UKHospitality creates business support hub as riots continue across the country

UKHospitality has created a support hub for operators affected by the riots across the UK over the past few days.

The support hub offers practical and economic support as well as advice on:

• Compensation for victims of criminal damage or loss during a riot.
• Business activity having to stop as a result of riot activity.
• Collaborating with local authorities, businesses and police.
• Wellbeing support for hospitality staff.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “It was heart-wrenching to see the awful scenes in some of our towns and high streets over the weekend, and to see hospitality businesses, workers and guests targeted and affected.

“This will have been an extraordinarily distressing time for those affected and there is an abundance of resources available to help, from business compensation and safety to wellbeing support, and we’ve collated that into one place for easy access.

“I hope that critical services like insurance providers and banks, as well as local authorities, will all be on an emergency footing to help those affected businesses swiftly, to ensure they can recover quickly.”

Click here to access the support hub.

How has hospitality been impacted by the riots so far?

Violence has spilled onto the streets of towns and cities across the UK after three children were killed in Southport on 29 July.

Hundreds of arrests have been made after a number of hospitality businesses were affected.

Last night, crowds gathered near a McDonald’s in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. The demonstration led to criminal damage to several vehicles and to the Clumsy Swan pub in Yardley, reported the BBC.

Unrest continued over the weekend with police coming under attack in Darlington, Plymouth and Belfast, where a café and supermarket were badly damaged by fire.

Meanwhile, IHG Hotels & Resorts has said it is prioritising the safety of its guests and staff after two Holiday Inn hotels were attacked by protesters, with the first person charged yesterday in connection with the violence.

A further six men remain in police custody in connection to the incident, which targeted a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Photo: Alex Sagre/Shutterstock