GYM, DOM, CBOX, confidence, costs, recycling, experiential & other:

A DAY IN THE LIFE:

Well, judging by the forecast that it should be well below freezing tonight and for the next few nights, we may be able to assume that the rush to buy sun glasses, sun block & the rest will be over for a little while.

Indeed, we’re told by various websites that the ‘false spring’ (or ‘fool’s spring’) can often be followed by a second winter and, after ‘a slightly less false spring’, by a third.

Pity the poor birds who seemed until today to be flitting around house-building and fitting air-conditioning and let’s hope that’s not the case.

On to the news:

LANGTON EMAIL:

The Free Email is now written in short form. Extended versions of many stories (after the ellipses) are in the Premium Email. Reply to this email if you would like to upgrade.

Prices for the Premium are £395 for one subscription, £695 for multiple, £995 for very large subscribers, all plus VAT. Or sign up for easy in, easy out monthly option per subscriber HERE

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=87YUG2Z5W7PSN

PUBS & RESTAURANTS:

Hospitality business confidence:

UKH has reported that hospitality business confidence has fallen to its lowest level in two years. It says that ‘looming April cost increases have caused hospitality business confidence to plummet to its lowest level since October 2022, when inflation was at a 40-year high….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Trading

UK On Trade Sees Significant Growth Over the Weekend, Driven by Six Nations and The Oxford Partnership reports that ‘the UK hospitality sector experienced a strong weekend, with data…revealing notable increases in sales, footfall and draught beer and cider consumption across pubs and bars….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Recycling rules:

The BBPA has reported that ‘‘chaotic’ new rules that will lead to pubs paying twice for recycling at a cost of £60 million a year…’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Experiential leisure:

Propel reports that it has learned axe-throwing business Whistle Punks has ceased trading and is to go into liquidation…

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Food price inflation:

The latest CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index ‘reveals a 19th consecutive month of decelerating year-on-year inflation in January 2025.’ It says that ‘monthly inflation in the total basket of items measured by the Index stood at 1.8%, while month-on-month inflation was flat at 0.0%….’

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Costs & industry support:

The British Institute of Innkeeping has launched its ‘Our Pub’ campaign in order to garner support for the UK pub industry ahead of cost increases due at the end of this month. It says that rising energy costs and inflation are putting hospitality businesses under an increasing strain…

Food to Go:

Lumina Intelligence reports that the UK food-to-go market is set to grow by +3.3% in 2025, reaching a total value of £24bn—outpacing the wider eating-out sector. It says ‘this growth is driven by shifting consumer habits, innovation in formats and products, and increasing competition among key players.’

Corporate activity:

In discussion with the MCA, Graeme Smith and Craig Rachel of AlixPartners have said that, despite the soon-to-be-felt impact of last October’s Budget, they believe there is room for optimism as hospitality patrons remain resilient, particularly in the critical younger demographic who benefit most from the increase in the minimum wage.

Planning

Commenting on the Government’s proposed planning legislation, UKH CEO Kate Nicholls says ‘it’s positive that the Government has made planning reform a core focus, which is essential for economic growth. Hospitality must be given due consideration in any changes to the planning system, with the sector primed to play a major role in the reinvigoration of town and city centres….’

Other news:

The Heineken Cider Report 2025 suggests that the cider category has seen a 5% growth in value over the last two years. It says cider is now the second most popular alcoholic drink in the on-trade.

The California grape harvest is reported to have fallen by 21.7% in 2024 vs 2023.

COMPANY NEWS:

Cake Box this morning reports that it is undertaking a £7.2m fund raise (at 180p per share (closing price yesterday 190p)) and is proposing to buy Ambala Foods Ltd for an aggregate consideration of £22m…

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Domino’s Group shares fell around 3.5% yesterday as the market digested the company’s FY24 results….

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

The Caterer reports that The Inception Group is to close its Bunga Bunga bar and restaurant in Covent Garden for several months for a major refurbishment.

HOLIDAYS & LEISURE TRAVEL:

Mumsnet reports that cost pressures are the biggest challenge to families when it comes to booking a holiday…

Solo travellers are reported to be one of the fastest-growing demographics booking river cruises.

Heathrow handled over 5.7 million passengers in February. It says ‘one month on from announcing Heathrow’s commitment to invest in the UK’s gateway to growth, initial proposals are being developed for the privately funded expansion of Heathrow for the government to review this summer.’

Passenger numbers at Manchester airport rose by 5.9% year-on-year in February, with the rolling 12-month total now over 31 million for the first time. Elsewhere within the MAG, Stansted saw a passenger increase of 4.8% on February last year.

OTHER LEISURE:

Gym Group has reported full year numbers to end-2024 saying that revenues rose by 11% to £226.3m with adjusted PBT up to £3.6m from a loss in the prior year of £5.5m. The company reports that adjusted EPS were 2.9p, up from a loss of 3.4p. The company does not pay dividends…

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.

Manchester United has said it will build the biggest stadium in the UK. The site will seat around 100,000 and cost some £2bn.

Donald Trump has said he will buy a new Tesla after seeing shares in the company more than halve since he took over the US presidency.

Global sales of smartwatches, driven by falls in the popularity of the Apple Watch, are reported to have fallen for the first time.

FINANCE & MARKETS:

Goldman Sachs has cut its estimate for economic growth in the US this year from 2.4% to 1.7%. Headline writers have been having a go at it saying that, in addition to the risk of a Trumpcession, the Trump Bump has become a Trump Slump.

The Halifax reports that UK house prices slipped by 0.1% in February. Annual growth remains at +2.9%, unchanged from January…

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the US import of steel and aluminium have now taken effect. The development may escalate trade tensions.

Sterling mixed at $1.2926 and €1.1860. Oil higher at $69.82. UK 10 year gilt yield up 4 basis points at 4.68%. World markets mostly lower yesterday but Far East mixed in Wednesday trade & London set to open around 38 points higher as at 6.30am.

RETAIL WITH NICK BUBB:

• See premium. Reply for sample or to upgrade. Single £395, multiple £695. Limited time offer: PayPal alternative monthly £25 + VAT per sub. Easy in, easy out.