Legal

Call to action: the open letter has been signed by a number of hospitality leaders (image: Getty/ilkercelik)

Bosses call for help at Budget

By Nikkie Thatcher

A number of hospitality CEOs have written to the Chancellor, urging him to take immediate action at the Budget next week (Wednesday 6 March).

Business landscape: the figures looked at the closures in the sector last year (image: Getty/Anukoon Supawong)

194 pubs lost forever in 2023

By Nikkie Thatcher

Some 194 pub buildings were lost due to conversion or demolition last year, new figures have found.

Cash laws: New tipping legislation will come into force on 1 July (Credit: Getty/Drazen Zigic)

How can pubs prepare for new tipping laws

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

WMT Troncmaster Services managing director Peter Davies has offered advice on how pubs can prepare for new tipping laws which are due to come into force this summer.

Licensing hub: Poppleston Allen tips on low and no alcohol drinks (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

LICENSING HUB

Top licensing tips on low alcohol and alcohol-free drinks

By Paula Kioko, marketing associate, Poppleston Allen

Customers are increasingly choosing low or alcohol-free drinks, with some adopting a moderation strategy of alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during nights out. Researchers indicate that this trend is showing no signs of slowing...

New horizons: Two exciting sites open in the capital and there are also openings elsewhere

PROPERTY ROUND-UP

New bars open in the capital

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

An Italian seafood bar is set to open in the capital, while a Welsh pub reopens under new ownership and Inception Group launches a new site.

Licensing hub: Poppleston Allen advice on navigating off-sales and pavement licences (Credit: Getty/urbazon)

LICENSING HUB WTH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Navigating off-sales and pavement licences

By David Inzani, partner at Poppleston Allen

In the wake of the challenges posed by the pandemic, the hospitality trade saw significant regulatory changes introduced under the Business and Planning Act.

Business research: a survey from sector trade bodies showed a quarter of businesses are out of cash reserves (image: Getty/claudiodivizia)

1 in 4 firms out of cash

By Nikkie Thatcher

A quarter of businesses have no cash reserves left while less than a third (29%) have under three months’ left, new research has shown.

NTIA summit: A look at nightlife across the globe (Credit: Elspeth Moore)

Nightlife leaders on tackling global challenges

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Nightlife industry leaders from across the globe discussed how to overcome obstacles and help the sector thrive at the Night Time Industries Association’s NTE Summit last week.

Sector worry: the BBPA and UKHospitality highlight concerns about the UK entering a technical recession (image: Getty/yevtony)

UK entering technical recession ‘big worry’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Official figures indicating the UK fell into a technical recession at the end of last year are ‘hugely concerning’ for the hospitality sector, one trade body said.

Significant pressure: BBPA calls for change ahead of Spring Budget amid static inflation rates (Credit: Getty/Zedelle)

Stagnant inflation shows need for 'vital' changes

By Rebecca Weller

Unchanging inflation rates show the Government must make “vital” changes in next month's Spring Budget to “alleviate significant pressure”, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has warned.

Driving change: The mayors of the North and West Midlands discuss the night-time economy (Credit: Elspeth Moore)

Mayors of the North call for VAT cut

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Mayors of the North united to call for an industry-wide VAT cut in the Spring Budget at the Night Time Economy Summit last week.

Pubs need help: hospitality leaders have written to the Government (credit: Getty/miodrag ignjatovic)

BBPA members demand help ahead of Budget

By Gary Lloyd

Leaders of more than 80 of the UK’s pub companies and breweries – who are members of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) – have written to the Chancellor to demand action at next month’s Budget on VAT, business rates and beer duty.

No money for margin or investment: Kate Nicholls says Government demands are leaving the sector in dire straits

Kate Nicholls: Cost of doing business is too high

By Gary Lloyd

With the Spring Budget approaching, UKHospitality (UKH) chief executive Kate Nicholls has told the Government “the cost of doing business is just too high” and steps must be taken.

Licensing knowhow: Poppleston Allen answer questions around trading later hours and extending premises size (image: Getty/VTT Studio)

LICENSING HUB - LEGAL WITH POPPLESTON ALLEN

Legal Q&A: trading later hours & extending venue rules

By Felix Faulkner, solicitor, Poppleston Allen

In the latest Q&A with Poppleston Allen, the legal experts tackle the rules around extending trading hours and making a premises larger.

The Onley Arms pub in Stisted Essex to shut

Village pub to shut doors

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

A village pub in Essex is set to close next week after business became "totally unviable".

Turbulent economic period: venues rise prices by 7.1% to combat inflationary pressures and staff shortages (Credit: Getty/NickyLloyd)

Venues rise prices by 7.1% to offset soaring costs

By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality venues increased prices by an average of 7.1% in the year to December 2023 after being left with “little choice” in the face of rising costs and staff shortages.

Time is ticking on more than one issue: Andy Slee says the Chancellor must do something for the sector in Budget

OPINION

Utility firms’ £1bn weekly bonanza and Covid loans timebomb

By Andy Slee, chief executive, Society of Independent brewers (SIBA)

I am optimistic about the long-term future of hospitality. If lockdown taught us anything, it was people’s hunger to meet friends and family and to support local community pubs and breweries.

Speaking up: Publicans can share their views in the PCA's new survey

PCA launches 2024 Annual Tied Tenant Survey

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The pubs code adjudicator (PCA) has announced the launch of its Annual Tied Tenants Survey, calling on tied publicans to share their views on the pub company and the PCA.

Company news: there was a significant jump in the number of insolvencies in the hospitality industry in the fourth quarter of 2023, RSM UK's Robyn Duffy says (image: Getty/Fentino)

Hospitality insolvencies up more than a third

By Nikkie Thatcher

The number of firms in the accommodation and food services sector becoming insolvent has increased by 37% on an annual basis, official statistics have found.

Stark figures: almost 23,000 firms lost since December 2022 (Credit: Getty/onfilm)

Almost 23k hospitality firms lost since 2020

By Rebecca Weller

Close to 23,000 licensed businesses across the sector have closed in the last three years, figures from the latest Hospitality Market Monitor have revealed.

Outlook for 2024: Scottish venues experienced a poor new year according to SLTA MD Colin Wilkinson

SLTA ‘deeply concerned’ over state of hospitality in Scotland

By Gary Lloyd

Three out of four Scottish hospitality operators will need government support to survive this year while 96% say the Scottish government is out of touch with business community, according to the SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association).

Follow us

Property of the week

KENT - HIGH QUALITY FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

£ 60,000 - Leasehold

Busy location on coastal main road Extensively renovated detached public house Five trade areas (100)  Sizeable refurbished 4-5 bedroom accommodation Newly created beer garden (125) Established and popular business...

Pub Trade Guides

View more