Hospitality is in ‘peril’ and ‘fighting’ for survival

The hospitality sector is “an industry in peril” that is fighting for its life, the latest edition of the UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker has said.

Winner unveiled for AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year award.

Sally Abé has been selected as the winner of this year’s AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year award.

Bibendum’s Bordeaux Project grows with new estates

Bibendum Wine has announced that another three top Bordeaux estates have joined its Bordeaux fine wine project, which was launched in partnership with négociant, Compagnie Medocaine, in 2020.

Liberty report: Reversal of off/on-trade trends buffers hospitality recovery

Liberty Wines’ latest report has noted the positive effect of the reversal of the trends from the on to the off-trade over the course of the pandemic, with the growth in popularity of independent wine retailers during lockdown and an overall move towards experimentation feeding back into the on-trade and helping to boost sales.

Young consumers set to embrace Christmas trading

Young adults are set to embrace pubs, bars and restaurants for Christmas celebrations, but older people may be more hesitant about eating and drinking out, new research from CGA has revealed.

Business rates for hospitality cut by 50% for one year

Today’s Budget announcement included a year-long cut to business rates for the leisure and retail industry, meaning pubs, restaurants and bars will pay 50% less for 12 months.

Vaccine passports halve late-night sales in Scotland

The fast supper: The new pace of casual dining

Jo Gilbert reports from last month’s Casual Dining Show, where the FutureFoodservice report, The Rebuilding of Hospitality, predicted the shift of the sector towards faster, ‘social re-fuelling’ occasions

Delivery and takeaway sales not compromising consumers’ out of home spending

Delivery and takeaway are still booming having become a “crucial part of restaurant and pub operations”, the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker, which covers the month of September, has said. Encouragingly, this is not compromising consumers’ out of home spending, which is also on the rise and recovering post-pandemic.

Over 200 hospitality bosses join call to keep VAT at 12.5%

Over 200 hospitality CEOs have signed a letter urging the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to permanently keep VAT at 12.5%.

The post-pandemic somm

Staff shortages and supply problems are only some of the challenges sommeliers are facing today, as Jacopo Mazzeo reports.

SITT: The Future of the On-Trade

Harpers’ Shaping the Future of the On-Trade debate at SITT London brought together leading operators to discuss the changing face of business in a post-pandemic world.

Hospitality workers accuse bosses of keeping tips

More than half of hospitality workers in the UK claim their bosses lie about tips, according to new research by comparison site money.co.uk.

UKHospitality urges backing for Hospitality Apprenticeships Week

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged the sector to use Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 as a platform to champion the diverse and exciting careers on offer.

Managed hospitality venues see September sales bounce

Managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a ‘significant bounce’ in sales in September, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Late-night sector loses 86,000 jobs due to pandemic

The UK’s night-time cultural economy (NTCE) sector has been ravaged by the pandemic, with around 86,000 jobs lost in the sector since the 2019 high, a new report has found.

Investment shortfall highlighted as PM tells hospitality to fund its skills and pay gap

The hospitality sector is expected to invest in funding the sector’s skills and pay gap itself, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signalled.

Hospitality leaders fight to recruit and retain staff as labour shortages bite

One in six (16%) hospitality jobs currently lie vacant, triggering intense competition among firms to recruit and retain team members, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has said.

Cross-industry call for permanent lower VAT rate

Following the recent call from The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) for the Treasury to extend the hospitality VAT reduction, leading trade bodies from the hospitality and tourism sector have aligned to add their voice to the plea.

London Cocktail Week prepares to welcome guest bartenders from all over Europe

London Cocktail Week is kicking off tomorrow (1 October) for another extended month-long celebration of the city’s top bars, with an emphasis on bar takeovers and bartenders flying in from all over Europe.