All news articles – Page 382
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NewsKaren Jones: Why is it so important that hospitality wholeheartedly supports NHS Test and Trace?
So it’s a Bank Holiday weekend, pay day for many and the last EOTHO on Bank Holiday Monday. Many of our restaurants and pubs across the UK will be very busy and it seems an opportune moment to remind ourselves of the vital importance of all our places fully supporting NHS Test and Trace. Why is it so important that hospitality wholeheartedly supports NHS Test and Trace? Because hospitality offers safe spaces for people to enjoy being with friends and family. Because we are often at the centre of our communities and high streets. We have a real responsibility to keep our customers, our teams and our communities safe and well. NHS Test and Trace is a powerful way to do just that: collecting and providing the information to help break the chain of transmission and control the virus.
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NewsCosta launches ‘post-coronavirus’ store
Costa has launched its debut ‘post-coronavirus’ store on London’s Argyll Street.
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NewsMichael Caines opens second Cornwall restaurant
Michael Caines has opened a fourth restaurant in Rick Stein’s former Porthleven site, which he acquired last month.
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NewsGreggs Leeds distribution centre closes after coronavirus outbreak
Greggs has confirmed a coronavirus outbreak at its Yorkshire distribution depot.
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NewsPret forced to axe 2,800 jobs
Pret has been forced to make 2,800 staff redundant as a result of the coronavirus. It said though sales and footfall have begun to recover, the impact of the coronavirus had set sales back ten years, when the business was “considerably smaller” than it is now (it had around 200 sites compared to 367 today). Weekly sales are averaging around £5m – the level they were at in August 2010. It also said trade across the UK estate was down 60% down year on year. As a result, the business said it has had to permanently close 30 shops and let 2,800 employees go, thanks to a combination of “shorter opening hours, lower transaction levels, and the losses faced by the business in 2020”.
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NewsChilango sold out of administration
Chilango has been sold out of administration, securing 10 of its 11 restaurants.The burrito brand announced today that administrators RSM had secured a sale of the group to investment firm RD Capital Partners in a deal that will save 130 jobs.Last month, Chilango filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as a result of pressures caused by the coronavirus lockdown, having already gone through a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) at the end of 2019.
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NewsGreene King pledges to create 1000 opportunities for young people and drive diversity in new Princes Trust partnership
Greene King has pledged to create 1000 opportunities for young people in a new five-year agreement with the Princes Trust.
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NewsDeliveroo launches “eat in to help out” scheme
Deliveroo is to offer its customers a discount in September to encourage them to “eat in to help out”.
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NewsFootfall sees biggest jump since July
UK footfall has continued to build momentum, seeing the biggest jump in four weeks on Saturday, according to the latest data from Wireless Social.
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NewsOperators self-fund Eat Out extension
Several operators are extending the Eat Out to Help Out discount into September, funding the cost themselves.
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NewsSector leaders optimistic about winter growth
Hospitality and leisure operators remain optimistic about the prospects of long-term growth, despite accepting the bleak outlook for Summer 2020, according to Barclays Corporate Banking Survey.
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NewsJollibee to open second UK site as it eyes rapid expansion
Jollibee, the Philippines largest fast-food chain, is set to open its second UK site in Liverpool next month.
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NewsD&D London in ‘strong financial position’ ahead of second reopening wave
D&D London has said it is in a ‘strong financial position’ as it sets out the second phase of its reopening strategy.
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NewsWahaca to shutter a third of estate
Wahaca is set to close a third of its estate in a bid to secure its future beyond the coronavirus crisis.
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NewsKate Nicholls: don’t hold out hope for furlough extension
Kate Nicholls has warned operators against falling foul of government by not complying with coronavirus safety guidelines - and said the prospect of the furlough scheme being extended looks bleak. Speaking to MCA as part of its virtual event The Conversation, the UK Hospitality CEO said as the prime minister’s five point roadmap looks set to move from three to two, which would enable more relaxation of social distancing restrictions, her “big plea is to make sure that we are all rigorous in terms of test and trace, all vigilant about the two household rule, and we stay on top of social distancing. The enforcement measures have been toughened up to fine people if they are not abiding by the rules, and it’s in all our vested interests to help those businesses in the night time economy reopen more quickly.
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NewsMajority of UK diners want the EOHO extended says YouGov poll
YouGov has released the results of research it has carried out into the impact of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme. It found that of those who dined out using the scheme, more than a third will dine out less than they did before once the scheme ends (36%). It also found that 46% will dine out about the same, but just 4% will dine out more than they did. It said 7% will not dine out at all. Of those who used the scheme, over 77% would support the government extending the scheme across the whole of September as well, with only 14% opposing the suggestion.
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NewsGreene King offers another £6m in rent concessions
Greene King has announced an additional £6m of financial support for its tied tenants. MD Wayne Shurvinton has written to all Greene King’s tied pub tenants to confirm a 40% rent concession will be in place for all tied pubs for a further four weeks after the current support comes to an end. That will be followed by a 30% rent concession for the four weeks after that, taking support through until October. Tied tenants buying barrels of beer or cider from Greene King will also continue receiving a trade credit of £35 per barrel through to 2021.
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NewsThe “phenomenal” effect of Eat Out to Help Out - but will it be extended?
Gusto MD Matt Snell has described the effect of Eat Out to Help Out as “phenomenal” although he has no plans to continue with his own version of the discount scheme once it ends this week. “I’ve never really seen anything like it in my career,” he told MCA’s virtual event The Conversation. “The shape of the working week has changed, so Wednesdays are your Saturday night, Tuesday’s your Friday night and on Monday there’s kind of a second Friday. So it has been a runaway success, there’s no doubt about it. “There’s been quite a lot of negativity in the press around what it’s done to weekends, and restaurant groups pulling out, but we’ve had nothing but positive experiences and we’ve not seen a huge drop off in sales, if any, over the weekend.
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NewsHalf of consumers fear for the future of their coffee shops
Going for a coffee was the second most popular thing to do after visiting family and friends once the lockdown was lifted, according to research from Allegra World Coffee Portal. It said 55% of respondents had visited a café or coffee shop since the restrictions were eased, behind 69% who ...
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NewsBidding goes live for once-in-a-lifetime food and drink experiences
A unique charitable auction of once-in-a-lifetime food and drink experiences featuring some of the country’s top chefs and restaurants is now live. Online bidding for The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards Top 100 Auction will run for two weeks, with bidding closing at 6pm on Sunday 6 September. Lots include a meal, masterclass and stay at last year’s winner Moor Hall in Lancashire, a tour of Chinatown with celebrated chef Andrew Wong, a foraging experience followed by a meal with The Black Swan at Oldstead’s Tommy Banks, MasterChef star Monica Galetti cooking a dinner party in someone’s home and chef Clare Smyth leading a culinary masterclass at her two Michelin-starred Notting Hill restaurant Core by Clare Smyth.