Legislation

Chancellor urged to increase draught relief to 20%

24-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

Trade bodies from across the brewing sector have joined forces to launch a new campaign, Make it 20%, urging the Chancellor to increase draught relief.

Scottish venues £110k worse off

24-Jan-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

A lack of support from the Scottish Government has left hospitality venues more than £100,000 worse off than their counterparts in England, figures have shown.

5% beer duty cut could create 13,000 jobs

24-Jan-2024 By Nikkie Thatcher

A beer duty reduction of 5% by the Government could help create up to 13,000 jobs, new research has claimed.

NTIA calls for Gov to slash VAT

23-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has urged for VAT to be cut for all businesses in the Spring Budget to save the night time economy from collapse.

Amy Lamé: national living wage hike can help hospitality thrive

19-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The increase in national living wage (NLW) can help hospitality businesses thrive in the long-term, according to London’s night czar.

UKH Cymru calls for more business rates support

18-Jan-2024 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) Cymru is urging the Welsh government to raise its business rates relief from 40% to 75% using allocated funds from the UK Government.

UKH: 'inflation rise no surprise'

17-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms will have “no choice” but to pass further costs onto consumers without “action to mitigate costs”, further fuelling inflation.

Inflation hike shows ‘unrelenting cost pressures’ on sector

17-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

The increase to inflation in December “underscores the unrelenting cost pressures” faced by hospitality businesses.

‘Targeted support’ on Welsh business rates welcomed by WBPA

16-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

The Welsh Beer & Pub Association (WBPA) has welcomed proposed reform to business rates in Wales that will allow “targeted support”.

BII demands Gov support for pubs in Budget

12-Jan-2024 By Gary Lloyd

The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has demanded Government investment in pubs in the upcoming Budget as more than six out of 10 pubs reported revenues losses or flat trade in 2023.

Tube strike cancellation 'too late' for sector

08-Jan-2024 By Rebecca Weller

The damage done to hospitality businesses by tube strikes is “undoubtedly too late to reverse” as planned tube strikes in London are cancelled at the “eleventh hour”.

OPINION

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024

21-Dec-2023 By Fiona Dickie, pubs code adjudicator

As we approach the new year, it is an opportunity to review some of the key milestones for the pubs code and the pubs code adjudicator (PCA) during 2023.

Inflation drop ‘good for economy, far from reality for hospitality’

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

A decrease in the rate of inflation is a good sign but the upcoming increase in business rates will cause operators more pain, one trade body has said.

Scottish Budget ‘bitter pill to swallow’

20-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Voices from across the Scottish hospitality sector have responded with disappointment in reaction to the Budget announcement.

Business rates support slashed for Welsh pubs

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs in Wales will see their business rates relief decrease from 75% to 40%, finance minister Rebecca Evans has announced.

Festive lifeline needed to save firms

19-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of small to medium business (SME) owners will have to close, put plans on hold or find other employment if Christmas isn’t a successful trading period, research has found.

Government publishes tipping code of practice

18-Dec-2023 By Hannah Currie, MCA

The Department for Business and Trade has published a draft code of practice on fair and transparent distribution of tips.

NTIA: Covid inquiry a waste of money without sector insight

12-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Failing to include representation from the hospitality sector in the Covid-19 inquiry will be a waste of taxpayers’ money, according to the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA).

Night czar: overseas salary plans ‘risk huge damage to sector’

06-Dec-2023 By Gary Lloyd

London night czar Amy Lamé fears plans to raise the minimum salary required for skilled overseas workers will hit the hospitality sector hard.

OPINION

'Is a pub ever truly viable?'

05-Dec-2023 By Phil Dixon, trade adviser

It was 1983. I was the Midland’s Senior Officer at the National Licensed Victuallers Association.

New immigration plans 'will worsen staff shortages'

05-Dec-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Government’s changes to the immigration system will “further shrink” hospitality’s talent pool and contribute to greater shortages, one trade body has warned.

Xmas rail strikes cast 'dark shadow' despite RMT deal

30-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Industrial action will cause a “dark shadow” over festive trade despite rail unions pay deal to end dispute ahead of next year’s Spring strikes.

POLL: How much of an impact will the NLW rise have on your business?

29-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

From April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be eligible for NLW with the rate for that age bracket being £11.44, rising from its current level of £10.42.

Hospitality Ulster: Gov a ‘disgrace’ as business rates relief not granted in NI

27-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Hospitality Ulster members have demanded an explanation of why the sector has not been afforded business rates relief in the Autumn Statement in line with England, Scotland and Wales.

A look at NLW rises since it began

24-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

In light of the latest hike in the national living wage (NLW), The Morning Advertiser has delved into its history.

Sector 'deserved better' in Autumn Statement

24-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

In the wake of the Autumn Statement, The Morning Advertiser spoke to operators from across the sector to get on the ground thoughts on the announcement.

UKH calls for VAT cut to boost tourism

23-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

UKHospitality (UKH) has called for the Government to address the UK’s lack of competitiveness on the global tourism market, beginning with a cut to VAT for hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses.

Autumn Statement

What's the opposite of exceeding expectations?

22-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

Expectations ahead of the Autumn Statement were already pretty low in the pub sector and I think it’s fair to say they have been duly met.

Mixed reaction to Autumn Statement from sector bosses

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Sector chiefs have issued a mixed response to Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement with many welcoming parts of it while others see “missed opportunities”.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

NLW increase will ‘eliminate low pay altogether’, NI contributions down 2%

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

UK Government Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the rise in national living wage from £10.42 to £11.44 from April next year will “eliminate low pay altogether”.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Business rates discount extended

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

On Wednesday 22 November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extension to the 75% discount for business rates up to £100k for the sector as part of the Autumn Statement.

AUTUMN STATEMENT 2023

Hunt confirms alcohol duty freeze

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday 22 November Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a freeze to alcohol duty until August next year.

What is expected in the Autumn Statement?

22-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will reportedly announce cuts to business taxes and a National Insurance reduction in today's Autumn Statement.

NLW rise could put many operators ‘over the edge’

22-Nov-2023 By Gary Lloyd

Sector bosses fear the Government announcement on a rise in the national living wage (NLW) could put many hospitality businesses “over the edge”.

Some 20% of firms at risk of closure in early 2024

20-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

More than a fifth of night-time economy firms face collapsing in January 2024 without “substantial tax reductions”, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

CAMRA: 'unlawful pub demolition should be illegal'

17-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has urged the Government to strengthen planning policy and enforcement legislation to safeguard historic venues following a parliamentary debate on the protection of heritage pubs.

Duty increase will 'damage growth and prosperity'

16-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Voices from across the brewery sector have joined calls urging the Chancellor to scrap the duty increase in February next year in next week’s Autumn Statement.

Further strike action expected to cause Christmas trade disruption

16-Nov-2023 By Ed Bedington

The hospitality sector is braced for further Christmas disruption after train drivers announced plans to stage a fresh round of strikes in early December.

Business rates rise threatens future of high streets

16-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

UKHospitality (UKH) and other trade bodies have written to the chancellor urging him to freeze the business rates multiplies and extend existing reliefs in the Autumn Statement.

Inflation reduction 'no time to break out champagne'

15-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Decline in headline rate to inflation “encouraging” but “no time to break out the champagne” for hospitality firms, industry leaders have said.

Hospitality leaders call for ‘urgent action’ in Autumn Statement

10-Nov-2023 By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Publicans, chefs and pubcos are among those who have signed an open letter calling or 'urgent action' ahead of this month’s Autumn Statement.

Autumn Statement 2023: how can Gov support the sector?

10-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

With the Autumn Statement due to take place in less than two weeks, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has looked at what voices across the sector want from the Chancellor.

London tube strikes over Xmas 'challenging' for sector

10-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Hospitality firms in London “poised for an exceptionally challenging festive period” as RMT members vote to extend industrial action in the capital.

Christmas hopes pinned on rail strikes deal

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Christmas will “come early” for hospitality businesses if RMT members vote in agreement of a new deal that could see the end of rail strikes.

King's speech will 'unite or divide' sector and authorities

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The measures announced in the King’s Speech will either “unite or divide” the sector and authorities, the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.

King's Speech start of 'disappointing agenda' for sector

08-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The King’s Speech marked the start of a “disappointing agenda” for the hospitality industry at a “crucial” and “challenging time” for many firms, voices from across the sector have said.

Firms to reduce investment and staffing without rates help

04-Nov-2023 By Nikkie Thatcher

More than half of hospitality businesses will be forced to cut staffing levels and reduce investment without Government intervention on business rates, research has found.

Sector 'deeply concerned' as BoE keeps interest rates at 5.25%

03-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Industry leaders have expressed “deep concern” for the future of the sector as interest rates remaining at 5.25% “piles further pressure” on hospitality firms.

PCA review divides opinion

01-Nov-2023 By Rebecca Weller

Voices from the sector have clashed over the results of the review into the operation and performance of the pubs code adjudicator (PCA).

Pub closure stats show 'uphill battle' faced by firms

31-Oct-2023 By Rebecca Weller

The growing number of business closures in the sector demonstrate the “sheer weight” of escalating costs and the “catastrophic predicament” faced by many hospitality firms, industry leaders have said.