13/12/2022 10:27:00
One of Britain's biggest business groups has called on the government to offer Covid-style grants to firms struggling with rising energy bills. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said local authorities should be given funding to distribute to small and medium-sized businesses exposed to higher energy costs. It also wants firms to be able to defer paying energy bills as part of an ongoing package of support beyond next spring, advises The Caterer. The government has not yet clarified which sectors will continue to receive help with their energy costs beyond April 2023 despite promising to complete a review by Christmas.
The brasserie operator founded by Raymond Blanc is to enter the pubs-with-rooms market as part of a plan to reach a target of 50 pubs within five years. Brasserie Bar Co, which runs the White Brasserie Co and Brasserie Blanc brands, is buying up the freeholds of its 19 existing leasehold pubs and will open seven new sites next year. The programme is being backed by the private equity firm Alchemy Partners, which acquired Brasserie Bar Co in February from Soho Square (formerly Core Capital) in an estimated £40 million deal, reports The Times.
British pub giant Marston's has seen its revenues double in its latest financial year as the group looks to return sales back to £1 billion, with the company also reporting a significant spike in drink sales during the first two England World Cup matches, reports Food Service Equipment Journal. The company, which operates 1,468 pubs, saw its revenues increase from £401.7 million in the previous financial year to £799.6m, with like-for-like drink sales rising by about 50% on the days of the two recent football matches compared to 2021 figures.
Budget hotel chain Travelodge has announced plans to more than double its presence in London, with the search on for 127 hotel sites across the capital, reports The Caterer. Earlier this year, Travelodge announced it was evolving its core brand product to a new "budget-luxe" premium look and feel, while "maintaining its great value price proposition", off the success of its TravelodgePLUS format.
Hotels, restaurants and pubs expect more than a third of their bookings to be cancelled this month as the threat of rail strikes during the peak Christmas party period hits trade. The Guardian report that trade body, UKHospitality, said it expected the strikes to cost businesses about £1.5bn in lost sales and other knock-on effects, with a lack of a breakthrough deal pushing up expected cancellations to 35%-40% from 20%-30% at present.
Staging Eurovision could be a "saviour" for Liverpool's struggling hospitality sector, businesses have said. Thousands of visitors are expected in the city when it hosts the 2023 song contest in May after 2022 winner Ukraine was unable to host it due to the war, reports BBC News.