Hawksmoor secures £4m loan, in talks to refinance bank debt: Hawksmoor, the Graphite Capital-backed steakhouse concept, secured a £4m loan to aid its liquidity during the crisis, and is in talks with its banking partner regarding a refi … view

Wendy’s plans 20 company-owned UK sites, eyes five openings this year: Wendy’s, the third-largest quick service restaurant chain in the US, plans to open five sites in the UK this year, with a target of eventually operating about 20 c … view

Welsh government unveils extra £30m of support for hospitality sector: The Welsh government has announced a further £30 million for hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses affected by on-going coronavirus restrictions. It has also c … view

‘Heed political and public appetite’ and deliver package of support to help hardest hit, says UKHospitality: UKHospitality is urging the chancellor “to heed political and public appetite” for a package of support for sector busine … view

Tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 3 March) Budget is arguably the most important day in the history of the hospitality sector. What the chancellor announces when he stands at the disp … view

Greene King boss – businesses, jobs and livelihoods hang in the balance: Greene King chief executive Nick Mackenzie has asked for more government support for the sector to save businesses, jobs and livelihoods that hang in the balance. … view

Eight in ten people will take ‘one or two’ UK-based staycations this year: Almost eight people out of ten (79%) will take “one or two” UK-based staycations this year, according to vacation rental site TravelNest’s Travel and Tou … view

In a world dominated by political spin doctors and social media, you sometimes wonder whether the truth exists. Years ago, a famous historian was asked this … view

The Restaurant Group signs £500m of new debt facilities, reports strong trading for delivery and takeaway at 200 sites: The Restaurant Group has successfully signed commitments in relation to £500 million of new debt facilities, which c … view

Britain’s licensed premises closing permanently at record rate of more than one an hour: Almost 12,000 licensed premises have closed permanently in Britain since December 2019 – at a record rate of more than one an hour, according to … view

Britain’s licensed premises closing permanently at record rate of more than one an hour: Almost 12,000 licensed premises have closed permanently in Britain since December 2019 – at a record rate of more than one an hour, according to … view

UKHospitality welcomes new grants package but more must be provided from the Budget: UKHospitality has welcomed a new grants package for sector businesses but said more help must be provided through the Budget announcement on Wednesday (3 … view

 

Sector leaders write to chancellor pleading for emergency support to stop more businesses failing before they have chance to reopen: More than 200 industry leaders along with sector trade bodies have written to the government warning it t … view

Sector leaders write to chancellor pleading for emergency support to stop more businesses failing before they have chance to reopen: More than 200 industry leaders along with sector trade bodies have written to the government warning it t … view

Boris Johnson confirms lower alcohol duty in pubs and restaurants is being considered: Boris Johnson has revealed chancellor Rishi Sunak is considering rolling out lower rates of alcohol duty for pubs and restaurants than for supermarkets … view

Selby – chancellor needs to go beyond extensions including a scheme to kick-start the industry again: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has to go further than simply extending support schemes, including considering a similar Eat Out To Help Out in … view

Reilley – We need to see measures that go beyond just simply extending what has already been provided in terms of support: Loungers chairman Alex Reilley has said that if the chancellor Rishi Sunak does nothing more than extend the supp … view

Sector blasts Scottish government over ‘lack of clarity’ on reopening: Sector bosses have blasted the Scottish government for a “lack of clarity” over its reopening plans for hospitality. Pubs and restaurants are set to reopen in … view

So, act one of the two-act play that will determine the shape and size of the UK’s hospitality sector for years to come is over. The prime minister dutifully read out his lines, all of which we had … view

Operators criticise delay until May for indoor dining: More operators have expressed frustration that the government has delayed the re-opening of indoor dining until May. Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame said: “We a … view

Government has ‘nine days to save thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs’, warns UKHospitality: The government has “nine days to save thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs that simply will not … view

Sector fears mid-May reopening for indoor hospitality: Leaks in the national press over what Boris Johnson’s reopening roadmap will include, have increased fears that indoor hospitality will not be allowed to open until mid-May. Johnson … view

Luke Johnson – I would rather PM gave himself wiggle room on reopening: Serial sector investor Luke Johnson has said he would rather see prime minister Boris Johnson give himself “a lot of wiggle room” when it came to his roadmap fo … view

Vincent – Leon losing circa £200,000 a week, extending lockdowns will ‘cost lives’: Natural fast food brand Leon has been losing about £200,000 a week and it was "quite possible" the company could fold if lockdown “drags on”, … view

