Hospitality is Making a Comeback

For millions of people worldwide, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused issues that many have not seen in their lifetime. Not only has there been enforced periods of lockdown, but also the possibility that restrictions may be in place for many months to come. For businesses, this has meant months of closure and reliance on the government to help pay their staff through the furlough scheme.

One industry that has seen the biggest obstacles to reopening is the hospitality sector. By nature, hospitality encourages people to come together, be sociable and enjoy a meal or a drink. However, in the current climate, and with new laws and guidelines put in place by the government, pubs and restaurants have had to come up with new ways to serve their customers safely.

Here are some of the ways businesses have had to adapt, and how problems arising from kitchen equipment can be addressed without a huge upfront cost.

New Rules

Cartoon people social distancing

To help stop any potential spread of Covid-19, the government put in place new guidelines and laws that businesses have to adhere to before they can reopen. These include:

  • Limits to the number of people allowed in at any one time

  • Markings on the floor to encourage social distancing

  • Encouraging contactless or card payments over cash

  • Reservations for restaurants

  • Strict cleaning protocols in place both in the restaurant and in the kitchen and storage areas

  • Single-use paper menus instead of laminated or alternative app based systems can be implemented

There are also further guidelines on how to avoid congestion in the building and limiting the number of people in areas such as the toilets.

To help with these new restrictions, the government has relaxed some of the legislation. For example, the Business and Planning Bill made the following changes:

  • The consultation period for applications for pavement licenses has been reduced from 28 calendar days to five working days, and grant consent after ten working days if the council does not issue a decision

  • Lower fees for applications for pavement and street cafes

  • No planning application needed for outdoor markets

  • Pubs and restaurants can use their existing licenses to extend their tables into their car park and terraces

  • Temporary changes to licensing laws to enable the sale of alcohol for off-the-premises consumption.

Obstacles to Reopening

For many businesses, reopening means putting measures in place set down by the government, and ensuring they are enforced. One such measure is encouraging everyone to wear a mask while on the premises.

Warning sign with people standing close together with red line through However, for businesses in the hospitality sector, this is not viable, as customers will be eating and drinking while on the premises. This has caused some anxiety for managers and business owners, as there are understandable concerns from customers about the safety of socialising again.

Another issue is space, new guidelines insist that there should only be a limited number of customers on the premises so that an adequate distance can be maintained between tables. For small restaurants, this may mean they are unable to open at all until the restrictions are lifted.

Long periods of inactivity can also take its toll on equipment in the kitchen such as refrigeration. These units should be serviced before they are put back into use to ensure they are working correctly. However, in some cases, problems can arise which means the unit needs to be replaced, placing additional costs on the business at a vulnerable time.

Replacing Commercial Refrigeration

When you first reopen your business, money will be tight, and you need to start encouraging customers into your premises and building their confidence that it will be safe. The last thing your business needs is for your refrigeration equipment to fail or not be safe after the long period of inactivity.

Spending money on new equipment may not be a viable option for your business, but some alternatives can help you.

Commercial Leasing

Finding the money to buy new kitchen equipment can be hard, but with a least-to-buy scheme, it can be possible to spread the cost of the equipment over a certain length. It also means your business can make use of the new equipment while under the contract.

Another benefit of leasing in this way is that you can afford the best equipment available for your business. This may allow you to expand or offer new products that were not possible before. Click here for more information about how lease to buy works and requirements

Man writing on paper

Graded Equipment

Another option is to buy graded equipment, which has often been returned to the supplier by another customer because it was the wrong unit or perhaps had slight cosmetic damage.

When a new product is ordered and delivered, it becomes used, even though it may not have been turned on. These products are graded according to any use or damage they may have sustained in transit.

These units fall into three categories:

B Grade - Very good condition, but not in original packaging

C Grade - Slight aesthetic damage such as scratches or dents

D Grade - Damage to panels including reconditioned and refurbished equipment

Graded equipment will be sold at a discounted price, so you will be getting units that are fully operational and may have never been used. The price will depend on what grade the equipment is.

Although there are many pressures associated with reopening your business after lockdown, there are some areas such as commercial refrigeration, that don’t have to be a financial burden. By using lease-to-buy or graded equipment, you can focus your funds on other areas of your business and concentrate on success.