UK Hospitality has warned of an industry ‘bloodbath’ as new tier restrictions come into force around England.
Chief executive, Kate Nicholls — made an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list —, said: “We have consistently pleaded for the government to reassure hospitality businesses, and allow them to plan for survival, by announcing an extension to the 5% VAT rate and to the business rates holiday, and to urgently detail new support grants. Without these steps, businesses cannot plan for any future at all, meaning hundreds of thousands of job losses.
“With the vast majority of the country’s hospitality now unable to trade, we cannot deliver this message to government loudly enough. The sector has suffered more than any other under covid, and without urgent action we will witness a hospitality bloodbath, losing thousands of venues for good.”
The Campaign for Pubs slammed the government for leaving it so late to announce the forced closure of virtually every pub in England, giving less than nine hours for many to close, the day before New Year’s Eve, when many pubs in tier 2 areas had purchased stock believing they would be allowed to open.
Campaign director, Greg Mulholland, said: “Pubs and publicans accept the need to tackle covid, but ordering hospitality to close and cancelling New Year’s Eve with less than nine hours’ notice, having allowed pubs and restaurants to buy stock, is disgraceful. It is also deeply damaging to the mental health of tens of thousands of people whose livelihoods are dependent on pubs and hospitality.
“The way the government keeps changing its mind is disastrous for pubs and the government must now announce an adequate package of support through the winter and do so quickly, or many pubs will close and many families will face hardship.”
Campaign vice-chair, Dawn Hopkins, added: “Current levels of support are significantly less than during the first lockdown, yet our costs remain the same, and without an increase in financial support many pubs will not be opening their doors again.
“The government must stop ignoring us, stop ignoring our suppliers, stop ignoring our customers, or face the fact that our wonderful pub industry may never recover.”
Enjoying a pint of great beer 