10/08/2021
RedCat Pub Company expand their portfolio
The Caterer has reported that RedCat Pub Company has acquired the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and Inn in the Lake District, as it continues to grow its portfolio. Former Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand launched RedCat earlier this year with the aim of building a "differentiated pub company". It has the backing of investment firm Oaktree Capital Management, which has raised at least £200m to invest in the UK pub sector.
Hospitality welcomes changes to Covid-19 app as 'pingdemic' forces thousands of businesses to close
The Government's decision to tweak the NHS Covid-19 app so that fewer people will be asked to isolate will 'alleviate some pressure' on hospitality businesses, but the sector has warned it's 'not a silver bullet' advises Big Hospitality.
JD Wetherspoon due to open new pub and hotel - largest investment in company's history
Set to open on August 16th, the company has invested €27.4 million in developing the site on Camden Street in Dublin, and a further €6 million on the purchase of the property. Wetherspoon said it was the single largest investment it has made in its 41-year history. A total of 200 full and part-time staff will be employed at the pub and 89-bedroom hotel, which will be named Keavan's Port reports The Irish Times.
UK recovery still unsteady despite July job surge
The professional services group - BDO have released their latest business trends report and found that the jobs market strengthened last month as hospitality venues such as restaurants and bars were allowed to operate without Covid-related capacity limits. But many firms reported labour shortages, partly due to the pandemic - with workers being told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid app - and Brexit, BDO said. This created a scramble for workers, pushing up wages and leaving bosses fretting about rising costs reports The Guardian.
Five Guys launches first UK drive-thru
Five Guys launched their first drive-thru restaurant in Middlesbrough's Teesside retail park last week reports Big Hospitality. This latest launch from the fast-expanding business comes as a number of other major brands look to expand their drive-thru operations.
And Finally...
KFC are due to open a pop-up hotel in London. Open for stays between 18th and 29th August, the House of Harland in Shoreditch will be available to book on Hotel.com with 100 per cent of proceeds going towards the KFC Foundation. Boutique Hotel have reported that guests can expect to be picked up from the station in a Black Cadillac, a private cinema room as well as a 'press for chicken' button and arcade game in the rooms.