11/05/2021
High Court challenge to the Government's delay to reopening indoor hospitality fails
Big Hospitality reported that a High Court challenge to the Government's decision to delay the reopening of indoor hospitality until 17 May has failed.
107 Covid 'outbreaks' linked to pubs since last summer
Trade bosses have said a paper produced by Government scientists proves hospitality is a safe environment, according to the Morning Advertiser.
Treehouse Hotels to open second UK site
SH Hotels & Resorts has announced it will open a Treehouse Hotel in Manchester, the brand's second UK location which is scheduled to open in 2023. Boutique Hotel News report that the hotel will mark the first phase of a £200 million redevelopment of the former Renaissance Hotel on Deansgate. It will comprise 216 bedrooms, a top floor restaurant and bar as well as a gym.
£80.8bn worth of sales wiped out in past 12 months
The Morning Advertiser advise that the coronavirus pandemic has cost the hospitality sector more than £80bn worth of sales from April 2020 to March 2021, new research has found.
Wendy's: Burger giant plans return to the UK after 20 years
America's second largest burger chain is returning to the UK after 20 years with a promise to steal market share from rivals McDonald's and Burger King. Wendy's, famous for square burgers, plans up to 400 outlets nationwide creating at least 12,000 jobs, although that could take many years, it said to the BBC.
Puttshack secures $60m for UK and US expansion
According to Retail & Leisure International, Puttshack has completed a growth capital round of $60M led by Promethean Investments. The funds will be used to continue to support the company's growth.
Travelodge to open 17 new hotels this year with £175m investment
The Caterer has reported it anticpates that most of the hotels will be open and trading in time for the summer and will create 360 jobs and grow the group's hotel network to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain. The openings will include three Travelodge Plus properties, in St Albans and in London's Elephant & Castle and Manor House, taking the group to 14 Plus-branded hotels.
North Yorkshire holiday park operator acquires animal visitor attraction for £1.85m
Monk Park Farm, near Thirsk, has been bought by York Forty Four Ltd, a Boroughbridge-based company that operates a portfolio of North Yorkshire retirement and holiday parks under the trading name of York House Leisure. Insider Media report that the purchase has secured the animal park's future after it was forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has now re-launched with a new look following investment in a programme of improvements.
And Finally...
The Morning Advertiser asked operators how they had adapted to trading at the mercy of a cold British spring - and customers have been given the very good advice that they should "wrap up warm" before complaining about heaters. As Alfred Wainwright once said, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing."