Data breach fears raised over test and trace pubs register June 24, 2020 Cyber security experts have raised privacy fears over the potential for data breaches in the government’s plan to make pubs and restaurants keep a register of all visitors. Under new rules laid out yesterday, all hospitality venues must keep a guest register to record the contact details of visitors for 21 days to help track [...]
Rent day: Landlords braced for as little as one-sixth of quarterly payments June 24, 2020 Commercial property owners are braced to receive as little as 15 per cent of the rent they are owed today, with quarterly payments due by the end of today. Experts have warned of an impending crisis on both the landlord and tenant side without further government support, with businesses across the spectrum unable to pay [...]
Guinness owner Diageo launches $100m fund to help pubs reopen June 24, 2020 Guinness owner Diageo has today announced a recovery fund to help pubs and bars reopen following the coronavirus lockdown. The drinks maker will provide $100m in funding through its “Raising the Bar” scheme to major hospitality centres, including London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Belfast. Hospitality has been one of the hardest-hit sectors as the pandemic forced [...]
Naked Wines sales skyrocket as online orders boom during pandemic June 24, 2020 Revenue for the first two months of Naked Wines’ current financial year has soared, thanks to an increase in online orders for home delivery as Brits get through lockdown. Naked Wines said revenue in the two months to the end of May rose 81 per cent, but stopped short of providing full financial guidance due [...]
Premier Foods sales surge during coronavirus lockdown June 24, 2020 Mr Kipling cakes maker Premier Foods has swung to a full-year profit, after a jump in sales due to the coronavirus lockdown. The figures Premier Foods revenue for the full year edged up 2.8 per cent to £847.1m, while revenue for the fourth quarter increased 3.6 per cent. Trading profit rose 3.2 per cent to [...]
JD Sports buys back Go Outdoors from administrators in £56.5m pre-pack deal June 23, 2020 JD Sports has bought back its struggling outdoor clothing chain Go Outdoors from administrators for £56.5m. The move, which is designed to “preserve as many jobs as possible”, comes with a major restructuring plan aimed at retaining the “majority” of stores, JD Sports said. Big Four accountancy giant Deloitte had been appointed by JD Sports [...]
The City goes al fresco: Pavement space could be reallocated for cafes in Square Mile June 23, 2020 The Square Mile’s restaurants and cafes could be given a new lease of life with al fresco dining, under new plans being drawn up by the City of London Corporation. The CLC has announced that it will look into reallocating street space to restaurants as part of its plan to help them reopen safely after [...]
Pubs and restaurants express relief as their lockdown ends June 23, 2020 Hospitality bosses have reacted with cautious optimism after Boris Johnson gave the green light for restaurants and pubs reopening on 4 July. Industry reaction has been largely relieved this afternoon, albeit with warnings that many businesses will still need financial support from the government as they start trading again. The Prime Minister announced this afternoon [...]
Competition watchdog moves closer to green light on Amazon and Deliveroo deal June 23, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to make the first step in giving the tie-up between Amazon and Deliveroo the green light. The announcement, which could be made this afternoon, would reissue a provisional approval of Amazon’s £442m deal to buy a 16 per cent stake in Deliveroo, Sky News reported. The watchdog [...]
Lockdown eased: Boris Johnson cuts two-metre rule to ‘one metre-plus’ June 23, 2020 The Prime Minister has announced that the two-metre social distancing rule will be relaxed from 4 July, when pubs, bars, cafes, art galleries, museums, hotels and cinemas are set to reopen after months of closure. Boris Johnson today said a dramatic fall in the rate of infection means “we can now safely ease the lockdown [...]