The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pub chain to shed 2,150 jobs
More than 2,000 jobs are being axed at a pub chain with businesses across Tayside and Fife as curfews after new corona virus restrictions hit trade.
Marston’s said around 2,150 of its UK pub workers currently on furlough support will be affected, while it will also launch a further cost-cutting plan by the end of the year.
The firm is behind Dunnichen Stone in Forfar, Camperdown Elm in Dundee, Sweet Chestnut in Dunfermline and Spiral Weave in Kirkcaldy.
Marston’s put the blame squarely on the recent nationwide measures to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases, which has seen curfews placed on hospitality venues and the closures of sites not serving food in high-risk areas such as Liverpool.
The pub and brewery group said it has 21 sites in Scotland, of which eight are currently closed, and 18 in the tier 3 Liverpool region, although the majority of these serve food and are allowed to remain open.
Ralph Findlay, chie f executive of Marston’s, said: “The additional restrictions which have been applied across the UK most recently present significant challenges to us and will make business more difficult for a period of time.
“I very much regret that the consequence of this is that the jobs of around 2,150 of our colleagues will be impacted, but it is an inevitable consequence of the limitations placed upon our business.
“We will be looking at our cost base further in the coming weeks.”
Marston’s claimed the new rules “undermine consumer confidence and create uncertainty”.
It said: “The introduction of these further restrictions and guidance affecting pubs is hugely disappointing in view of a lack of clear evidence tying pubs to the recent increase in infection levels, and our own data which suggests that pubs are effective in minimising risks.”
Details of the job cuts at Marston’s come as its annual results showed pub sales tumbled 34% to £515 million in the year to October 3.
Since pubs reopened in July, like-for-like pub sales were 10% lower over the 13-week period, helped by the government’s Eat Out to Help Out meal discount scheme in August.
Brewery sales were 22% lower over the year at £306m.