1 in 4 pubs, clubs and diners shut in ‘jobs tsunami’
ONE in four British pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs – almost 30,000 – have closed amid the curse of coronavirus and a ‘job loss tsunami’.
The figure represents the number of outlets that have not re-opened since they were forced to pull down the shutters in March.
Industry leaders say that many, if not all, of them are now gone for good, with the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
And the situation is deteriorating following the introduction of the 10pm hospitality curfew, which critics have described as ‘random’ and ‘nuts’ with no scientific justification.
Alarmingly, the policy appears likely to drive up infection rates with huge numbers gathering on streets and public transport at the new closing time.
An industry survey found extreme pessimism among pubs and restaurants with another one in four – on top of those that have already gone – fearing going bust before Christmas.
Greene King, which runs 2,700 pubs, restaurants and hotels, has seen a sharp fall in takings as a result of the curfew. A spokesman said: ‘The measures are already having a significant cumulative negative impact.
‘We are already seeing lots of examples of people leaving our pubs to buy alcohol in shops to drink elsewhere in unregulated environments.’
Mark Davies, the boss of Hawthorn Leisure, which runs 720 community pubs, said: ‘I don’t think there is any logic or justifitown able rationale for the curfew. There is certainly no scientific evidence or statistics that back up the decision.
‘Trade is down significantly – we are talking way over 50 per cent in many locations.
‘It is inevitable over the next few weeks there will be pub closures. It is going to have a devastating impact and we will see a tsunami of job losses. ‘It is totally unnecessary.’ The closures leave a black hole at the heart of communities, and city centres across the UK.
Clarks on Lindsay Street, Dundee, announced its permanent closure on Monday after nine years trading, stating that social distancing meant it would have been unlikely to break even.
A statement on its Facebook page said: ‘Clarks’ trademark was the vibrant, buzzing atmosphere created by great live bands and brilliant audiences. Take away the vital ingredients and you take away the very spirit of the venue. To put it another way, you remove the heart and soul – and replace it with a risk assessment.’
The total number of licensed pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels that are trading is down from 115,108 to 86,212 – a fall of 28,896, according to research from market analysts CGA and AlixPartners.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced new support for struggling businesses, designed to support wages and limit job losses. However the trade body UKHospitality has warned that this is not enough, with chief executive Kate Nicholls, saying the introduction of the 10pm curfew ‘was a significant hammer blow that will inevitably depress trading’.
‘Remove the heart and soul’