Government consults on help for pubs and the rest of the hospitality industry

AS part of the recovery of the impact of the pandemic, the government is considering whether to allow marquees set up by pubs and restaurants during the Covid pandemic to become permanent. There will be a public consultation about whether the temporary external seating permitted to help businesses should be allowed to continue.

As part of the same plans, street markets may be allowed to open all year, although outdoor dining on streets will probably be discontinued.

The hospitality industry has welcomed the proposed permanent relaxation but has pointed out that it is a temporary measure and won’t be much help as the weather turns colder.

Marquees that have been set up in the grounds of pubs, cafes and restaurants to help businesses during the pandemic and help reduce the spread of Covid-19 may be permitted to continue permanently, although there are suggestions that their height may be limited to four metres and the ground they cover may be restricted to a maximum of 50% of the space of the existing buildings on the site.

Government minister for housing, Robert

Jenrick, commented: “The simple reforms we made during the pandemic to help hospitality businesses, markets and historic visitor attractions make use of outdoor spaces more easily, made a massive impact.

“As part of our vision to transform high streets into thriving places to work, visit and live, we intend to make as many of these measures permanent fixtures of British life as possible.”

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality responded: “It is in the interest of the country to have a thriving, dynamic and properly-supported hospitality sector and retaining these outdoor measures would help secure the recovery of a large and vital part of the UK economy”, pointing out that businesses are facing “huge hurdles going into the autumn and winter”.

If you wish to advise the government how to help pubs and the rest of the hospitality industry survive during the later stages of the pandemic, you can take part in the government consultation by going to: tinyurl.com/jwwzz3ct.

The national CAMRA website is at: camra.org.uk. The Southport & West Lancs Branch website is at southport. camra.org.uk.