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Morning Briefing for pub, restaurant and food wervice operators

Fri 30th Aug 2024 - Update: New outdoor smoking rules will force 'three pubs a week to close'
New outdoor smoking rules will force ‘three pubs a week to close’: Three pubs a week will close in a blow to the industry if Sir Keir Starmer bans outdoor smoking, trade bosses have warned. Labour Party government leader Sir Keir is on a collision course with the hospitality industry and political opponents after signalling plans for major curbs on outdoor smoking. The Press Association said that analysis from the British Beer and Pub Association claimed a ban would see an extra 800 venues go to the wall in the next five years. The trade body says applying the 6.4% closure rate suffered after the 2007 indoor ban to Sir Keir’s proposals would see 2,900 pubs shut within five years compared to the projected 2,100. Sir Keir said: “My starting point on this is to remind everybody that over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. Yes, we are going to take decisions in this space, more details will be revealed, but this is a preventable series of deaths and we’ve got to take action to reduce the burden on the NHS and the taxpayer.” Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, which runs more than 1,600 pubs, called it “ill-thought through”. Jowsey said: “It would also reduce footfall and revenue into pubs. A pub is the last community asset left standing in many communities. Anything that undermines their ability to survive and grow their business is a bad thing. What are we going to do? Will we have to employ people to patrol beer gardens to make sure nobody’s smoking? It seems a bit nuts.” Clive Watson, chairman of Inda Pub Group, who also founded City Pub Group, called the policy “a bonkers idea”. He said: “Surely, after all the pub industry has been through, we should be allowed a period of stability.” Sir Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, was less critical of the policy from a business point of view, instead calling it a “libertarian issue”. He said Wetherspoon was the first pub group to open non-smoking pubs before the 2007 smoking ban, adding: “The rationale then was that non-smokers should be free to avoid passive smoking. That argument is diluted outside.” He added: “The question is whether the government should interfere in individual liberties, where danger is involved.”

Premium Club members to receive Multi-Site Database with 3,232 operators and 44 new companies today: Premium Club members are to receive the Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 30 August) at midday. The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,232 multi-site operators and is now searchable in seven main segments. The database features, 953 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 780 (24%) pub and bar operators, 540 (17%) cafe bakery, 441 (14%) quick service restaurants, 265 (8%) hotel, 205 (6%) experiential leisure and 55 (2%) fine dining. It is updated each month, and this edition includes 44 new companies. The database includes new companies in the QSR sector such as Mary Brown’s Chicken, making its UK debut; Pizza Rana opening in Lytham; and Detroit Slims, a new pizza concept opening in Manchester. Premium Club members also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database; the Turnover & Profits Blue Book; the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee and the Who’s Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Clubs members will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events including the Talent and Training Conference (1 October), Restaurant Marketer and Innovator (two days in January 2025) and Excellence in Pub Retail (May 2025). Operators that are Premium Club members are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club members receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club members will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club members also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

Staff will be granted right to demand four-day week: Workers will be given rights to demand a four-day week in a law planned to be announced this autumn, it has emerged. The government’s package of worker rights will include a “compressed hours” system, enabling staff to fulfil their weekly contracted hours over four days, according to The Telegraph. This initiative will be part of legislation led by Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, developed in collaboration with trade unions and businesses. Employees have the legal right to request flexible hours, which can include part-time working, flexible start and finish times or working from home, but companies do not have to agree. The balance of power will shift, requiring companies legally to offer flexible working from the first day of employment unless it is “not reasonably feasible”. This change will give workers far more leverage to request a four-day working week. The Conservatives said that this approach could undermine Labour’s commitment to growth and leave businesses “petrified”. Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow business secretary, said: “Despite warning after warning from industry, Angela Rayner is pressing ahead with her French-style union laws that will make doing business more expensive in the UK. Labour must listen to businesses who are petrified about day one employment rights and bringing in the four-day week through the back door.” Critics say that flexible working would lead to reduced productivity. A Labour insider said the Conservatives promised in 2019 to make flexible working the “default”. “We’ll build on their existing legislation to ensure flexibility is a genuine default, except where it is not reasonably feasible for employers to agree,” they said. The government was asked to comment.

Former Maria G’s executive chef confirms September launch for first solo venture: Former Maria G’s executive chef Aaron Potter has confirmed his first solo restaurant venture will launch next month. Potter, who has also worked at Michelin-starred Elystan Street in Chelsea and Trinity in Clapham, will launch Wildflowers at Unit 2 in the new Newson’s Yard development, at 57 Pimlico Road in London, on Friday, 27 September. The 54-cover Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, wine bar and deli will comprise a restaurant and 26-cover terrace downstairs and an extensive bar space upstairs, as well as a private dining room for 12. There will be a focus on open-fire cooking and seasonality, including the regularly changing restaurant menu and produce from the in-house deli, among which will be daily pastries and sandwiches, available to eat on the terrace or to take away.

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