UK hospitality sector sales fall by 48% in Third Quarter: The UK’s hospitality sector saw sales plummet by 48% in the third quarter of 2020, the latest Quarterly Tracker from UKHospitality and CGA reveals. It equates to a shortfall of � … view

Fuller’s chief executive Simon Emeny writes to PM calling for a review on sector restrictions: Simon Emeny, chief executive of Fuller’s, has written a letter to the prime minister Boris Johnson urging him to review restrictions, inclu … view

JW Lees boss William Lees-Jones – ‘businesses are being thrown on the scrapheap’: JW Lees boss William Lees-Jones has told The Daily Mail businesses are being ‘thrown on the scrapheap’ by various trade-restricting measures – a … view

UKHospitality demands sector support during ‘debilitating’ firebreak period: UKHospitality Cymru has demanded support for hospitality venues from the Welsh parliament and reiterated the scale of the crisis it faces. The trade body has … view

YO! to expand partnership with Co-op to 160 stores nationwide: YO!, the Richard Hodgson-led global multi-brand, multi-channel Japanese food group, is to expand its partnership with retailer Co-op to supply YO! To Go products in 160 of its … view

Imbiba – there are once-in-a-generation opportunities out there: Sector investor Imbiba, the backer of Farmer J, Vagabond, Temper and hotel brand House of Gods, has argued that the current covid crisis also presents once-in-a-lifetime o … view

Revolution launches CVA to exit six sites, sales in last five weeks reduced to 49.5% of last year because of 10pm curfew: Revolution Bars Group, the operator of 73 premium bars trading across the UK under the Revolution and Revolucion de … view

Trade bodies offer Scottish government workable solution ahead of decisive hospitality debate: Trade bodies in Scotland have written to the first minister and MSPs to propose a workable Strategic Framework ahead of a debate on Tuesday (27 … view

Exclusive – Iberica undergoes CVA as rent levels take toll on business: Spanish restaurant group Iberica has undergone a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with rent levels taking their toll on the business, Propel has learned. The pro … view

UKHospitality survey shows low level of transmission in hospitality sector: A survey by UKHospitality of its members has shown there is low level of transmission of covid-19 in the hospitality sector. The survey, which covered 568 busines … view

New findings ‘proof positive’ sector not a significant factor in the spread of the virus: A survey of 568 sector businesses, covering 12,500 venues and 250 million customer visits by UKHospitality, found they had been informed of only … view

 

London operators warn enhanced support package not enough to prevent ‘slow death of sector’: Operators in London have warned the enhanced support package for businesses will not be enough to prevent the “slow death of the sector” … view

More support for the sector planned by Sunak: Rishi Sunak is poised to announce extra help for pubs and restaurants struggling to survive in areas under Tier two coronavirus restrictions, The Daily Telegraph has reported. The newspaper st … view

‘Vaccination will not be the immediate route out of this for late-night operators’: Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has said the government should be looking at other technological advances aside from a vaccine to hel … view

Sector sales plummet in high alert areas: Pubs, bars and restaurants in areas that are in the upper tiers of the government’s new covid alert system have suffered an immediate drop in sales, CGA’s latest data has showed. Businesses in … view

Jeremy King – business meetings ‘loophole’ gives sector a ‘glimmer of hope’, Delauney reopens to prevent more than 100 redundancies: Jeremy King, co-founder of London restaurant operator Corbin & King, has said the business meet … view

Shiva to open two boutique hotels in central London this month: Shiva Hotels will unveil its new purpose-built boutique hotel and restaurant – The Guardsman – in Buckingham Gate on Friday (23 October) and Covent Garden “lifestyle lu … view

Hundreds of hospitality workers protest outside parliament as London operators warn they ‘won’t survive winter’ under tier two restrictions: Hundreds of hospitality workers protested outside parliament as operators warned they “wi … view

Arts bailout fund accused of prioritising major venues as smaller players face closure: Sector bosses have questioned the way grants under the Cultural Recovery Funding (CRF) are determined after some of London’s most prominent independ … view

More than 750,000 sector jobs lost without urgent government support, trade bodies warn: More than 750,000 hospitality jobs will be lost without urgent government support, sector trade bodies have warned. It comes as UKHospitality, the Br … view

Pret set to make 400 more redundancies and close six further London stores: Pret A Manger is set to make 400 more staff redundant and close six further London stores as the company continues to deal with the impact of coronavirus. It come … view

Pub company leaders demand financial support in tier two areas from government: Pub company leaders from Greene King, Fuller’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Stonegate and Young’s have penned an open letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding … view

Pub company leaders demand financial support in tier two areas from government: Pub company leaders from Greene King, Fuller’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Stonegate and Young’s have penned an open letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak demanding … view

Marston’s reports like-for-likes at 90% of last year since reopening, additional restrictions see 2,150 pub staff facing redundancy: Marston’s has reported like-for-like sales since reopening are at 90% of last year’s levels since r … view

