26/10/2021
Brits to spend £4.5bn on staycations this half-term
Just under half of UK families will take a short break this half-term, according to the Travelodge Holiday Index, with families injecting an approximate £4.5bn into the economy. The hotel chain found London topped the list as most popular city and Halloween-themed destination, reports City AM. It found that families will spend an average of £495.51 on their autumn break and go away for around four days.
Delivery and takeaway sales soar for restaurants and pubs
Delivery and takeaway sales at managed restaurant and pub groups in Britain were more than double pre-pandemic levels in September, according to the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker. The combined sales were 130% higher than in September 2019, when businesses were trading as normal; and 35% higher than in September 2020, when they were operating under Covid restrictions reports The Caterer.
Pret a Manger 'moves into new territory' with Express format
Pret A Manger is trialing a new a smart, self-service coffee-to-go format as it looks to move into the self-service hot drinks market. The coffee chain group has partnered with Dutch beverage company JDE Peets to trial Pret Express, whereby its branded coffee machines will be introduced and placed where Pret can't reach with their own baristas, such as convenience stores, forecourts, universities, healthcare facilities and workplaces reports Big Hospitality.
Night-time trade body calls for drink spiking inquiry
The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA) has called on the Home Office to launch an inquiry into drink spiking. The trade association confirmed there has been a rise in spiking cases across the UK recently and claimed information from police data doesn't give an accurate account of what is going on advises Morning Advertiser. NTIA boss Michael Kill said: "The NITA is very concerned to learn about the reported increase in the number of spiking incidents taking place across the country. We support all those coming forward to speak about their experiences."
Leon names new head of acquisition
Fast-food brand Leon has announced the appointment of Beth Emmens as its new head of acquisitions, reports Catering Today. Emmens will be leading the charge in the continued search for the "best" sites and locations in the UK for Leon's expansion. A run of new Leon openings is slated for this autumn, including Kings Road, Camden, the brands first Drive Thru in Gildersome in West Yorkshire, and a new travel hub concept in Holtspur.
Hospitality trade fears going under if UK imposes new Covid 'plan B'
Pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels could not survive a second Christmas lost to Covid-19 restrictions, hospitality figures have warned, as the government faces growing pressure to impose "plan B" measures to curb the rise in coronavirus cases. Health secretary, Sajid Javid, has said that while new infections could hit a record 100,000 a day, he would not be reintroducing measures such as working from home or compulsory mask-wearing "at this time". However, the British Medical Association said it would be "wilful negligence" not to enact the government's plan B, reports The Guardian.
And Finally...
A new discovery app showing off the best bars, restaurants and music venues has launched in Bristol. Mottli aims to take the stress out of exploring cities by tailoring and personalising experiences, reports Bristol Live.