Hospitality facing tough year ahead as it deal with brunt of restrictions
MORE than 400 pubs have disappeared from communities in England and Wales as the number calling last orders flatlined despite the toll of the pandemic.
New analysis has revealed the number of pubs across England and Wales in 2021 was largely unchanged from 2020.
Analysis of official Government data by real estate adviser Altus Group has shown the number of pubs liable for property taxes, for business rates, including those vacant and being offered to let, fell by 444 to 40,173 in December, compared with 40,617 a year earlier.
The figure means that for every month, roughly 37 pubs have been demolished or converted for other uses, such as for homes or offices.
Robert Hayton, UK president at Altus Group, said: “Pubs continue to bear the brunt of coronavirus restrictions but have, thankfully, proved remarkably resilient.
“However, it remains to be seen what impact Omicron has on numbers in 2022 as this could be the straw that broke the camel’s back for many.”
Hospitality insolvencies have also been reduced despite the impact of the pandemic as a result of support measures for pubs, restaurants and cafes, including furlough, business rates holidays and the rent moratorium.
However, the phasing out of financial support in recent months and the limited nature of the Chancellor’s latest package of measures in response to Omicron could mean more hardship is on the horizon.
Hospitality and leisure businesses were told in late December that they will be able to receive up to £6,000 per premises after trade was heavily impacted by the latest spread of Covid-19.
But firms and business leaders have warned this might not be enough, with the boss of restaurant chain Gaucho describing the support as “too little too late”.