Peter Marks – no nightclub business will survive unless there’s outside financial support: Peter Marks, chief executive of The Deltic Group, has told Propel no nightclub business will survive unless outside financial support “is rec … view

We can all appreciate the government is tasked with a complex job in deciding the best course of action regarding the rate of infection. During … view

Boparan acquires Gourmet Burger Kitchen, 26 sites to close: Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), which earlier this year acquired Carluccio’s out of administration, has acquired the bulk of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) business through a … view

Government warns further restrictions could be placed on hospitality industry as MPs attack 10pm curfew: Health secretary Matt Hancock has warned further restrictions could be placed on the hospitality sector as MPs went on the attack ove … view

Whiting & Hammond in administration, three sites rescued: Whiting & Hammond, the gastro-pub operator led by Brian Whiting, has been placed into administration following the impact of covid-19, Propel has learned. Whiting has acquired thre … view

“I’m almost glad I don’t have any businesses left because I don’t know how I would deal with what’s going on – all the uncertainty and confusion, the total lack of common sense and strategy. T … view

Côte acquired out of administration for £55m, new report reveals: Côte, the French brasserie chain, was acquired by global private markets investment manager Partners Group in a pre-pack administration for £55m, a new report has revea … view

Huge swathes of sector ‘face falling by wayside’ under new covid alert system: Huge swathes of the sector face “falling by the wayside” because they will have the “worst of both worlds” under the new covid alert system, sector … view

Sector leaders prepare to mount legal challenge against lock-down restrictions in England: Sector leaders are preparing to mount a legal challenge to the government’s lock-down restrictions, which they say have decimated the hospitality … view

Mitchells & Butlers – average order value for delivery up more than 10%: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) has seen the average order value through its delivery business increase by more than 10% since the impact of covid-19 on the business. Sp … view

Government to subsidise two thirds of wages for workers affected by local lock-downs, grants of up to £3,000 for businesses: The government will subsidise two thirds of the wages of workers in pubs, restaurants and other businesses that … view

The Times – Sunak support scheme to be unveiled today: The Times has reported that Rishi Sunak will announce a local furlough scheme today in which the government will subsidise two thirds of the wages of workers in pubs, restaurants an … view

Propel Multi Club digital live webinar looking at ‘navigating the new normal’ opens for bookings, two free places for operators: The next Propel Multi Club Conference will take place on Thursday, 5 November and will take the form of a … view

Pubs and restaurants in north of England set to close from Monday: Pubs and restaurants in the north of England are set to be closed from Monday (12 October) as part of tougher lock-down restrictions as covid numbers soar. Prime minister … view

Expect mass redundancies in UK while jobs will be saved in Europe says Beds and Bars’ Murray Roberts: Murray Roberts, managing director of pan-European hostel and bar operator Beds and Bars, has told Propel the UK faces mass redundancie … view

Scottish hospitality subject to 6pm indoor curfew and banned from selling alcohol inside from Friday in ‘catastrophic’ move for sector: Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Scotland will have to close indoors at 6pm from Friday (9 October) … view

Scrimgeour to step down as Cote CEO: Alex Scrimgeour is to step down as chief executive of Cote, the circa 95-strong French brasserie chain, after 12 years of leading the business, Propel has learned. Jane Holbrook, who recently joined th … view

Emma Woods – Wagamama has benefited from staying close to its customers during lock-down: Emma Woods, chief executive of Wagamama, has told Propel the business has benefited from staying close to its customers during lock-down. The busi … view

The Restaurant Group reports ‘very encouraging’ trading amid 30% drop in casual dining capacity: The Restaurant Group has reported ‘very encouraging’ trading since re-opening amid an estimated 30% reduction in capacity among multi … view

Sales continue to decline following 10pm curfew, nine in ten businesses warn of redundancies: Sales have continued to decline following the 10pm curfew with like-for-likes down 21.2% compared with the week before it was introduced, accord … view

Legal challenge to 10pm curfew is mounted: Barristers from Kings Chambers have been instructed by Jeremy Joseph, owner of GAY, to challenge the 10pm curfew. The pre-action protocol for judicial review has been served to challenge the gove … view

Comprehensive package of support needed immediately to avoid ‘catastrophic failure’ of hospitality sector: The government must deliver far more wide-reaching support, tailored specifically to hospitality businesses to avoid a “catas … view

 

Greene King permanently closes half of its Loch Fyne estate, announces transatlantic slavery awareness partnership: Brewer and retailer Greene King has permanently closed 11 of its 21 Loch Fyne restaurants, Propel has learned. Greene King … view

Fuller’s considers 500 job losses: Fuller’s has revealed at least 10% of its circa 5,000 staff are facing redundancy. Chief executive Simon Emeny said the government’s decision to encourage people to work from home where possible wi … view

City Pub Group will make 25% of workforce redundant without further industry support as chairman warns of sector jobs ‘bloodbath’: City Pub Group executive chairman Clive Watson has told Propel the business will have to make 25% of it … view