Pub boss calls for social distance review

More than three-quarters of pubs could reopen if social distancing rules were relaxed to one metre, the boss of a large trade body has said.

But the British Beer and PubAssociation(BBPA)chief executive Emma McClarkin says that, if the two-metre guidance remains, just one-third could reopen their doors and many would face further financial misery and ruin.

The struggling hospitality sector was given a flicker of hope after Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted on Wednesdaythatrestaurants, hotels and bars could potentially reopen earlier than planned after asked scientists to review the two-metre rule.

Miss McClarkin, whose organisation represents about 20,000 UK pubs and the majority of brewers, said the required distance should be reduced to one metre, as in several European countries and advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She said: "We're not asking for that unless it's safe to do.

"It is an internationally recognised standard of one metre, used in France, Italy and Denmark, which allows some kind of normality. Pubs are currently on a very highly tunedGovernment life-support machine. "The longer they remain onit,somewon'tsurvive,and oncepubsclosetheyarevery, very hard to resuscitate."

Miss McClarkin said a poll of BBPA members showed about 40% could not survive until September if they remained closed.

Under current plans, pubs, hotels and restaurants remain closed until at least July 4.