10pm curfew will be ‘ crushing blow’, say hospitality leaders

RESTRICTIONS

HOSPITALITY LEADERS have condemned the Government’s plan to impose a 10pm curfew on pubs, restaurants and bars in England – describing the move as a “crushing blow” for the sector.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions

– which will also ban people from ordering at the bar – when he addressed the nation last night.

The measures come amid fears the UK could see 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by the middle of October without Government action.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, led criticism of the new restrictions, calling it bad news for the industry.

She said: “These restrictions will come as another crushing blow for many hospitality businesses struggling to recover so it’s crucial these new rules are applied with flexibility.”

Meanwhile, James Calder, Chief Executive of Society of Independent

Brewers, said: “A new week and new rules for pubs who have diligently implemented guidance to make their venues Covid secure without receiving further financial support.

“After a month of being encouraged to support the hospitality trade the public is now being warned off. A 10pm curfew will be at best a marginal measure in controlling the virus, but will impact directly on pubs, staff and breweries. Why fire a ‘ warning shot’ which aims to encourage the UK public to take measures more seriously, that actually hits pubs and brewers with no further support planned?”

Meanwhile, pub chain Wetherspoon

has announced plans that could see it cut up to half of its jobs at pubs in Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

The company said it had written to its 1,000 staff to warn them that between 400 and 450 of their jobs are now at risk of redundancy.