Boris Johnson has delivered his roadmap for reopening, the timelines are not what some had hoped for, but do provide a framework to start planning the reopening process, alongside defined guidelines. With preparations for reopening now starting in earnest, we spoke with some of the UK’s leading caterers to gauge their initial reactions to the roadmap, and what follows on from … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2021
Hoteliers’ react to roadmap
Boris Johnson’s roadmap did not contain many surprises yesterday. The timelines are not what many had hoped for, but do at last provide a framework around planning to reopen. Preparation for reopening can now start in earnest, so we have spoken with some of the UK’s leading hoteliers to reflect and gauge their reactions to the roadmap, and what is next. Brenda Collin FIH, … [Read more...]
New VAT Deferral Payment Scheme Service opens online today
HMRC has today announced that over half a million businesses who deferred VAT payments last year can now join the new online VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme to pay it in smaller monthly instalments. In order to take advantage of the new payment scheme businesses will need to have deferred VAT payments between March and June 2020, under the VAT Payment Deferral Scheme. They … [Read more...]
Boris’ roadmap straight down the middle of the road, now needs Rishi’s full backing
The roadmap announced by Boris Johnson yesterday is as expected, a cautious one. It is also as we predicted, one that he steered straight down the middle of the road. Anyone expecting or hoping that a roadmap with less caution would be unveiled was being optimistic, as the runes were there to be read for weeks in the run up to it. There were no surprises, and that in a … [Read more...]
Roadmap and timelines deliver two key dates for hospitality reopening
Boris Johnson earlier this afternoon in the House of Commons unveiled detailed plans of his roadmap and timetable for unlocking England. The Prime Minister emphasised that following the first step, all subsequent stages of his roadmap could and would be subject to delay if required to do so, and that the programme would be delivered via “data rather than dates”. The rollout … [Read more...]
Mitchells & Butlers suspends pension fund payments ahead of £350 million share call
Mitchells & Butlers has suspended payments to its staff pension fund ahead of seeking £350 million in liquidity through emergency fundraising. Monthly pension contributions of circa £4 million per month are being ceased for three months. The revelation comes alongside the group reporting current cash reserves of £113 million, and a cash burn rate of £30 - £35 million per … [Read more...]
Four key reopening timelines set for today’s roadmap
Boris Johnson will set out his roadmap this afternoon in Parliament and again this evening from Downing Street, the addresses being the most hotly anticipated since the pandemic started. A broad picture of what to expect has already been set alongside two key caveats, caution and sustainability. There will be four key timelines set and we expect them to be as follows... Four … [Read more...]
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi points to roadmap central
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi speaking earlier this morning on Sky News Breakfast gave a good outline of what to expect in the PM’s roadmap this afternoon in Parliament, prior to his national broadcast to the nation later this evening. Zahawi said that it is important to make the easing of lockdown "sustainable" and added that government easing measures "cautiously" … [Read more...]
Hospitality’s hopes of roadmap success reliant on extended support
As time recedes for the PM to decide on a final draft of his highly anticipated roadmap, he will be more than aware his political career rides on it being a success. The first lockdown was a shock, the second and third a consequence of getting the first wrong, a fourth would surely prove terminal. He, nor anyone else of course can create a roadmap that guarantees the … [Read more...]
Labour’s Lucy Powell calls for certainty on hospitality business rates, VAT and furlough scheme
The Labour Party is warning that more than a million jobs across the hospitality industry could be lost if government economic support is not extended. The shadow minister for business and consumers, Lucy Powell stated the labour line clearly in saying: “Business owners want to protect their livelihoods and those of their employees, but they can’t plan in the dark and … [Read more...]
If Rishi thinks Gordon has the answers, it really is time to appoint a Minister for Hospitality
We are all watching helplessly as our industry edges closer and closer towards a tipping point. A tipping point that will see businesses fail in their thousands, and job losses of hundreds of thousands. The problem causing the helplessness is a global disaster, that only the government can lessen the impact from, and it is their responsibility to do so, not a choice. The first … [Read more...]
Ireland not considering reopening hospitality before mid-summer
Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking today on national radio has said that the hospitality industry in Ireland will not reopen before mid-summer. Martin said that he as well as government and public health officials are particularly concerned about the emergence of new variants, adding that current Covid numbers are far too high. During an interview he said: "While I am happy … [Read more...]
Leon founder warns of possible business collapse and the pantomime of scientists against business
John Vincent, co-founder of Leon restaurants speaking earlier today on BBC Radio 4 told listeners in stark terms about the impact of lockdowns to his business and the wider hospitality sector. He warned it was "quite possible" that the Leon restaurant business could collapse "if weeks and months drag on". Also, putting perspective behind his statement he said Leon was … [Read more...]
Johnson and Whitty fallout on reopening roadmap
With pretty much the entire population of the UK on tenterhooks to learn what the Prime Minister’s roadmap and timetable will reveal on Monday, a row has broken out between Chris Whitty and Boris Johnson over the scale, scope and speed of reopening. The row centres on the reopening of schools, with Johnson looking to get approval of his plans from the Chief Medical Officer for … [Read more...]
Danone acquires Earth Island: a step forward in €5 billion plant-based revenue target
Danone and Earth Island have announced agreement of Danone acquiring 100% total control of the shares of Earth Island. The acquisition sees Danone take another step forward towards achieving its strategy of increasing global sales of plant-based products to €5 billion by 2025. Bob Goldberg, co-founder and CEO of Earth Island commented: "Our mission has always been to … [Read more...]
