News in hospitality

Football fans following England or Scotland in this summer’s World Cup can now count on celebrating or commiserating in the pub after more of their big matches in the knockout stages – after the government announced a further tweak to licensing rules in England and Wales. The Home Office had already ruled that pubs could open beyond their usual hours around some matches, to take account of the wide range of kick-off times at the tournament, which is being played in the US, Canada and Mexico this June and July. But in a small change, it has now confirmed that this will now apply even for matches which are screened earlier in the evening, which England and Scotland are guaranteed in their first knockout match if either wins their respective group. Source extract from BBC News – all rights recognised please read the full article here. Please get in touch to find out how this may affect your business. info@tantp.com

The Ivy Collection, Annabel’s and Scott’s have been sold in a £1.4b deal to Diafa, an Abu Dhabi-based hospitality investor whose interests include Zuma and Roka. The sale brings together a group of some of London’s best-known restaurants and private members’ clubs under new ownership, as Diafa continues to build its global F&B portfolio. Richard Caring, the businessman behind the group, will remain executive chairman. As reported by the Financial Times, the 77-year-old built his hospitality empire over several decades after starting out in the fashion trade, assembling a portfolio that spans restaurants, bars and private members’ clubs. According to reports in The Times, the group will now seek to expand the Ivy Collection into the US. Article reported from HRC all rights recognised, read the full article on the HRC website here.

The Pub Show is the UK’s only dedicated trade event for the pub industry, returning to Excel London from 30 March – 01 April 2026. Whether you run a local, manage a group, or handle buying for a busy bar, this is your kind of show. Across three lively days, you’ll get to: Discover new products, suppliers and trends Connect with fellow operators, founders and industry leaders Tap into expert insights on the latest challenges and opportunities facing the sector Explore innovations across drinks, snacks, pub tech, furniture and more It’s a chance to raise a glass with the trade, meet new suppliers, and brew ideas that could shape your year ahead. Your free ticket also unlocks access to Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, the UK’s biggest celebration of innovation across the sector, featuring IFE Manufacturing, IFE, HRC, The Pub Show, Hospitality Tech360 and International Salon Culinaire. 50+ exhibitors. Daily pub quizzes. One unmissable event. Visit thepubshow.co.uk to find out more and sign up to our newsletter to be alerted when registration goes live.

It will come as no surprise that The Devonshire in London’s Soho has come into the Top 50 Gastropubs as the highest new entry. The Devonshire has been a roaring success since former Guinea Grill legend and publican Oisin Rogers took over the pub with Flat Iron founder and beef supremo Charlie Carroll and former Heston Blumenthal chef Ashley Palmer-Watts.   It is a match made in heaven. Rogers has the strong background in running successful pubs including the St Margarets Tavern near Twickenham and The Ship in Wandsworth, while Carroll has the strong restaurant lineage having founded Flat Iron as well as working with a range of restaurant operations. Palmer-Watts worked at The Fat Duck Group for 20 years and also co-founded the Artisan Coffee Co. And the rest is history as they say as the trio opened The Devonshire in the former Jamie Oliver restaurant site on Denham Street in November 2023. The venue, which opened as pub in 1793, had recently been operating as a chicken and burger restaurant before being restored to its former glory. The pub serves up premium quality, homemade food, focusing on the best of British produce using its own in-house butcher and bakery. The main pub is on the ground floor while on the first floor is its restaurant and grill room and dining rooms that have been gaining critical acclaim. Dishes include items such as Scottish beef, dry-aged and butchered on site, creel-caught langoustines from Oban, the freshest day boat fish, lobster and hand-dived scallops from Devon. As well as its reputation escalating for the food offer this is still a pub. The bar has the reputation for serving the best Guinness in London and if the rumours are true selling more pints of Guinness than any other pub in the UK or Ireland. This is only the start of the awards and recognition for The Devonshire. It has already been cited as the Opening of the Year and Gastro Pub of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards. Details and information from the Top 50 Gastropubs website.

The Licensing Hours Extensions Bill—described repeatedly as “modest but useful”—completed its Third Reading in the House of Lords, with peers from all parties endorsing its aim: to allow the Government to extend pub and venue opening hours more swiftly during moments of national significance.

HRC is the UK’s leading trade event for hospitality and foodservice and takes place on 30 March-1 April 2026 at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week. Over three days, you’ll meet the people behind the products, connecting face-to-face with suppliers, brand owners and operators who are bringing the latest ideas to the table.  A great way to find out the latest sector trends and opportunities. For tickets and more information visit the official website for the exhibition combined with Food, Drink & Hospitality week here 

The Licensing Hours Extensions Bill—described repeatedly as “modest but useful”—completed its Third Reading in the House of Lords, with peers from all parties endorsing its aim: to allow the Government to extend pub and venue opening hours more swiftly during moments of national significance.

The Chancellor is backing British pubs with a major support package, as the government recognises the challenges facing the industry and the vital role they play in building strong local communities.

Over the past 20 years, the licensing regime has enabled over 200,000 businesses to operate, including over 145,000 ‘on-trade’ venues such as restaurants, pubs, cafes, nightclubs and entertainment venues. Many committed professionals work within the licensing regime to process applications, hear residents’ concerns, and support businesses and entrepreneurs. Plenty of good practice exists, with authorities working collaboratively to foster vibrant, inclusive and safe places.

Westminster is a city that never truly sleeps. From worldrenowned theatres and historic landmarks to bustling latenight cafés and vibrant communities, it is a place of culture, opportunity, and connection