Pub bosses demand an opening date by tomorrow

The bosses of 50 breweries and pub chains wrote to Boris Johnson last night to demand he confirm by tomorrow exactly when pubs can reopen.

They said the sector had reached ‘crisis point’ and a date was needed so pubs can be made ready and brewers can brew fresh beer for them.

Without this certainty by the end of this week, they say many businesses will be forced to cut costs to ensure their survival – potentially resulting in hundreds of thousands of job losses and pub closures.

The warning comes from firms who collectively brew 90 per cent of the beer in Britain and own 20,000 of its pubs. emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and

Pub Association, said: ‘Britain’s 47,000 pubs and 2,000 brewers have reached a critical moment and need a definitive date on when pubs can reopen.

‘Our sector is burning through £100million a month just trying to survive with no cash coming in.

‘Without a confirmed date, our sector is going to have to make some big decisions this week on furloughed staff and when reopening is feasible, with a further wave of redundancies likely. hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost.

‘Our message to the Prime Minister is clear: stop keeping our sector in limbo. Give us the clear date we need for reopening.’

Kevin Georgel of St Austell Brewery, said: ‘On average we need three weeks to brew cask ale and distribute it. Lager production takes even longer. With pubs potentially opening in less than three weeks, we’ve had no choice but to start brewing in preparation.

‘If pubs are not allowed to open on July 4 this will be a huge and wasted cost to us, during a time that we are fighting for survival.’

Ralph Findlay of Marston’s, said: ‘This week, I must decide whether we bring staff back from furlough and invest in the new safety protocols our pubs will require.

‘Without an immediate and definitive confirmation from Government on timing, I can’t afford to bring our staff back to work. We need the Government to commit to opening on July 4 – now.’

Last night brewers also criticised plans for drinkers to be banned from standing outside pubs in central London.

Westminster Council wants to close off roads in the capital to allow al fresco drinking and dining outside pubs and restaurants. But it wants to outlaw ‘vertical drinking’ because it says it will be impossible to maintain social distancing.

Table service should be encouraged to avoid crowds congregating at the bar, the council said.

Simon emeny, of brewers Fuller’s, called the plans ‘ staggering’ and added: ‘It would appear that Westminster is putting yet another barrier in front of us at a moment when livelihoods are being lost and redundancies are looming.’

Patrick Dardis of Young’s, said; ‘Vertical drinking is a part of London culture. This is a matter for the Government to get involved in.’

‘Immediate and definitive’