Caffe Nero is looking like the next big name to downsize or even exit hospitality on UK high streets as it enters into a Company Voluntary Arrangement process for protection from creditors. After navigating its way through the first lockdown, the second is proving a more challenging steer and now threatens circa 6,000 jobs in 800 outlets. Caffe Nero, the third largest … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2020
Eat Out to Help Out 2: Is Rishi Sunak preparing a Xmas gift for hospitality
In an interview earlier today with Sky News, Chancellor Rishi Sunak would not confirm or deny the return of his successful Eat Out to Help Out initiative soon. In the interview with Sky's economics editor Ed Conway, the chancellor emphasised his intention to get people out and about spending again when the current lockdown ends. Sunak also would not when asked specifically by … [Read more...]
Dear Mr Sunak, Please reinstate the JRB scheme now
The Job Retention Bonus was scrapped by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 5 November at the same time he was announcing the extension of the furlough scheme. An exercise in masking bad news some might say, especially those relying on it for business survival. The Job Retention Bonus (JRB) was announced back in July to encourage employers to maintain people's employment until the end … [Read more...]
ONS shows UK economy slowing, led by decline in hospitality
The UK economy recorded 15% growth in Q3 as lockdown restrictions were eased through the summer, but any real recovery has slowed and this slow down is led by the Covid-19 impact on hospitality. Data from the ONS shows that national output expanded by just 1.1% in September, the third month of Q3 prior to the regional and now national lockdowns being introduced. The ONS … [Read more...]
Remembering the 2,200 hospitality people in the UK who have lost their lives to Covid-19
As the death toll from Covid-19 in the UK sadly passes the 50,000 mark we wanted to remember all of those people in hospitality within that group. There is no data available that would point precisely to how many people in hospitality have died, but an estimate is quite simple. The latest UK population figure is 67,886,011, and the best estimation of how many people work in … [Read more...]
Further catering job cuts announced at Heathrow
Heathrow and British Airways caterer DO & CO are cutting more than 1,000 jobs, which now makes a total of almost 1,400 since the onset of Covid-19. DO & CO decided not to apply the furlough extension, that would have seen people impacted from the cuts receive 80% of their income until March 2021. The move has received criticism from the trade union Unite, who called … [Read more...]
2020’s constant call on safe hospitality remains top of Government advice
The government’s messaging to businesses in 2020 sees one message remain constant, wash your hands regularly. The duration of hand washing, advised by government and the NHS is no less than 20 seconds. The government is ticking two boxes at the same time with this campaign, the two most important ones, health and economy. This presents an opportunity to hospitality … [Read more...]
Global perspective confirms need for sustained hospitality intervention policy in the UK
The world of hospitality from the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland to the nightclubs of Moscow are closed, Covid-19 respects no boundaries or borders. After Disneyland president Ken Potrock announced on Monday that all three Disneyland hotels in California have closed, and stopped taking room bookings until January 2021, he thankfully also announced a new round of furloughs. On … [Read more...]
Hospitality specific intervention required to avoid industry plates toppling
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that UK unemployment hit 4.8% in the last three months to September, and redundancies reached 314,000 during the same period. While data only shows what has happened, it seems safe to assume that businesses fearing the end of the furlough scheme, made people redundant in anticipation of it. As it transpired the … [Read more...]
Mandarin Oriental use Covid-19 to enhance eliminating single-use plastic
In October 2019, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic, across its portfolio of 33 luxury hotels, by the end of March 2021. A year on from the Group’s pledge, this second progress report highlights both the achievements made to date and some of the continuing challenges. The company has committed to eliminating single-use plastic across all … [Read more...]
Biden and Boris face off on Brexit
While Boris Johnson has been playing fast and loose with Europe, his future counterpart in the US has achieved what nobody else in the US could, delivering Donald Trump a political defeat. President- elect Joe Biden has already shown his ability to outwit one Machiavellian opponent. If Boris Johnson is thinking of stepping up to be the next, he could be only a few moves away … [Read more...]
Liberation buys 21 Wadworth pubs
Wadworth earlier today confirmed the exchange of contracts for the sale of 21 pubs to Liberation Group but did not disclose the financial details of the transaction. Jonathan Lawson, CEO, Liberation Group commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming the teams of these fantastic pubs to join Liberation Group and Butcombe Brewing Co. “We have worked closely with Wadworth to … [Read more...]
Trained engineers providing nationwide ‘as normal’ service at Meiko UK
Customers, distributors, kitchen houses and consultants can be reassured that Meiko UK continues to run as usual. Meiko UK continues to run as normal, particularly with regard to the supply of spare parts and the availability of our engineers nationwide to achieve rapid first time fix to breakdown call, the Meiko UK office hotline manned with our customer service team is also … [Read more...]
England’s leading Golf Resort retains another crown
The Belfry Hotel & Resort, has retained its title as England’s Leading Resort and Conference Hotel at the 27th annual World Travel Awards. The World Travel Awards acknowledged The Belfry’s high quality service and facilities, which includes luxurious bedrooms and suites alongside several restaurants and bars. The hotel is also home to three golf courses, … [Read more...]
Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Chef of the Year 2020 announced
First organised by the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Switzerland in 1977, this year’s winner is a young chef who has spent the last three years working at The Clink Restaurant. Ellie Shaw, 23, originally from Stoke on Trent and with a first-class degree in culinary art from the University of West London, is Sous Chef Trainer at The Clink Restaurant, HMP Brixton. Remarkably this … [Read more...]