UKHospitality warns government it ‘only has one chance to get this right’ as restaurants and hotels set to miss out on business rates relief: UKHospitality has warned the government it “only has one chance to get this right” after Rachel Reeves delivered a blow to restaurant and hotel operators. The chancellor, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, signalled that only pubs will receive any help to cope with a surge in business rate bills. The government has indicated that it is willing to help pubs following a campaign which involved banning Labour MPs from many premises. However, the Treasury is believed to be resistant to extending the help to the wider hospitality sector. Asked about the policy by reporters, she said: “The situation that the pubs face is different from other parts of the hospitality sector.” Allen Simpson, chief executive of UKHospitality, responded by saying: “The entire hospitality sector faces the same cost challenges – from eye-watering business rates hikes to the soaring cost of employment. These are not challenges unique to pubs. Our hotels, restaurants and cafes, to name a few, all face their business rates bills increasing by thousands, driven by the same large increases to rateable values affecting pubs. These businesses employ six in seven people in hospitality. While it’s positive there will be an announcement soon, this is a hospitality-wide problem that requires a hospitality-wide solution. The government has one chance to get this right. Without a package of support for the entire sector, I fear it will be too little, too late.” And while they may eventually get much-needed support, pubs remain in the dark over what this will look like two weeks after the government signalled that it was imminent. Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, which owns more than 1,500 pubs, told the BBC: “Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything of any detail yet. It’s now two months since the Budget, and unfortunately, we are still to hear what the actual resolution is going to be.” He said the people running his pubs “are really quite concerned and anxious now because they don’t know what the future holds”. Jowsey added: “Unless they get some clarity and some certainty soon, it makes it very difficult for them to make decisions.”

EL&N in ‘advanced talks’ over US expansion, targets global estate of 60 by end of financial year: Cafe and lifestyle brand EL&N has said it is in “advanced talks” over expanding to the US. The company, which now operates 42 locations across 14 geographic markets, has also said that by the end of its financial year 2025-26, in June, it will operate 60 locations globally. EL&N said its US expansion plans “reinforce EL&N’s ambition to become a global leader in the lifestyle café sector”. The company said: “As part of its global expansion strategy, EL&N is currently engaged in advanced discussions with a number of established institutional groups and experienced, multi-site food and beverage operators across major US metropolitan markets. These discussions are focused on evaluating strategic entry opportunities that align with EL&N’s brand standards, operational model, and long-term growth objectives. Entry into the US represents a key strategic milestone for the group and reflects EL&N’s ambition to partner with best-in-class operators to introduce its differentiated café and lifestyle concept to a broader international audience.” Founder Alexander Miller added: “Our plans to bring EL&N to the US mark a landmark moment for our brand. When we founded EL&N in London in 2017, our vision was to create a lifestyle café experience that combined creativity, design, and quality in a way that felt truly global. The US has always been a key market in our long-term vision, and we are now in active conversations with several partners who share our values and ambition. We’re excited to introduce EL&N’s unique café experience to American communities as we continue our journey to become a leader in this space globally.” As part of its global growth model, EL&N plans to introduce a variety of operating formats across international markets, including full-service café restaurants, grab-and-go concepts and bakery. EL&N has introduced three new concepts over the past two years, starting with launching Deli & Bakery in London’s Covent Garden in 2024. That followed with the launches of elevated dining concept House of EL&N in Beirut, Lebanon, and cookie concept Crumbs in London’s St Pancras last year. EL&N features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the latest edition of which features 1,194 companies. EL&N’s turnover of £25,953,671 is the 467th highest in the database. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.