Welcome to this week’s News Bites. Here is a round-up of the headlines that grabbed our attention this week:
Extended business rate relief and furlough scheme
It’s been widely reported that the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will extend the furlough scheme and business rate relief into summer in next month’s Budget. It means the Government will continue to pay 80% of wages, up to £2,500 a month, for furloughed workers until autumn, when it is believed the scheme will be phased out. The news comes as the hospitality sector waits with bated breath for details of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
UK Hospitality publishes recovery roadmap
Rumours have been swirling all week about Boris Johnson’s plans for re-opening the economy with hospitality looking to be last in the pecking order or priorities. However, UK Hospitality has been keeping up the pressure and presented its own recovery roadmap for hotels, pubs and restaurants that would allow it to successfully and sustainably reopen from April. The 10 point plan builds on the significant investment made making venues Covid-secure alongside a raft of new protocols.
East Yorkshire pub’s touching tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore
The Kings Head, Hedon has been grabbing attention thanks to a metal silhouette of Captain Tom appearing on the outside wall of the pub. Tom Croft, who runs the pub with his partner Jasmin Minns and has his own engineering company TJC Engineering Services Ltd, had planned to do a tribute to Captain Tom for some time and after he passed away meant he wanted to get something done in his memory.
St Patrick’s Day @home charity range
Foodservice company Green & Fortune has created a St Patrick’s Day special to its Rotunda @Home delivery service, which will include donations to the Clink Charity and the London Irish Centre. The five-course restaurant kits, starting at £95 for two people, are available nationwide for St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the weekends before and after. Upgrade options include wine and Irish-inspired cocktails such as a black velvet and an Irish boulevardier. £10 from each sale will go to the two charities, and for every box sold it will make an additional donation of £5, a total donation of £15 for each kit sold.