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Monday 30th November 2020
Caffe Nero – offer ‘aims to disrupt CVA process and is precursor to opportunistically acquiring company’
Caffe Nero – offer ‘aims to disrupt CVA process and is precursor to opportunistically acquiring company’: Caffe Nero has confirmed it has received an offer for the business but believes the party’s clear intention is to “disrupt the … view
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Monday 30th November 2020
Sector businesses in Wales to shut at 6pm from Friday, banned from selling alcohol
Sector businesses in Wales to shut at 6pm from Friday, banned from selling alcohol: Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales have been told to close at 6pm from Friday (4 December) in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in the … view
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Monday 30th November 2020
EG Group owners launch bid for Caffe Nero
EG Group owners launch bid for Caffe Nero: The billionaire brothers behind the British petrol retailing company EG Group have launched a daring takeover bid for Caffe Nero hours before the coffee shop chain seeks approval from landlords to sla … view
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Monday 30th November 2020
Government set to give pubs and restaurants more money
Government set to give pubs and restaurants more money: Pubs and restaurants affected by new coronavirus restrictions will be given extra cash to help get them through Christmas, The Daily Telegraph has reported. Prime Minister Boris John … view
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Monday 30th November 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Sector leaders write to PM calling for winter economic plan for hospitality’s recovery: Bosses from companies including Azzurri Group, PizzaExpress, Loungers, Greene King, Stonegate Pub Company, Mitchells & Butlers, JD Wetherspoon and T … view
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Friday 27th November 2020
Sector expresses outrage over hospitality transmission ‘evidence’
Sector expresses outrage over hospitality transmission ‘evidence’: Sector bosses have lambasted the government’s “evidence” over the transmission of covid-19 in the hospitality sector. The data, released on Friday (27 November), … view
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Friday 27th November 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: What the new normal will look like, fostering festivity – how hospitality can survive Christmas, an inspirational journey with people leaders, vaccines – a shot in the arm for hospitality, why Boris is not the Churchillian figur … view
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Friday 27th November 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
UKHospitality – new tier system will wipe out £7.8bn of trade in December: Trade body UKHospitality has claimed £7.8bn worth of trading will be wiped out by government’s new tier system as 98% of the sector is placed into tier two a … view
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Thursday 26th November 2020
Operators blast government as 99% of country put in tier two and three restrictions
Operators blast government as 99% of country put in tier two and three restrictions: Operators have blasted the government after it announced 99% of the country will be placed into tier two or three restrictions post-lockdown. Measures ar … view
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Thursday 26th November 2020
Update: Mitchells & Butlers, Fuller’s and Hawthorn
M&B reports loss of £123m in Full Year: Mitchells & Butlers has reported a £123m loss for the year to 26 September. The company stated: “This financial period has been dominated by the impact covid-19 has had on the organisation and … view
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Thursday 26th November 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
More than 50 pub and brewing bosses warn PM that sector ‘could be lost forever’ unless government changes course: More than 50 pub and brewing bosses have sent a letter to prime minister Boris Johnson saying pubs are being “scapegoa … view
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Wednesday 25th November 2020
New vehicle backed by Sir Malcolm Walker acquires Individual Restaurants estate in £40m deal
New vehicle backed by Sir Malcolm Walker acquires Individual Restaurants estate in £40m deal: Ice Acquisitions, a new vehicle controlled by Sir Malcolm Walker and Tarsem Dhaliwal, has bought back the Piccolino, Restaurant Bar & Grill, Op … view
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Wednesday 25th November 2020
Update: Christmas plans, Fulham Shore, Deliveroo
Trade body condemns mockery of pubs in Christmas plan: The British Beer & Pub Association, the trade association representing brewers and pubs, has condemned government’s proposed plans to reduce restrictions over the Christmas period, … view
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Wednesday 25th November 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
BBPA – tier restrictions will cost wet-led sites £1.5bn and destroy thousands of pubs: The British Beer & Pub Association has written to the chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of Wednesday’s spending review to urge him to deliver emergency … view
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Tuesday 24th November 2020
Opinion Special: What if The Winchester isn’t there anymore?

