News Bites
Cashless gaming machine approval
Sustained campaigning by UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association has resulted in cashless payments being permitted on gaming machines. Once proper player protections have been put in place, they’ll be able to use debit cards, payment apps and other cashless payments on the machines. UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association said this will “preserve a valuable revenue stream” for pubs that use gaming machines.
Parliamentary inquiry launched into recruitment and retention in hospitality
There are still about 100,000 vacancies in the industry, and staff turnover in many businesses is higher than sustainable for profit trading. So the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism are launching an enquiry to explore the reasons behind these high vacancy rates, ask what more the sector can do and make recommendations to the government.
Glasgow: leading the way on getting staff home safely
Glasgow City Council could soon require restaurants to have a plan to get staff home safely – and this could become part of licensing conditions. The Get Me Home Safely campaign calls on employers to take reasonable steps to make sure workers in licensed venues can get home safely, and the motion unanimously backed by councillors requires businesses to provide free and safe transport after 11pm.
Pubs could extend opening hours for the Euros – but there’s a catch!
Home Secretary James Cleverly has said that pubs that can stay open until 11pm will be allowed to stay open for two more hours if England or Scotland make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. The move hopes to provide a boost to the hospitality industry after it’s been hit hard by recent economic difficulties. UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls says this is “essential to allow venues and fans to take full advantage.”