Nearly a tenth of Britain s restaurants lost during pandemic As indoor hospitality across much of the UK finally reopens, data from CGA and AlixPartners has revealed that more than 8,000 licensed premises have closed across Britain since March 2020.
According to the latest Market Recovery Monitor, the number of restaurants in Britain fell from 43,126 to 38,922 between March 2020 and April 2021, a drop of 9.7%.
Drink-led venues suffered slightly less, with a 5.6% fall from 61,229 to 57,783 across the same time period.
In total, the number of licensed venues across Britain has fallen by 7.4% from 115,108 to 106,548; a deficit of 8,560.
Just under a third (32.9%) of all licensed premises traded during Britain’s first phase of post-lockdown reopening, with most of the 67.1% of operators that have not yet traded able to do so from today (17 May) following the easing of restrictions on indoor hospitality settings.
One in three hospitality employers don’t have enough staff for next week s reopening One in three hospitality employers don’t have enough staff to cope with the reopening of indoor hospitality next week, a new survey has found.
The survey of 15 of the UK’s biggest hospitality employers with a combined workforce of 103,500 conducted by hospitality charity Springboard also reveals the skills gap in hospitality, with 80% of those surveyed reporting a lack of skilled talent, specifically among young people.
Almost nine in ten (87%) said they were finding it difficult to recruit for kitchen and back of house roles, while one in three (33%) said there was a lack of supply for critical senior management positions.
Managed pub and restaurant groups recorded a 26% drop in like-for-like sales in April compared to the same month in 2019, data from the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker show.
However the figures, which covers three full weeks of outside-only service in England as well as briefer trading in Scotland and Wales, represents a solid return to trading for the sector, according to the report.
Operators enjoyed the benefit of generally good weather and strong consumer confidence in the first fortnight of trading, though low temperatures and rain dampened sales towards the end of the month.
The Tracker shows pubs have outperformed restaurants since reopening, thanks in part to greater availability of outside space. Pubs’ April sales were 21% down on April 2019, compared to a 30% drop for restaurants. Bars were the weakest segment, with like-for-like sales down 39%.
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Chef Alyn Williams has been awarded just over £57,000 in damages for unfair dismissal from his role at The Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. Williams was sacked as chef-patron at his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in The Westbury in October 2019 without any notice period or payment for his notice period, after he entertained friends on a Sunday lunchtime when the restaurant was closed. After successfully contesting the termination of his employment, Williams has now been awarded £57,176 at a remedy hearing, with the chef arguing that as well losing out on his normal salary after being dismissed from the role in 2019, he would have been furloughed with the rest of the staff at The Westbury during the pandemic if still employed, and would also have received a Christmas bonus.