RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: In what universe does closing the hospitality sector ‘protect the economy’?

Grim Reaper Matt Hancock prefaced his Commons announcement of yet another ruinous lockdown in London, Hertfordshire and Essex with a blood-curdling warning about a new super strain of coronavirus which has just been identified by ‘the science’. Presumably, this ingenious variant only attacks people in pubs not gyms, and restaurants not shops. Even so, it’s … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Hospitality trade hits back at Tier 3 London lockdown

Hospitality bosses tonight lashed out at Matt Hancock‘s ‘illogical’ plan to plunge London back into Tier 3 lockdown and warned that ‘cruel’ restrictions on business will push the collapsing sector ‘closer towards failure’. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said putting hospitality venues including pubs and restaurants in the capital back into the toughest shutdown is … Read more

JANET STREET-PORTER: Boris’s barmy tiers are hell for the hospitality industry

Another day, another handout. This time, it’s the turn of publicans to receive a little bit of Xmas cheer from our giveaway government. Faced with howls of rage from the brewing industry who claim that the latest Covid tiers will see three quarters of British pubs go out of business, Boris and Rishi held an … Read more

UK Government has ‘permanently decimated’ hospitality industry

One of Britain’s top restaurateurs has savaged the government‘s severe new tier system as a death sentence for the hospitality sector. Richard Caring, who owns chains including The Ivy and Bill’s, believes that more than two thirds of his industry has been so mauled by lockdowns that it will never recover. Mr Caring told MailOnline: ‘This … Read more

New post-lockdown hospitality restrictions will destroy us all, desperate pubs warn PM 

The tough new regional tier system will be a ‘death sentence’ for thousands of pubs and restaurants, critics said last night. The warning came after Boris Johnson announced tighter restrictions on the hospitality sector when the lockdown ends. Venues in Tier Two will able to serve alcohol only with a substantial meal and in Tier … Read more

Elderly top Covid jab priority list in UK – but in France hospitality workers are included

France is taking a different approach to the UK in choosing who will be prioritised in getting a coronavirus vaccine by including people who have a lot of interaction with the general public. Based on guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the first people in the UK to get any new … Read more

Norfolk and Suffolk Police hunt ‘dine and dash’ couple who swindled up to a DOZEN hospitality venues

Police are hunting a ‘dine and dash’ couple who swindled up to a dozen pubs and restaurants by fleeing without paying for meals during a ten-month crime spree. The pair are thought to have claimed their card was declined during their brazen tricks on the beleaguered hospitality venues across East Anglia. They would then leave … Read more

Hospitality sector hit by delay to furlough bonuses

Hospitality bosses fear Government U-turn on bonuses for retaining furloughed staff could jeopardise financing deals with lenders By Harriet Dennys, Financial Mail On Sunday Published: 21:50 GMT, 7 November 2020 | Updated: 21:50 GMT, 7 November 2020 Hospitality bosses fear the Government U-turn on bonuses for retaining furloughed staff could jeopardise financing deals with lenders.  … Read more

Covid-19 lockdown will ‘decimate’ UK’s hospitality industry says Manchester’s Lowry Hotel manager

The new lockdown will ‘decimate’ the UK’s hospitality industry – and it won’t begin to recover until the spring, says manager of Manchester’s five-star Lowry Hotel Adrian Ellis has called on the government to extend furlough beyond December He also says cut in VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry should be extended  Overnight stays and … Read more

French pack bars before national lockdown that will force all hospitality to close until December 1

Parisians made the most of their final night of freedom as they packed the bars ahead of new lockdown restrictions which come into force on Friday. Emmanuel Macron announced new measures on Wednesday in an effort to curb the rising Covid infections across the country.   Revellers seized the opportunity to spend one final evening with … Read more