Welcome to this week’s News Bites, with positive changes to lockdown restrictions in Scotland, and a renewed focus on sustainability in Cornwall ahead of the G7 Summit.
Hospitality in Scotland breathes ‘sigh of relief’
Restrictions are shifting in Scotland from Saturday 5th June as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the majority of Scotland’s central belt, including East Dunbartonshire and North and South Lanarkshire will be in Level 2 with Glasgow, allowing pubs and restaurants to serve alcohol indoors to groups of up to six adults until 10.30pm. 15 areas will also move to Level 1, which is subject to an 11pm curfew for groups of up to 8, and areas including Orkney and Shetland will move to Level 0 with no restrictions.
MPs rally support for pubs and brewers
The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group (APPBG) of MPs has this week recommended that taxes be slashed for publicans and brewers through lower beer duty, VAT or business rates. Chair of the APPBG, Mike Wood MP, said: “Brexit provides an opportunity for the Chancellor to charge lower duty rates on draught beers – it’s an opportunity we would urge him to consider.”
Ugly Butterfly opens in Cornwall
MasterChef’s Adam Handling is set to open the first Ugly Butterfly restaurant outside of London at the Carbis Bay Estate on August 2nd. The restaurant and the estate will focus on sustainability, with Handling also being tasked with overseeing F&B at the upcoming G7 Summit being hosted at the hotel later this month. The 65 cover restaurant will source ingredients from in and around Cornwall, including fish from Harlyn Bay, Portilly oysters, Cornish Gouda and St Ewe eggs.
Sun shines on hospitality sector
Bars, pubs and restaurants experienced a 63% jump in like-for-like sales compared with the same May Bank Holiday Weekend in 2019 according to new figures released this week. Drink sales soared by 43% and food sales skyrocketed by 90%, with the favourable weather that spanned the weekend boosting the UK’s appetite for hospitality once again.