’s takeaway trade if rest of UK follows Scotland’s lead and bans click and collect: More than £300m a month would be wiped from Britain’s takeaway trade if the rest of the UK foll … view

Nightcap to begin trading on AIM today: Bar company Nightcap will begin trading today on AIM. Upon Admission, Nightcap will acquire the London Cocktail Club for an initial consideration of £5.7 million. The initial consideration is being … view

US restaurants and bars able to apply for loans that convert to grants under revamped Paycheck Protection Programme: US restaurants and bars are able to apply for loans that will convert into grants under the revamped Paycheck Protection … view

Byron paying all rents in full, as it changes its whole supply chain and closes in on six new sites: Simon Wilkinson chief executive of Byron, which was acquired via pre-pack administration by investment vehicle Calveton UK under newly fo … view

MPs rally behind industry's calls for further financial help as they support dedicated hospitality minister petition: MPs across the political spectrum have backed sector calls for an extension of the VAT cut and the business rates holida … view

Electra Partners to sell TGI Fridays this year: The Times has reported that the private equity owner of TGI Fridays in the UK plans to put the bar and restaurant chain up for sale this year as it winds down its portfolio. The Times report … view

Leading chefs and 200,000-plus more back hospitality ahead of vital debate in parliament: TV chef Angela Hartnett is spearheading a new campaign to help champion millions of hospitality workers hard hit by the pandemic. Alongside fellow c … view

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Patisserie Valerie liquidators sue Grant Thornton for £200m: The liquidators of Patisserie Valerie are suing auditors Grant Thornton for £200 million for its role in its collapse. Liquidator FRP Advisory has launched a claim against the … view

Scottish Hospitality Group says ‘worst December trading in living memory’ will hit sector until 2022, trade down 80%: The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) has said the “worst December trading in living memory” will continue to hit … view

Deltic sold out of administration for £10m: Nightclub company Deltic Group was sold out of administration to Scandinavian company Rekom Group for £10m, an administrator’s report has stated. Rekom bought 44 venues out of its 55 sites. … view

Greggs – it will be 2022 at the earliest before profits return to pre-covid levels, loses up to £15m in 2020: Greggs has reported its total 2020 sales were £811m (2019: £1,168m). Fourth quarter company-managed shop like-for-like sale … view

Borg-Neal – Five key steps needed to ensure that hospitality can play a lead part in a post-covid economic recovery: Peter Borg-Neal, founder and chairman of Oakman Inns, has set out the five key steps that are needed to ensure that hos … view

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils one-off grants of up to £9,000 for struggling firms: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help busine … view

Pubs and restaurants banned from serving takeaway pints in latest lockdown: Pubs and restaurants have been banned from selling takeaway alcohol under the latest lockdown rules announced by the prime minister last night. All restaurants, p … view

Douglas Jack – many private companies could run out of liquidity in the Spring: Peel Hunt leisure analyst Douglas Jack has forecast Quarter One of 2021 will be liquidity crunch time for many private companies. In a note, he stated: “W … view

UKHospitality calls for roadmap to recovery and pledges support for vaccine roll-out: Following respective statements strengthening covid restrictions in England and Scotland, UKHospitality has called for a road map to recovery and has co … view

Operators offer up premises as vaccination centres: Sector operators, including BrewDog and Loungers, have offered up their sites for use with the roll-out of the covid-19 vaccine. Chief executive and co-founder of BrewDog James Watt twee … view

“I promise to do whatever it takes to support our economy through this crisis – and if the situation changes, I will not hesitate to take further action.” A line from earlier this … view

UKHospitality warns of sector ‘bloodbath’ without urgent support: UKHospitality has warned the government that without urgent action to support the sector there will be an industry “bloodbath”. From midnight on Thursday (31 Decemb … view

Marston’s to take on SA Brain pub estate: Marston’s has exchanged on a deal to take over the operation of Welsh brewer and retailer SA Brain’s 156-strong pub estate. The deal will see the Ralph Findlay-led Marston’s operate 141 fr … view

Trade bodies join forces to make final pre-Christmas plea for urgent comprehensive pub support package: Sector trade bodies have joined forces to make a final pre-Christmas plea to the government for an urgent comprehensive pub support pa … view

Deliveroo now profitable at operating level after seeing losses jump to £320m in 2019: Deliveroo has said it has been profitable at an operating level for more than six months after racking up losses of £320m in the previous financial y … view

Des Gunewardena – government must consider covid tax to help struggling restaurants: Des Gunewardena, chief executive and co-founder of restaurant group D&D London, has asked the government to consider a covid tax to help struggling res … view

UKHospitality urges PM for more financial help for sector following tightening of restrictions and ‘clear exit strategy’ from crisis: UKHospitality has written to prime minister Boris Johnson to urge for more help for the industry fol … view

Giggling Squid trading ahead of budget, lines up four new openings: Giggling Squid, the Thai restaurant brand founded by Andy and Pranee Laurillard, is trading ahead of budget for the year to date, as the 36-strong business has benefited … view