What if The Winchester isn’t there anymore? By Mark Wingett

“Let’s go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for this all to blow over”. Ah, if only we could, this week, follow Simon Pegg’s advice in escaping a zomb … view
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Tuesday 24th November 2020
Wetherspoon highlights government’s serious pandemic response flaws
Wetherspoon highlights government’s serious pandemic response flaws: JD Wetherspoon has produced a 23 page online edition of Wetherspoon News, its pub magazine, with articles from leading academics, doctors and other commentators, highl … view
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Tuesday 24th November 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
UKHospitality urges government to adopt Welsh model of limited household mixing as survey reveals Brits feel safest in industry venues: UKHospitality has urged the government to throw the sector a lifeline and adopt the Welsh model of lim … view
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Tuesday 24th November 2020
Spend in food delivery could hit £7.1bn in 2020 – a huge rise of 42%, frequency of visits up 16%
Spend in food delivery could hit £7.1bn in 2020 – a huge rise of 42%, frequency of visits up 16%: The food delivery market could hit £7.1bn this year, which would represent a huge rise of 42% on 2019 while the frequency of delivery vi … view
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Monday 23rd November 2020
Sector bosses label stricter curbs ‘catastrophic’, Leon draws up CVA proposals
Sector bosses label stricter curbs on hospitality as part of strengthened tier system as ‘catastrophic’: Sector bosses have labelled the stricter curbs on hospitality as part of a strengthened tier system as “catastrophic” for the indu … view
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Monday 23rd November 2020
Pubs and restaurants to feel the brunt of new tier system
Pubs and restaurants to feel the brunt of new tier system: Pubs and restaurants will bear the brunt of a new covid tier system so that shops, cinemas and gyms can reopen under plans announced by Boris Johnson on Monday, The Daily Telegrap … view
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Monday 23rd November 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Tougher tier system to be introduced, 10pm curfew to be pushed back an hour: A tougher three-tiered system of local restrictions will come into force in England when the lockdown ends on 2 December, the government has said. Prime minister … view
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Saturday 21st November 2020
UKHospitality calls for more support to avoid 600,000 job losses
UKHospitality calls for more support to avoid 600,000 job losses as Job Retention Bonus scrapping creates £2.1bn black hole: UKHospitality has written to the chancellor Rishi Sunak warning extra financial support is vital to ensure hospitalit … view
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Friday 20th November 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: We should have sympathy for students, key differences between the first and second lockdowns, stuck in the middle of the cycle
Authors: Glynn Davis, Ann Elliott, Nick Popovici
 

We should hav … view

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Friday 20th November 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Deltic calls for rent-free period to avoid closure, Cineworld mulls CVA: The Deltic Group has called for rent-free periods from landlords in order to help it secure a sale to stop it from closing while Cineworld eyes a company voluntary a … view
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Thursday 19th November 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
Christie & Co – distress to hospitality sector is likely to increase in early 2021: Stephen Owens, managing director of pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, has predicted a wave of distress to hospitality going into the new year – p … view
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Wednesday 18th November 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
‘Talk more to us and talk sooner’ says Ralph Findlay in government call to evidence, ‘we never got above break-even’ says Kate Nicholls: Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, has called on the government to talk more to t … view
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Tuesday 17th November 2020
Opinion Special: A shot in the arm and another in the foot

