14/12/2021
November sales up but Omicron threatens future of fragile businesses
Managed pub and bar sales grew by 3% in November compared to pre-coronavirus levels, the latest CGA tracker has shown. The tracker, produced by CGA in partnership with The Coffer Group and RSM, showed November was the fourth month in a row 2021 sales have exceeded 2019 levels; however, the rate has dropped from 8% in September and 3% in October, reports the Morning Advertiser.
Oakman Group to double its estate by mid-2026
Pub group Oakman is looking to more than double their estate to around 70 pubs by June 2026. It said it did not expect to be negatively impacted by Plan B restrictions, with cancelled corporate bookings being replaced by smaller family bookings. According to The Caterer, since the start of the pandemic, Oakman has added nine sites to its portfolio, including six Seafood Pubs and most recently the Rose in Wokingham, Berkshire, which is averaging more than £40,000 net per week and taking the group's portfolio up to 36.
Sacha Lord launches campaign to stop planned VAT rise
Sacha Lord has launched a campaign to try and stop the Government's plan to return VAT for hospitality to its pre-pandemic rate of 20% next year. Lord, who is the night time economy advisor for Greater Manchester, has dubbed the planned VAT hike a 'Red Wall Tax', and is calling on people to take action by writing to their local MP and voicing their opposition to it on social media using the hashtag #AxeRedWallTax. Lord says that should the rise go ahead as planned, it will force some operators out of business and create up to 120,000 job losses across the sector, reports Big Hospitality.
Nightclubs in England warn confusion over Covid plan B rules could hit trade
Nightclubs have said they face rising costs and lost bookings amid confusion over Covid regulations for England being introduced at their busiest time of year, reports The Guardian. Bookings have been cancelled and visitor numbers have already dropped, club owners said. Peter Marks, the head of the UK's biggest nightclub and bar operator, Rekom, said the group would need to hire about three extra security staff at each venue to implement the measures, which make proof of two Covid vaccine doses or a negative lateral flow test mandatory for entry to nightclubs.
easyHotel aims to triple in size after securing new funding
Budget hotel chain easyHotel has secured a £42.6m commitment from current shareholders Ivanhoé Cambridge and ICAMAP to support its future growth strategy. The additional capital together with recently secured bank funding will be used to develop or acquire new assets in key European cities. According to Property Week, by 2026 easyHotel is aiming to more than triple the size of its owned and leased estate which currently comprises of 15 hotels.
And Finally...
Travelodge has revealed their strangest requests from guests this year which includes one guest in York asking a member of staff to sing in the next room to check if his room was as quite as promised. Sky News also reported another request being a customer asking for a children's paddling pool so their pet fish could have a spacious bed for the night!