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Scottish businesses to pay 'up to 70% more in rates' versus across the border

Published:  22 November, 2024

New analysis released by UKHospitality Scotland has revealed that hospitality businesses will be significantly worse off than their English counterparts, unless the Scottish government takes decisive action to introduce business rates relief in its forthcoming Budget.

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Dramatic wage inflation heightens post-Budget blues

Published:  13 November, 2024

New data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that average weekly earnings in the food and accommodation sector continue to spiral, exacerbating the financial woes of hospitality businesses nationwide.

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Analysis: Trade expresses disappointment over Budget

Published:  04 November, 2024

Failure to tackle some of their most pressing concerns have left trade bodies and operators frustrated. James Bayley rounds up their thoughts.

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Budget review: A ‘horrific’ state of affairs for the trade

Published:  31 October, 2024

An outcry has erupted from the trade following yesterday’s Autumn Budget, which led to disappointment on many fronts, including a measly 1p off draught beer, further rises to duty for wine and a lowered rate of business rates relief which has been described a kick in the teeth to businesses.

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Budget sparks criticism with new alcohol duty reforms

Published:  30 October, 2024

The UK’s Autumn Budget, introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has announced significant changes to alcohol duties, drawing sharp criticism from the alcohol and hospitality industries. 

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Chancellor announces pay rise, adding £1.9bn to hospitality wage bill

Published:  30 October, 2024

The hospitality sector is facing a substantial increase in operating costs as the Chancellor confirms a 6.7% rise in the National Living Wage, set to take effect in April 2025. The uplift will raise the hourly rate from £11.44 to £12.21, directly impacting more than 3 million workers and adding an estimated £1.9bn to the hospitality sector’s wage bill.

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Hospitality vacancies fall below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic

Published:  12 September, 2024

The number of job vacancies in the UK’s hospitality sector has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There are currently 98,000 vacancies in food service and accommodation, marking a reduction on recent years. However, the number remains 5,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels of 93,000.

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Hospitality industry calls for urgent action on business rates

Published:  10 September, 2024

UKHospitality is urging the government to take immediate action to prevent a sharp rise in business rates for thousands of hospitality businesses, warning that bills could skyrocket in April 2025 without intervention.

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Scottish businesses call for lower VAT

Published:  27 August, 2024

"Less spend, fewer visits and less time spent in venues" is the current reality for the Scottish hospitality sector as businesses face a double whammy of consumer reluctance and rising costs.

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Trade amplifies pleas to new government

Published:  05 July, 2024

With a new day and a new government in situ in Westminster, the trade has reiterated the need for support for the UK’s struggling hospitality sector, with reform to business rates and permanently extending the duty easement both top of the agenda.

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Parties urged to back hospitality to 'serve Britain’

Published:  13 June, 2024

Hospitality can deliver for Britain by growing 6% a year and creating 500,000 new jobs with the right investment, according to economic analysis from UKHospitality and Ignite Economics.

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Rail strikes in 2024 have cost hospitality £750m

Published:  05 April, 2024

Industrial action across the rail network from Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April is estimated to cost the hospitality sector £387m, according to UKhospitality. 

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Q4 restaurant closures highest-ever

Published:  28 February, 2024

Restaurant closures surged to the highest-ever quarterly figure in Q4 2023, according to accountancy firm Price Bailey.

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Scotland calls out government for pubs closing at twice the rate of England

Published:  05 December, 2023

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have issued a joint appeal to support their sector after it emerged that English businesses will receive a 75% reduction in rates bills for the financial year 2024-25.

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Wet October softens growth for hospitality

Published:  15 November, 2023

Britain’s leading hospitality groups saw year-on-year growth slow to 3.2% in October amid widespread poor weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

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Licenced premises down by a third since 2003

Published:  30 October, 2023

The number of licenced premises in Britain has fallen below 100,000, marking a 31% decline in the two decades since 2003.

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Teetotal PM headed for No. 10

Published:  24 October, 2022

It’s likely that alcohol will play little to no role in the celebrations in the Sunak household this evening, as the UK prepares for a new – and perhaps its first ever teetotal Prime Minster – in Number 10.

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Calls for action on business rates as inflation reaches 40-year high

Published:  20 July, 2022

Mounting pressure is being placed on the government to ease the ‘financial fragility’ of the hospitality sector during its upcoming review of business rates, as businesses continue to suffer rising supply chain costs and runaway inflation.

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Hospitality industry braced for soaring inflation

Published:  07 February, 2022

As the cost of living crisis and soaring energy bills continue to affect households across the UK, many in the hospitality sector are predicting double-digit price rises, inevitably to be passed on to consumers.

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Hospitality is in ‘peril’ and ‘fighting’ for survival

Published:  12 November, 2021

The hospitality sector is “an industry in peril” that is fighting for its life, the latest edition of the UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker has said.

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