27/06/2023 08:36:00
The pavement licence regime, which was introduced as part of the government's post-Covid regulatory easements for the hospitality sector, is to be extended for another year through to 30 September 2024, advises Pub & Bar. As part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB), the government had proposed to make the pavement licensing regime a permanent fixture. However, with insufficient parliamentary time for LURB, which contains a much wider range of measures that go beyond pavement licensing, to come into force in advance of 30 September 2023, the intention is that the current pavement regime be extended for another year.
A High Court ruling that found in favour of a group of businesses, including PizzaExpress, seeking insurance payouts for Covid-19 losses could potentially lead to 'hundreds of thousands' more claims. The judgment, handed down on Friday 16 June, covered a series of test cases brought by businesses that also included London International Exhibition Centre Plc, owner of the ExCel London conference centre, which is seeking a £16m payout against insurers including RSA ad Allianz. The Restaurant reports that in his ruling, Judge Richard Jacobs said that the Supreme Court's ruling from 2021, which decided that businesses with applicable policies could claim if there had been a case of Covid in the vicinity of their premises, also applied to 'at the premises' cover.
The Bank of England-imposed interest rates rise has the potential to contract the value of the hospitality economy by £4bn within four years, according to UKHospitality (UKH). The Bank of England (BoE) put interest rates up from 4.5% to 5% on Thursday 22 June, which is the highest level for 15 years despite expectations of a smaller rise by analysts. UKH argued hospitality has the potential to grow its economic value by £29bn by 2027 but in the worst-case scenario, it could contract by £4bn, reports Morning Advertiser. The trade body said flexibility from the Government and banks on repayment terms, including Covid loans, are a critical part of avoiding the potential monetary losses. It added this should include extension to loan terms, options to move to interest- only payments or delay payments and flexible 'Time to Pay' arrangements from HMRC for tax payments.
The cost of a room at Premier Inn's hotels in London rose sharply over the last three months, with tourists visiting for the coronation of King Charles and strong demand for budget stays in the capital boosting the chain, its owner, Whitbread, has said. Britain's biggest hotel chain, which runs nearly 900 hotels in the UK and Germany, said it had benefited from an influx of visitors to London for the royal event, advises The Guardian. In the capital, the average room rate rose from £97 to nearly £112 a night, while outside London rates went up by 12% to £71, the company said as it posted a trading update for the first quarter of its financial year.
The couple behind sustainable Clapham pub the Pig's Head are opening a second 'pro-planet pub' in Kent, with the adjoining field already supplying fruit and vegetables for the business, reports The Caterer.