SUPERMARKET CASH CAN SAVE OUR PUBS
After shops hand back £1.8bn tax break to Britain we say...
THE Mirror today calls for a £1.8billion Covid tax break refund by supermarkets to be used to save struggling pubs.
And hospitality bosses said the cash could help thousands of boozers that face closure under the tier system.
UK Hospitality added: “It would deliver a huge boost to businesses.” TV chef Tom Kerridge is fighting to help save the battered pub trade.
THE £1.8billion Covid refund from supermarkets could be used as a lifeline for pubs left devastated by the pandemic, bosses said last night.
And store chiefs giving up the tax break cash also want it to help struggling businesses.
Tens of thousands of “wet pubs” that make money only from booze face going to the wall as they have to remain shut in the tier system.
Trade body UK Hospitality has called for a Covid recovery fund to be set up with the supermarket money. Chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “It would deliver a huge boost to businesses that are only just clinging on to life right when they need it most.”
There were also calls for some of the money to go to freelancers, contractors, and newly self-employed who were badly hit.
Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi, Tesco and Morrisons are handing back cash from the business rates holiday scheme to the Treasury.
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts, who pledged £440million, said: “We are very mindful that non-essential retailers and other businesses have been forced to close again in the second lockdown and we hope that this goes some way to helping them.”
Tesco will pay back £ 585m. Chairman John Allan said: “We hope this will enable additional
support to businesses and communities who need it.”
Asda will hand back more than £340m. President Roger Burnley said: “We are in a strong position to do the right thing for the communities we serve.”
Morrisons pledged to pay back £274m. Bargain chain B&M said it was returning £80m. Stores had been criticised for using the business rates holiday scheme at the start of the crisis. They are “essential” retailers and sales soared during lockdowns.
The British Beer and Pub Association estimates 24,750 of England’s l d’ 37,500 boozers are “wet”. “” Those in Tiers 2 and 3 are shut. If just 10% of the £1.8bn – £180m – went to them it would be worth nearly £7,300 each. Boris Johnson was criticised for offering “wet pubs” a miserly £ 1,000 one-off Christmas grant, which is unlike to save many. TV chef Tom Kerridge has been presenting a TV show called Saving Britain’s Pubs, which showed how many were struggling even before the pandemic. The Excluded UK l dd group said d some of f the supermarket cash should also go to help small traders and those who are newly self-employed.
It added: “Many individuals have been on extremely low to no income since March.”
The Treasury said last night: “Any funds returned will support the ongoing efforts to protect people’s jobs and incomes.”
But Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed the £1.8bn has already been spent on reducing the £ 280bn cost of supporting businesses during the pandemic.
IT was the first night of freedom after the second lockdown of the year, and the crowds went crazy for... Primark.
After weeks of looking longingly at the shop’s website – where you can check out the latest styles but not buy them – thousands of shoppers flocked back to their favourite store the day it reopened to stock up on its low-priced clothes.
And for the most die-hard fans, 11 of the biggest outlets stayed open all night.
Queues snaked around shopping centres and retails parks across the country as bargain hunters braved the chilly December weather for the chance of a midnight shopping spree.
But who were these hardy shoppers ditching beds for baskets on a winter’s night, and why did they do it?
Outside Westfield Stratford City in East London, Doina Nica, 27, and her brother Aureliu, 24, from Moldova, said they had bought new pillows and gifts to send home for Christmas.
Aureliu said: “We saw that Primark was open for 24 hours on the news and Facebook and thought we’d come to Westfield. We came so late because I’m a civil engineer and finished work at 9pm.”
QUEUE
Doina added: “There are so many members of staff doing their best and keeping things nice and tidy, so we found what we needed easily.
“There were sanitisers and everything and the distancing was OK.
“But in the queue there was not a twometre distance and some people weren’t wearing masks. But we just have to keep a distance where we can.”
Inside the busy store, the aisles were lined with cosy knitted hats and scarves, sparkly jumpers and elf costumes.
Amazon delivery driver Saffa had gone straight to Primark after a busy day at work. She said: “I was kind of excited to come shopping so late. I finish work late so I’d like them to stay open late more often.”
Figen Akgul, 33, said: “I bought some pyjamas – everything they were selling was lounge wear.
“I’ve never been to a Primark this late before.”
Jaylon Diante, 21, had ventured out late in the hope of doing some Christmas shopping in peace. He said: “I went at night because I thought it would be quieter than going shopping during the day.”
Some customers even brought young children who had been allowed to stay up for the occasion. Prepared for an onslaught of customers, countless shop assistants milled around, a few propped up at the till, and all looking in need of a decent night’s sleep.
Customers were busy browsing festive find s including Mickey Mouse pyjamas in sizes to fit all the family, a gingerbread house kit and even Christmas outfits for dogs.
The pyjama area of the shop was particularly busy – as sleepy customers made a beeline for the snuggly designs in
fleece and cotton. The only section that was not busy was menswear.
At Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, the late hours and the hope of fewer crowds were a draw for delivery driver Alys Cratchley, 26, from Bexley, South East London, who went along with friend Lorrisa Harris Jones, 21.
Alys said: “We’ve come for the experience. It’s exciting. We don’t have a lot of time to shop so we want to get as much as possible to make it worthwhile after queuing up so long.
“It’s nice to be able to walk about without anyone rushing us.”
In Birmingham, Joe Islam took a photograph of the crowds he found outside the store at the Fort shopping mall at around 10.30pm. He said: “I couldn’t believe how many people were in the queue.
“I thought I’d pop down in the late evening, thinking it would be quiet, as I wanted some winter warmers. But it looked like people were using it as an evening out following lockdown.
“I visited at 10.30pm and the queue was not moving at all, and no social distancing in place whatsoever.”
At Gateshead’s Metrocentre branch the queue also stretched around the shopping centre and into the car park.
Lorraine Waker from Newcastle estimated there were at least 1,000 people in the line at 9.30pm. She said: “It was crazy. I think everyone thought it would be quieter if they went at night... but I think everyone had the same idea.”
Georgia and Vanessa Waterhouse from Enfield, North London, beamed as they emerged at 2am with bulging carrier bags from the Lakeside store in Thurrock, Essex, after queueing for 45 minutes to get in. For one glorious night, it seemed as if 2020 was just a normal year... and midnight a normal time of day to shop.
The high street may be in trouble, but Primark still seems to be holding its place in customers’ hearts.
As we left in the early hours, the stores were still buzzing – so bosses are definitely doing something right. Additional reporting: John James, Andy Richardson, Ian Johnson, Alex Grove and Lucy Marshall
I think everyone thought it would be quieter if they went at night
LORRAINE WAKER AT METROCENTRE, GATESHEAD