A shot in the arm and another in the foot by Mark Wingett

Talk to any sports fan about their aspirations for their team at the start of a new season and without fail, the vast majority, against all previous historical data and their bett … view
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Tuesday 17th November 2020
Greene King appoints new MD for Local Pubs division, NTIA fears nightclubs will become extinct
Greene King appoints Clair Preston-Beer as new managing director for Local Pubs division: Brewer and retailer Greene King has appointed Clair Preston-Beer to its executive board as the new managing director for the more than 600-strong Lo … view
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Tuesday 17th November 2020
Update: Tier system, Pret A Manger, Eagle Eye
England’s regional covid tier system may need to be “strengthened”: England’s regional covid tier system may need to be “strengthened” to get the country “through the winter”, a senior government adviser has said. Public H … view
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Tuesday 17th November 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Sector spend recovery ‘will take years’ says NPD’s Dominic Allport, QSRs seize opportunities: Consumer spending in hospitality won’t return to the levels seen in 2019 for years, according to NPD Group foodservice director Dominic … view
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Monday 16th November 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Luke Johnson – landlords offering deals up to 50% lower than previous passing rents with significant contributions: Sector investor Luke Johnson has said landlords are offering deals of up to 50% lower than previous passing rents and th … view
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Friday 13th November 2020
Greggs to cut 820 jobs, no store closures
Greggs to cut 820 jobs, no store closures: Food-to-go operator Greggs has announced plans to cut 820 jobs due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The company confirmed to Propel none of its 2,000-plus shops will shut as a result. Greggs chief … view
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Friday 13th November 2020
Revolution Bars Group gets CVA approval, updates on financial position, CFO change
Revolution Bars Group gets CVA approval, updates on financial position, CFO change: Revolution Bars Group, which operates 72 bars under the Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands, has had its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) approve … view
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Friday 13th November 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: The pernicious power of modelling, putting a date on new normality, Christmas isn’t cancelled, future-proofing the landlord-tenant ecosystem
Authors: Paul Chase, George Davidson, Amber Staynings, Victoria Oatesview
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Friday 13th November 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Christmas period to be ‘acid test’ for industry as tougher restrictions drive pub and restaurant group sales into reverse in October: The Christmas period will be the “acid test” for the industry as the rollout of more regional co … view
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Friday 13th November 2020
Christmas period to be ‘acid test’ for industry as tougher restrictions drive sales into reverse in October
Christmas period to be ‘acid test’ for industry as tougher restrictions drive pub and restaurant group sales into reverse in October: The Christmas period will be the “acid test” for the industry as the rollout of more regional covid-1 … view
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Thursday 12th November 2020
Caffe Nero launches CVA proposal
Caffe Nero launches CVA proposal: Caffe Nero has confirmed the launch of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal following the impact of covid-19 on the business on Thursday (12 November). The Gerry Ford-owned business, which was founde … view
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Thursday 12th November 2020
Exclusive: Individual Restaurants undergoing accelerated sales process
Exclusive – Individual Restaurants undergoing accelerated sales process: Individual Restaurants, which operates circa 30 sites under the Piccolino and Restaurant Bar & Grill brands, is undergoing an accelerated sales process, after appo … view
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Thursday 12th November 2020
Update: Young’s, Whitbread and New York
Young’s – last six months one of the toughest periods in our 189 year history: London-based pub retailer Young’s has reported turnover of £51.1m in the 26 weeks ended 28 September, less than one-third of £168.2m turnover for the s … view
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Thursday 12th November 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
‘New normal’ forecast for July 2021, expect third lockdown in January: The UK will return to as close to a pre-covid normality by July 2021, according to George Davidson, former interim head of insights and analytics at Greene King. D … view
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Wednesday 11th November 2020
Legal Briefing

