CV-19 Hospitality Update in Brief
► The number of licensed premises currently trading across Britain is 25,000 down on pre-Covid levels, according to the latest report from CGA & Alix Partners.
► The Cancel the Curfew campaign is being led by on-trade operators in England & Wales, who have written to the Prime Minister warning that the 10pm curfew will result in “the end of the hospitality industry as we know it”. Pubs, bars and restaurants are reporting a 63% drop in revenue since the curfew was enforced.
► It is now a legal requirement that hospitality venues in England display QR codes, for users of the NHS Covid-19 app, as part of the Track and Trace system.
► On 15 September 2020, the UK High Court ruled that Hiscox & QBE must pay out on their disputed business interruption policies. This could amount to more than £50m for unmet claims from the UK hospitality sector.
► According to the CGA, UK consumers in August 2020 favoured returning to pubs and restaurants over bars and late-night venues.
► The 2021 US Michelin Restaurant Guide has been put on hold whilst the ceremony announcing the UK & Ireland’s latest Michelin Guide has been put back to early 2021. It will also be a digital-only publication for the first time in its history.
► Despite huge increases in the sale of alcohol at UK supermarkets, where shoppers have also traded up to more expensive wines, the overall UK consumption of alcohol halved during lockdown, according to Nielsen.
► Waitrose has reported that its online wine sales have grown 238% during lockdown and claims that the trend is unlikely to be reversed post-pandemic.
► Restaurants located in London’s commuter belt have recovered more quickly than those in the city centre, since being allowed to reopen in July. More people working from home has been the key.