02/11/2021
50% business rates discount for hospitality sectors
A 50% business rates discount will be put in place for the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors for one year, announced the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Autumn Budget. Rishi Sunak announced that any eligible business can claim the 50% discount on their bills on up to £110,000, in what is, Covid reliefs aside, the single biggest year tax cut to business rates in over 30 years advises Morning Advertiser.
Wetherspoon slash prices for November
Running for all of November, JD Wetherspoon pubs will slash their drinks prices, selling some beers for as little as 99p. The month long promotion will be available at 671 of their pubs, with their other locations offering reduced rates. Chairman Tim Martin, said: "Our pubs are known for their excellent choice of drinks at value-for-money-prices at all times. Throughout November our customers will be able to choose from a great choice of drinks and save themselves some money too." The news follows Wetherspoon reporting a record annual loss at the start of last month reports the Independent.
The Big Table Group plans 50 new openings
The Big Table Group - operator of Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Café Rouge, has announced its intention to open 50 new restaurants and refurbish 70 sites over the next three years, representing an investment of more than £50m and bringing their total estate to 200 restaurants across the UK. The news follows the group recently extending their partnership with Center Parcs and will open two Las Iguanas sites to take its total number of restaurants at Center Parcs' five holiday villages in the UK to 14 reports The Caterer.
Dong Hyun Kim to step away from Wasabi
Wasabi founder Dong Hyun Kim is to step away from the group to focus on developing his other business interests, it has been announced. Whilst remaining a minority shareholder and director in Wasabi, Mr Kim will no longer play an executive role in the company. Following the investment by Capdesia in May 2019 and the subsequent appointment of Henry Brits as CEO in November 2019, Mr Kim took a step back from day-to-day involvement in the business, which he founded in 2003 reports Big Hospitality.
Premier Inn warns over staff shortages as hotel bookings recover
The Premier Inn hotel chain is making a quicker than expected recovery and could return to pre-pandemic profits by next year. However, the chain said it faced a "material number of vacancies" and it plans to spend an extra £12m to £13m this year to boost wages in an attempt to attract staff to its hotels. It has also set aside £10m to offer one-off retention bonuses in the second half of the year for staff who stay beyond the summer months reports The Guardian.
And Finally...
Get into the Christmas spirit early this year and pop down to the Carnaby Christmas shopping and dining party on 4th November from 12-8pm. Offering an experiential shopping party with over 100 retailers, restaurants and bars offering a 20% discount as well as immersive in-store activations reports Camden News Journal. Their famous light installation will also be on with over 600 sparkling butterflies.