As £8bn loss hits home
for reopening safely. We also need immediate and long-term financial support, including an extension to the VAT cut and business rates holiday.
“Finally, we must be able to reopen alongside other non-essential retail and without trading restrictions, that made it impossible for pubs to trade viably when the tier system was in place – including the 10pm curfew and rules involving mixed households and substantial meals.
“The great British pub is part of our social fabric. It’s far more than just a huge economic contributor.
“The avoidable loss of these wonderful, historic, community assets will be felt by generations to come, if the Government don’t act now and provide clarity and further support.”
Mr Whitehead added: “After nearly a whole year under forced closure, or open but under severe restrictions, pub trade has been decimated and sales of beer in pubs have plummeted by 56%.
“Pubs need the VAT cut and business rates holiday for hospitality to be extended immediately, as well as a significant beer duty cut. These will provide vital support for pubs and stimulate demand and signal that Britain and its pubs are safe and back open for business.”
Without support the BBPA says thousands of local pubs will fail due to their unsustainable debt, resulting in local jobs and pubs that are vital to communities throughout the UK being lost for good. It said from April to June last year, which incorporated the first full Covid-19 lockdown, pub beer sales dropped by 96%. And from October to December, when severe time trading and tier restrictions were placed on pubs, as well as a second full lockdown, pub beer sales dropped by 77% in comparison to the previous year.
Even during the less strict restrictions from July to September, including during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, pub beer sales were still down 27% for the quarter.
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