Crisis looms over food & drink trade
LOCKDOWN-LEAVING Brits bursting for a beer could be left high and dry – due to a chronic shortage of bar staff.
Thousands of pub and restaurant workers quit the industry in the pandemic.
Up to 660,000 staff lost their jobs, and two million were furloughed in the most recent lockdown alone. Others left the UK to return to their home countries, leaving the workforce massively reduced.
Now bars and eateries are struggling to handle the demand for post-lockdown wining and dining – which last Monday was up 64% on 2019 sales.
Phil Urban, chief of UK’S pub chain Mitchells & Butlers, said around 9,000 of its 39,000 staff had left since last year.
Serious
He said: “We have some businesses where we have lost quite a few of the team. It is not until now that operators have realised that they may not have all the staff come back.”
Jeremy King, of Corbin & King, thought he would need 20 new staff ahead of reopening. But he has been left with 130 roles to fill, warning: “I don’t think restaurateurs realise how serious it is.”.
Trade body Ukhospitality’s head Kate Nicholls said the problem “was just emerging” and was partly due to bosses being unable offer staff guaranteed hours because of uncertainty about trading.
Only 23% of bars and restaurants have re-opened so far, with outdoor-only seating being offered. They should be able to open for indoor service from May 17.
Restrictions on customer numbers in England are expected to remain until at least June 21.