UKHospitality – back us to regenerate our towns and cities: Hospitality can deliver for Britain by growing 6% a year and creating 500,000 new jobs with the right investment, according to economic analysis from UKHospitality and Ignite Economics. At its annual summer conference today (Thursday, 13 June), UKHospitality will call on all political parties to give their backing to a sector that can grow at a significantly faster rate than the wider economy, while also providing new jobs and regenerating communities. UKHospitality’s policy recommendations for an incoming government include: fixing business rates with a permanently reduced rate for hospitality and tourism; reforming the apprenticeship levy; planning reform to allow more hospitality-led regeneration of towns and cities; and reviewing and reforming VAT to bring it in line with European rivals. The call comes during a week of party manifestos being launched, where UKHospitality has already secured commitments for the sector. Labour has committed to replacing business rates and reforming the apprenticeship levy. The Conservative Party has committed to easing the burden of business rates on the sector and undertaking a review of the night-time economy. In her opening speech to the conference, Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, will say: “Hospitality is a huge economic engine, with a turnover of £140bn and £54bn in taxes, funding vital public services. Make no mistake, we are working as hard as anyone to create the economic growth this country desperately needs. But our impact goes far beyond that. We make memories, and we make places. Places where people want to live, work and invest. Hospitality can be the difference between a thriving community and a failing one. The future can be even brighter. With the right investment and support, hospitality can grow by 6% each year. That’s six times higher than the wider economy. It would mean another half a million jobs. Jobs for everyone, everywhere. Our message to all political parties was and is simple – back us. Back hospitality. Back us to regenerate our towns and cities. Back us to invest in our people and create more jobs. Back us to serve Britain.”

 

Brunning & Price tops CGA’s UK top pub operator rankings for second year in row: Brunning & Price, part of The Restaurant Group, has topped CGA by NIQ's annual PubTrack rankings as Britain’s top pub operator for a second year in a row. Brunning & Price is joined in the top five by St Austell Brewery, Hydes Anvil, Young’s and Everards. Completing the top ten is JW Lees, Wellington, Trust Inns, Punch Pub Company and McMullen & Sons. Brunning & Price also tops the rankings when measured solely by guest recommendation ratings, ahead of Young’s and St Austell. Hydes Anvil scores highest according to guest satisfaction scores, with Brunning & Price and JW Lees in second and third. City Pub Company achieved the highest likelihood of revisit, ahead of St Austell and Wetherspoon. PubTrack combines CGA’s Outlet Index with a survey of 10,000 nationally representative pub consumers, giving insights into guest behaviours and sentiment. Dani Rowlands, CGA by NIQ client director, said: “With consumer spending still under significant pressure, keeping guests happy and creating brand champions has never been more important.”