Last night police were called to the north Dorset home of hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, owner of the Athenaeum, Mayfair, and the Sheraton Grand, Park Lane. He was found dead on arrival after suffering fatal knife wounds. His wife Anne Schreiber is now fighting for her life in hospital also suffering from knife wounds in the same attack. A 34 year-old man believed … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2021
Action by UKHospitality leads to updated Government approval of indoor payments
The rather 'unusual' requirement from Government for reopening outdoor hospitality and insisting that all payments are also taken outside was recently challenged by UKHospitality. That challenge prompted a change in policy that sees payments inside and outside of premises. Commenting on the Government’s decision to amend its Working Safely guidance to allow … [Read more...]
Retail joins hospitality in rejection of Covid passports
The hospitality industry’s rejection of Government proposals around Covid passports has been backed by the retail sector, as well as cross party opposition in Parliament. Nonessential retailers are also planning to reopen next week, and in advance of that the British Retail Consortium alongside other retail trade bodies have firmly rejected the idea of Covid … [Read more...]
Master Innholders to address UK tourism with Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden CBE
Following the success of the first Hoteliers – Battered But Not Beaten event, Master Innholders will address the recovery of the UK’s tourism sector with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden CBE in the second event within the series. Taking place 22 April 2021 at 2pm, the event will see Dowden and guest interviewer Kate Nicholls OBE … [Read more...]
Liverpool ONE to support hospitality operators by increasing outdoor seating 100%
Grosvenor Britain & Ireland has announced that Liverpool ONE will increase its outdoor seating capacity by 100% as part of its plans to support operators and safely accommodate visitors as they return to the destination from April 12. Supplementing the existing external covers, Liverpool ONE has worked closely with its occupiers to facilitate an additional 610 covers, all … [Read more...]
UKHospitality welcomes Government call for evidence on Covid commercial rent debts
UKHospitality has welcomed the publication of the Government’s call for evidence on commercial rent debts as an important step forward in attempts to address commercial rent debts accumulated by hospitality tenants during COVID lockdown and restrictions. The call for evidence sets out six options, ranging from simply allowing existing tenant protections to cease to a more … [Read more...]
Deliveroo delivery riders begin strike action today over low pay
Last week’s flotation at Deliveroo amidst concerns from investors about the sustainability of how workers are treated was a disappointment for the business. Their business model based on paying low wages to ‘self-employed’ employees, was brought into widespread question by many institutional investors who abstained from investing. Today sees many of those employees set to … [Read more...]
Unite Union’s hotel development cost climbs from £7 to £98 million, 1,400% over budget
Unite, the largest trade union in the UK is reported to have spent circa £100 million on developing a hotel originally budgeted to cost £7 million. The news broke yesterday evening on Sky News amidst growing questions around how contracts were awarded, and how the cost escalated by more than 1,400%. As the costs were paid from members funds, a growing number of Unite … [Read more...]
Trio of board appointments at Academy of Chocolate
The Academy of Chocolate, an independent not-for-profit membership body that promotes real chocolate, has announced a series of new appointments within its board. Former chair and founder, Sara Jayne Stanes OBE, has been appointed president of the Academy, while Chantal Coady OBE and Clive Martyr have been appointed co-chairs. As part of the move, Coady and Martyr will be … [Read more...]
Study shows mass exodus of migrant workers due to Covid and Brexit
The past year has seen migrants leaving the UK in record numbers, with as many as 1.3 million people born outside the UK leaving it. A study by the UK’s Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence published last week, described the results as an “unprecedented exodus”. The study underlined a number of UK economic sectors reliant on migrant workers including hospitality that … [Read more...]
Covid passports, PM evasive, but scope to implement already published
The government’s press conference yesterday saw the Prime Minister being ever so evasive in answering questions from the media about Covid passports. Yes Boris Johnson did answer in part, but almost no real detail was communicated. The very idea of such a system will fly in the face of his liberal conservative viewpoint, but as he was speaking, the details of the conference … [Read more...]
Accor bringing Novotel and ibis openings to Newcastle Gateshead Quays regeneration scheme
Accor has confirmed bringing the Novotel and ibis brands to the £260 million Newcastle Gateshead Quays regeneration scheme. The agreement with Gateshead Council, its development partners Ask Real Estate and independent investment manager, Ask:PATRIZIA, will see the dual branded hotel established on the quayside of the 587,000 sq ft development. Designed by AHR … [Read more...]
Full and exact details of governments easing of Covid restrictions 12 April
The details below are unedited from: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. Setting out precisely what changes from 12 April. Outdoor hospitality will be among those reopening in England next week after the Prime Minister confirmed the roadmap is on track and planned easements can go ahead. Significant parts of the indoor economy and further outdoor settings will … [Read more...]
Travelodge announce new Chairman
Travelodge has today announced the appointment of Martin Robinson, as its new Chairman. Robinson has spent most of his career within the leisure sector and brings a wealth of brand building, strategic management and leadership expertise. He spent 17 years at Center Parcs as CEO of their European business and Chairman of the UK. He also spent 10 years on the Boards of … [Read more...]
PM’s roadmap approval and pub passport rejection sees BBPA’s glass left half empty
Following yesterday’s press conference by the Prime Minister, the British Beer & Pub Association ‘welcomed’ confirmation by the Government that pubs will be allowed to reopen outdoors only from 12 April. The BBPA said that whilst the news was exciting for publicans and pub goers a like, it was important to remember that just 40% of pubs in England – 15,000 – would … [Read more...]