Today’s news in brief – 14/04/25

The NTIA has issued an urgent open letter calling for support for alfresco dining and nightlife revival, addressed to the CEOs and leaders of all London boroughs. This call comes in alignment with Deputy Mayors Howard Dawber and Justine Simons, who have written to boroughs encouraging support for alfresco dining and extended trading hours. Michael Kill, CEO of the NTIA, said: “Alfresco dining saved thousands of businesses during the pandemic. It brought communities together and kept the lights on for hospitality.”

Greene King is investing £10m in its people focussed HR and payroll platform over the next five years in partnership with Workday. Designed to digitalise processes such as booking time off and viewing payslips, the cloud-based HR and payroll system aims to provide “a user-friendly experience for team members”. This announcement makes Greene King the first pub company to partner with Workday to roll out the platform at this scale to its 40,000 team members. 

Corby-based Stonegate pub the Hazel Tree has reopened after a six-figure investment, creating two new jobs in the local community. The pub has been fully redecorated with new furniture, an audio-visual system, and a new professional-standard darts area. The pool table has been retained, offering a dedicated space for pub sports, with free pool available every Wednesday. The outdoor area has also been renovated with new furniture, fencing, and lighting.

The Plough in Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire, has hit the market for £435k. The family-run pub and restaurant is known for serving cooked food and a wide range of wines, gins and cocktails. It has previously received an “England’s Business” Award for the best restaurant in Lancashire, and is known for hosting live music performances throughout the year, having built up a loyal customer base. The detached pub sits on a large plot and has been “well-maintained” and updated in recent years.