Hospitality businesses surge across UK as owners advised to apply for additional support

New research has suggested there are 10,000 more hospitality businesses now than before Covid-19 hit.

The new data comes from Stampede and storekit, who analysed data from the ONS’ official UK Business Count. The findings show that there were 10,650 more food and drink businesses in the UK in 2021 than in March 2019, and 3,650 more than in March 2020.

Licensed and unlicensed restaurants had a net growth of 1,710 business units since 2020, while takeaway and catering businesses grew by 2,305 and 2,105 units respectively over the same period.

Meanwhile, pubs, bars and nightclubs all decreased in number between 2019 and 2021, but they did so at a similar annual rate to the years 2010-19 (-1,715 units).

Stampede founder and CEO, Patrick Clover, said: “We analysed the data expecting the worst, and would’ve been buoyed just to see hospitality business numbers stay the same. To see the numbers go up since Covid first struck is phenomenal. It’s a great reflection of the resilience and excellence we see every day in the UK hospitality sector.”

The spread of the Omicron variant has, again, had a huge impact on the hospitality sector, with many businesses forced to close because of staff testing positive or large-scale cancellations on bookings.

As such, the Government has introduced a £1 billion support package to support eligible businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors. Businesses can apply for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises, depending on rateable value:

• Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above: £6,000
• Businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000: £4,000
• Businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or below: £2,667

Over £100 million in top-up funding for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), has also been introduced. This is intended to help other businesses impacted by Omicron, such as those that supply the hospitality and leisure sectors. Local authorities will have discretion to allocate this funding to businesses most in need, so please contact your council to find out more.

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