- The High Court has ruled that the majority of businesses forced to close in March due to the Coronavirus pandemic are entitled to be compensated under their business interruption insurance. The ruling came after a test case brought forward by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) against eight insurance companies to determine whether their business interruption policies should pay out on claims related to the Coronavirus pandemic. Insurers are now expected to appeal the ruling.
- The lease forfeiture moratorium, which was due to come to an end at the end of September, has been extended until the end of the year. “We are extending support to protect those businesses that are unable to pay their rent from eviction to the end of the year,” says Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick. “This will stop businesses going under and protect jobs over the coming months.”
- The Ace Hotel in Shoreditch will not reopen from lockdown in its current location. The hotel, which is home to Hoi Polloi restaurant, announced its closure on Instagram but said it was looking for a new location in the capital. Ace Hotel London was the first overseas opening for the hotel group and opened in London in the autumn of 2013.
- Matt Abé has been appointed co-chef patron of Gordon Ramsay’s three-Michelin-starred flagship restaurant on Royal Hospital Road in London’s Chelsea. Abé started his career in his home country of Australia before moving to the UK aged 21 to join Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, starting as chef de partie and then rising to sous chef at Claridge’s.
- A 10pm curfew has been placed on pubs, restaurants and bars in parts of the North East under new measures to curb the rise in number of Coronavirus cases. The restrictions came in today (18 September) and apply in Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham, affecting close to 2,400 pubs, pub restaurants and restaurants.