28/07/2026 10:32:00
The announcement of a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April next year has been welcomed by organisations across the sector, the Morning Advertiser reports. Announced on Thursday 23 July, the Government estimated the reduction will benefit nearly 32,000 venues, saving the typical pub about £1,100 in the next financial year. The change will be funded by reviewing reliefs for 'businesses that do not make a positive contribution to local communities, such as vape shops', according to the Government.
Premier Inn owner Whitbread has revealed the closure date for all 106 of its Beefeater restaurants, The Caterer reports. The group is exiting its branded restaurants division as part of a five-year plan announced in April to drive £250m in cost efficiencies and deliver £2bn in returns to its shareholders. The move will see 3,800 roles cut across its 30,000-strong UK and Ireland workforce and is forecast to reduce F&B sales by as much as £160m and profits by £10m after the firm's wider cost-saving measures. Whitbread also plans to offload £1.5bn of freehold properties, reducing the overall portion of owned properties across its portfolio from 50% to 30%. Whitbread's 89 Brewers Fayre sites are also due to close during the restructuring, but it is not known whether they will shut on the same date as the Beefeaters.
Guests staying in overnight accommodation across Edinburgh will now be subject to a 5% visitor levy, The Caterer confirms. This makes Edinburgh the first city to introduce a comprehensive, council-enacted visitor levy or 'tourist tax' in the UK. The charge is payable for a maximum of five consecutive nights and will apply to accommodation businesses including hotels, hostels, guest houses, B&Bs, short-term lets, caravan sites and campsites operating under the remit of City of Edinburgh Council. Council leader Jane Meagher said the levy will generate "up to £50m a year by 2029" and help support "the very things that make Edinburgh an exceptional place to visit".
Elysium Collection has received planning approval for the first phase of a £30m redevelopment of the former Birch hotel in Selsdon, which will become a flagship property for the new brand, Boutique Hotelier reports. Croydon Council approved plans for the Selsdon Park site, which has been vacant since Birch entered administration in 2023. Acquired by Elysium Collection earlier this year, the estate will join a new portfolio of six boutique hotels. The approved works focus on restoring windows, including stained glass and decorative leaded features, while wider refurbishment plans include a new spa, wellness facilities, padel courts and staff accommodation.
Licensed hospitality numbers remained broadly stable in the second quarter of 2026, though the flat headline figure masks a rapid turnover of closures and openings. The latest Hospitality Market Monitor from NIQ, powered by CGA, found there were 98,564 licensed premises operating at the end of June, just 0.2% lower than the same point last year. Operators continued to face a challenging trading environment throughout the quarter. These pressures contributed to the closure of 1,839 licensed venues between March and June. Though many shuttered businesses were quickly reoccupied, with 1,794 new licensed premises opening during the same period, leaving the overall estate largely unchanged despite the high level of churn. Bars were highlighted as a particularly bright spot for the sector during the quarter, the Morning Advertiser reports.
Pub & Bar has reported that singer-songwriter James Blunt has acquired his second London pub, buying The Carpenter's Arms in Hammersmith from Wren Pubs.