£1bn fund for UK hospitality businesses unveiled
UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £1 billion fund for hospitality and leisure firms affected by the Omicron variant. The announcement comes as rising cancellations are reported by hospitality businesses. According to the government website, many have lost between 40 and 60 per cent of their December trade. The new fund will enable hospitality businesses in […]
Sunak unveils “full measure of fiscal firepower” in UK 2021 Budget
UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined his second Budget, extending furlough and the VAT cut for hospitality firms until September, offering £5 billion in re-opening grants for high street businesses, and more. Earlier this week, Sunak confirmed that restart grants will be available to support hospitality businesses and high street shops reopen when lockdown restrictions begin to […]
Reopening plans unveiled for UK hospitality
UK: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled plans for the nation to exit lockdown in a “one-way road to freedom”, with hotels, pubs and restaurants permitted to open indoors from 17 May. Speaking to the Commons, Johnson delivered the government’s plans for the gradual easing of lockdown measures over the coming months. The success of […]
Hospitality to shut for one month as England goes into national lockdown
UK: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a one month national lockdown for England, effective Thursday 5 November and lasting until 2 December. The lockdown will see the closure of non-essential retail, leisure and entertainment venues, as well as bars, pubs and restaurants. Takeaways and deliveries will however be permitted. There will be a ban […]
Hospitality “on its knees as unfair government grants are non-starter”
UK: Hundreds of struggling small hospitality businesses are being denied crucial funding promised by the government today, according to Mark Simpson, the founder of UK-based hospitality and short stay rental accommodation marketing website, Boostly. Small businesses in tourism and hospitality are encouraged to apply for second rounds of the UK government’s £10 million Kickstart Tourism Grant scheme. […]
Sunak announces new jobs scheme, extended VAT cut
UK: Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the government’s replacement for the UK furlough scheme, which will support the wages of workers who cannot return to work full time. The new Jobs Support Scheme will subsidise the pay of employees working lower hours, with those who can work a third of normal hours receiving 77 per cent […]
Scotland begins to reopen hospitality venues
Scotland: As of 15 July 2020, hospitality venues in Scotland are allowed to reopen providing that mitigations are met. Bars, restaurants, cinemas, tourist attractions, hairdressers and barbers, places of worship and childcare centres can now all reopen. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that it’s “the biggest step so far” since the country entered lockdown March […]
“Urgent” support required for UK hospitality industry
UK: Industry leaders from around 120 UK hospitality and tourism businesses have warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the sector requires “urgent” support in order to prevent “widespread devastation”. The leaders and CEOs have signed an open letter urging the government to provide aid and investment for the sector, as well as reduced VAT, deferred […]
Pubs, restaurants and hotels to reopen from 4 July in England
UK: In a statement this afternoon, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that pubs, restaurants and hotels in England will reopen on 4 July. He further announced the previously rumoured reduction of the two-metre social distancing rule to a “one-metre-plus” rule. The swathe of announcements marks a vital stage in the recovery of England’s […]
PM says some UK hospitality businesses could reopen in July
UK: Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced a phased approach to easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions, which could see some hospitality businesses open in July if certain targets are met. Johnson unveiled a “conditional plan” to reopen society, and introduced a new Covid Alert System with five levels, which will govern how quickly lockdown restrictions could […]