Excitement around the Rugby World Cup and the cinema release of Spectre contributed to Brits spending 9% more on leisure, this month’s Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker revealed. In October, household leisure spend across Britain was up £18 compared to October last year. This increase was prompted primarily by a 13% increase in Other Leisure spending – which includes … [Read more...]
Autumn Statement – the good and the bad
Immediate reactions to the Autumn Statement from the BBPA and ALMR are mixed. BBPA Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds comments: “The extension of Small Business Rate Relief for another year is welcome, and is worth £25 million, and is something we had specifically requested. One third of pubs will qualify, 15,000 premises, in total. “However, it is very disappointing that … [Read more...]
New figures show return of the boozy lunch
The boozy lunch is making a comeback, with new figures showing beer, cider and wine gaining share of consumption at lunchtime while soft drink share declines. The figures, from M&C Allegra Foodservice’s EatingOut Panel Q3 2015 Report, show lunchtime bucking the trend of an overall decline in alcohol consumption. Alcohol share of lunchtime drinks up to 14% (+2%) The … [Read more...]
Food service sector serves up the right economic recipe
The British Hospitality Association’s latest report on Britain’s Food Service Management (FSM) sector launched on Wednesday 25 November and shows that FSM businesses now serve more than four million customers each day, representing sales of £83.9bn - 42 per cent of total consumer expenditure on food, drink and catering in the UK. Continued growth in out-of-home dining One … [Read more...]
Licensing Act works well: 24-hour drinking a myth
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA Chief Executive, has commented on the 10th Anniversary of the Licensing Act: “The Licensing Act is working well, and has not resulted in the ‘free for all’ that some suggest. “24-hour drinking is very much a myth, as on average, pubs close less than half an hour later than they did under the previous Licensing Act. Harmful drinking and alcohol … [Read more...]
Wetherspoon’s and Pret A Manger lead the way for high street food hygiene
The Food Standards Agency is celebrating the success of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme which was launched five years ago this week, releasing information that breaks down its food hygiene ratings to coincide with this milestone. The Food Standards Agency has published figures that show 83.7% of outlets owned by the biggest high street food chains were given the best food … [Read more...]
Report reveals Pubs carrying huge tax burden from business rates
Britain’s pubs carry one of the heaviest tax burdens in the UK economy, says a new report from Oxford Economics for the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA). £140,000 for every pub The full report shows that the industry’s total tax bill amounts to a staggering £7.3 billion, or £140,000 for every pub, representing 34 pence in every pound of turnover. In terms of the … [Read more...]
Restaurant insolvencies jump by 50%
The number of restaurants going out of business was 50% higher last year than at the height of the recession – with 1,294 becoming insolvent in 2014/15, up from 865 in 2009/10, says Moore Stephens, the Top Ten accountancy firm. Figures show that failure rates among restaurants jumped 20% in just one year, up from 1,082 in 2013/14, even as consumer confidence and spending … [Read more...]
2016: a world-class year heading for London…
2016 is set to bring a stellar line-up of brand new theatre, exhibitions and special events to the capital: from blockbuster exhibitions, anniversaries and commemorations to light festivals and on-stage magic, 2016 in London is expected to captivate its ever-growing global audience. Events include: Lumiere London 2016, 14-17 January: A host of international artists will … [Read more...]
VisitEngland celebrates the most successful Rugby World Cup to date
VisitEngland, the national tourist board, is celebrating the most successful Rugby World Cup to date, with a total of 2.47 million tickets sold. England's Rugby World Cup has broken records for the host nation including ticket sales and attendance. 98 per cent of available tickets have been sold with the total 2.4 million beating France's 2007 figure of 2.25 … [Read more...]
Operators realistic: growth in food sales expected to slow
Confidence remains relatively strong amongst the UK’s eating out operators, with nearly two-thirds of those taking part in the latest Eating Out-Look survey saying that their food sales had increased year-on-year. However, compared with last year, a smaller proportion of operators reported a growth in sales, with nearly a third saying they had experienced no real change in … [Read more...]
PAUL adopts national living wage now
In advance of the introduction of the mandatory National Living Wage next April, the 34-strong French bakery and café brand has announced that it will increase the starting hourly rate to £7.20 per hour as of 1st November. Team members can earn up to £8.90 per hour reaching £9.60 per hour for supervisors. Jean Michel Orieux, CEO of PAUL UK said: “We see the introduction … [Read more...]
New consumer insights from Taste Tomorrow London
‘Taste Tomorrow London’ was hosted by Puratos UK at the National Bakery School, London South Bank University. Over 100 customers from industry, retail, bakery and distribution gathered to hear the results of a global study which provided insights into emerging consumer behaviour, perception, future trends and attitudes relating to bakery, pastry, patisserie and … [Read more...]
Birmingham takes lead as fastest growing regional tourist destination
Birmingham attracted a record 37.2million visitors last year, an increase of almost 10% and more than any other regional UK city. The city’s visitor economy is now worth a staggering £5.98billion having grown by half a billion in just one year. This growth has resulted in the creation of nearly 5,000 local jobs and further boosted Birmingham’s drive to become a leading global … [Read more...]
APPG inquiry into apprenticeships and skills development
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Visitor Economy has launched an inquiry into apprenticeships and skills development in the hospitality and tourism industry. The APPG, co-chaired by Nigel Huddleston MP for Mid Worcestershire and Margaret Ritchie MP for South Down which met for the first time this week, has issued a call for written evidence around the key … [Read more...]