The resort to law by Michelle Hazlewood

The government has prescribed another four weeks of lockdown for England to regain control over the virus. As we come towards the end of the first week, we take a glance at Wales, which emerged fro … view
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Wednesday 11th November 2020
JDW’s Tim Martin – ‘regulatory situation is a complete muddle’
JDW’s Tim Martin – ‘regulatory situation is a complete muddle’: JD Wetherspoon has reported that the 15 weeks to 8 November 2020 saw like-for-like sales decrease by 27.6%. The company stated: “Sales in October were significantly … view
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Wednesday 11th November 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Hospitality leaders urge chancellor to use tax relief to ‘save the industry’: A group of leading figures from the hospitality industry are urging the chancellor Rishi Sunak to use tax relief to encourage investors to support the hospi … view
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Tuesday 10th November 2020
Update: Toby Smith, closures and Inn Collection Group
Toby Smith joins City Pub Group as chief operating officer: Veteran operator Toby Smith is to join the board of City Pub Group as chief operating officer, a newly created role, with effect from 10 November 2020. The company stated: “Tob … view
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Tuesday 10th November 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Wendy’s chief executive – we have a strong pipeline of UK locations including drive-thrus: Todd Penegor, chief executive of Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant chain in the US, has said the company had a strong pipel … view
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Monday 9th November 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
Hornby – please give us long enough to know how we ramp back up: Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group, the Wagamama and Brunning & Price owner, has called on the government to give the sector as much notice as possible w … view
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Friday 6th November 2020
Turtle Bay appoints new CEO, Caffe Nero lenders and landlords brace for CVA launch
Turtle Bay appoints Nick Crossley as chief executive: Turtle Bay, the Caribbean restaurant brand backed by Piper, has appointed Nick Crossley, formerly of Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), as its new chief executive, Propel has learned. Crossley … view
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Friday 6th November 2020
Friday Opinion
Subjects: Lockdown two, speed of recovery in 2021, some things are different this time in lockdown, building new habits – how we take the positives from a pandemic, data and the class of ’91
Authors: Alastair Scott, David … view
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Friday 6th November 2020
David Campbell appointed group chief executive of PizzaExpress
David Campbell appointed group chief executive of PizzaExpress: David Campbell, the former chief executive of Wagamama, has been appointed group chief executive of PizzaExpress, as the chain announced the completion of its recapitalisatio … view
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Friday 6th November 2020
Propel Friday News Briefing
Extension to business rates holiday and VAT cut ‘bare minimum’ still required despite continuation of furlough: An extension of the business rates holiday and the VAT cut is the “bare minimum” still required to ensure businesses s … view
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Thursday 5th November 2020
Furlough extended until March, fifth fewer jobs in sector, Wadworth
Chancellor extends furlough scheme until March: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the furlough scheme will be extended until March. It means the government will continue to pay 80% of staff wages, up to a maximum of £2,500, after the … view
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Thursday 5th November 2020
Propel Thursday News Briefing
BBPA – longer term support and review of restrictions needed to save 12,000 pubs from permanent closure: The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has urged the government to provide more longer term support to save as many as 12,000 pu … view
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Wednesday 4th November 2020
Shepherd Neame – ‘we are determined to emerge from crisis in a position of strength’
Shepherd Neame – ‘we are determined to emerge from crisis in a position of strength’: Brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame, the owner and operator of 319 pubs in Kent and the south east, has reported it traded well up to the outbreak … view
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Wednesday 4th November 2020
Propel Wednesday News Briefing
Trade bodies demand government support to secure future of pubs, hospitality and supply chains: Trade bodies representing UK hospitality, pubs and supply chain businesses have called on the government to provide a six-month investment pla … view
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Wednesday 4th November 2020
Trade bodies demand government support to secure future of pubs, hospitality and supply chains
Trade bodies demand government support to secure future of pubs, hospitality and supply chains: Trade bodies representing UK hospitality, pubs and supply chain businesses have called on the government to provide a six-month investment pla … view
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Tuesday 3rd November 2020
Update: Jonathan Neame, Pret, MeatLiquor and Boxpark
Jonathan Neame – There is zero trust within hospitality about the government’s strategy: Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Kent-based brewer and retailer Shepherd Neame, has said that there is zero trust within hospitality about the … view
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Tuesday 3rd November 2020
Propel Tuesday News Briefing
Operators report surge in pre-lockdown bookings: Operators have reported an influx of bookings as consumers look to eat out before the latest national lockdown from Thursday (5 November). Jack Stein, chef-director of Rick Stein Group,< … view
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Monday 2nd November 2020
Opinion Special: Ten-point strategy plan for second lock-down

Ten steps for a smart lock-down strategy by Malcolm Muir


As hospitality operators prepare to go into another lock-down, businesses must rely on tighter controls to minimise losses and ride out the waves of continued uncert … view
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Monday 2nd November 2020
Update: 12,000 pubs could never re-open, Brighton Pier Group, Hugh Osmond
BBPA – 12,000 pubs may never re-open: More than a quarter of all pubs face permanent closure in the wake of the new lockdown in a crisis described as greater than that even posed by the Second World War, The Daily Telegraph has reported … view
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Monday 2nd November 2020
Propel Monday News Briefing
UKHospitality advises government on business rates revamp to avoid ‘disproportionate burden’: Trade body UKHospitality has submitted its response to phase two of the government’s review of business rates. The submission calls for an … view
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Sunday 1st November 2020
Opinion Special: A devastating economic hit

A devastating economic hit by Mark Wingett 

“Apologies to the 30 odd new people we were due to start employing next week at our new restaurant. You’ve just been screwed over by a bad PowerPoint presentation, lousy data and a hopeles … view
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