 

Sunak to extend rates relief and furlough: The chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to extend two crucial lifelines to companies battered by ongoing covid restrictions by keeping the furlough scheme going until the summer and prolonging the busi … view

London mayor announces £5m plan to support safe reopening of central London and attract visitors back to hospitality venues: Proposals to invest £5m to support the eventual reopening of central London, including a new drive to attract v … view

UKHospitality calls on sector to join video campaign to send message to government ahead of Budget: UKHospitality is calling on the sector to lend its support to a campaign to secure further vital support for businesses. Leaders from acro … view

MPs tell government to act now or see ‘extinction’ of UK nightlife: A cross-party group of more than 40 MPs has warned the night-time economy is at risk of “extinction” unless the government takes further action. The All Party Par … view

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open in May under government roadmap – The Daily Mail: Leisure businesses may not return to ‘broadly normal’ until July under a roadmap out of lockdown, The Daily Mail has reported. The newspa … view

New report confirms hospitality not significant area of covid transmission: A new report on the safe reopening of hospitality, commissioned by UKHospitality from analysts CGA, showed businesses in the sector were not significant areas of … view

Boris Johnson – rapid tests could re-open nightclubs: Quick coronavirus testing could enable nightclubs and theatres to reopen, Boris Johnson has suggested. The PM said ‘rapid’ lateral flow tests could be used by “those parts of t … view

Cut VAT to boost tourism as sector sinks, says UKHospitality: UKHospitality has urged the government to extended and expand the VAT cut for sector businesses in order to stimulate demand and help support the tourism and hospitality sector … view

Sector bosses call on chancellor to back hospitality industry in 2021: More than 160 sector bosses from the UK’s leading hospitality businesses have written to the chancellor ahead of next month’s Budget. The letter – which has been … view

Deliveroo and 330 partners urge PM to take five steps to support restaurants’ survival: Deliveroo, alongside 330 restaurant partners, has written to prime minister Boris Johnson to call for further support in enabling restaurants across … view

Pub sector chief executives set to step back from government talks over ‘lack of respect’: Chief executives from the UK’s leading pub companies have written to the government saying they are stepping back from talks with business mi … view

Living Ventures co-founder launches alliance to bring insurance companies to task: Jeremy Roberts, co-founder and chairman of Living Ventures, has launched a new alliance as he looks to bring selected insurance companies to task over refu … view

Platinum ends interest in buying Marston’s: Private equity firm Platinum has decided to end its attempt to buy Marston’s It stated: “Platinum today announces that, after careful consideration, it does not intend to submit a revised … view

Summer staycation market set for 22% increase versus 2019, could reach ten-year high: The value of the UK summer domestic holiday market is set to increase by an estimated 22% compared with 2019, according to research by Mintel. It has al … view

Legislation is a curious thing. It governs everything we do but remains mostly invisible. The public generally believes it is just the acts of parliament th … view

Cain International secures future for Prezzo, 22 restaurants to close: Cain International, the privately held investment firm operating in Europe and the US, has acquired Prezzo from its administrators through a pre-pack arrangement. The … view

Pub bosses publish recovery roadmap and press government on reopening date as beer sales plummet 56% in 2020: Pub sector bosses and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) have urged the government to give a clear timeline and date for … view

Luke Johnson lines up acquisition of Chapel Down beer business: Chapel Down, England’s leading winemaker, is to dispose of its Curious Drinks business and assets, comprising the Curious beer and cider brands and the Curious Brewery and … view

Exclusive – Imbiba invests in retro-arcade bar concept, BrewDog’s McDowall to chair: Hospitality investor Imbiba has invested £1.4m in NQ64, the immersive retro-arcade bar concept, to aid its further growth plans, Propel has learned. … view

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! It was only at the end of last month, that I wrote “it is going to be a long five weeks ahead, but maybe for … view

Prezzo’s new owner appoints advisors for possible restructuring: Cain International, the privately held investment firm led by Jonathan Goldstein, which acquired the Karen Jones-chaired Prezzo in December last year, is exploring whether … view

Franco Manca operator – we are seeing opportunities to buy sites at much reduced rents: Franco Manca operator Fulham Shore, which operates 53 Franco Manca sites and 19 The Real Greek venues, has highlighted the property opportunities be … view

Holmes – crisis has provided an opportunity to expand Coco di Mama brand presence across the UK: Steve Holmes, chief executive of Azzurri Group, the TowerBrook Capital-backed business, has told Propel the crisis has given the business t … view