Hospitality industry relies on public’s help to survive
Restaurants, bars and cafes will need our support to bounce back from further lockdowns.
Without backing from the public and further support from government, the hospitality industry will struggle to recover and this will force some businesses to close their doors permanently.
That’s the prediction from a group bookings provider, urging us to back independent eateries and pubs when they reopen after lockdown.
Bradley Gough, founder of Groubook, said that businesses are incurring mounting debt and the £9,000 of support offered by the government will quickly run out. It is not enough to cover the costs of many businesses and will not underpin longerterm business viability,
The Groubook chief executive officer said: “With the uncertainty of Brexit and COVID-19, it’s been a tough year for the hospitality sector, and the future of the industry is less known. Nobody has had any guidance on when we can reopen.
“Unfortunately, many bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants will not survive the strict new regulations across the UK.
“We don’t want to see the industry disappear and that’s what’s slowly happening.
“So, we call on the British public to spearhead the rescue mission and support their local bars, cafes and restaurants when lockdown restrictions are lifted.
“Some people will be excited to be back out eating, drinking and socialising, and some will think it’s all too soon and want to stay home. But whether you choose to stay at home, or go out, we can all do our bit to help rescue the hospitality sector.”
Here are eight ways to support the industry ...
Book tables
When you are ready and comfortable, book a table. Bookings will give restaurants the confidence to get back going again!
Order takeaways
This is possible during lockdown for many hospitality businesses, many of which will continue even when they reopen doors.
So, if you don’t want to attend in person, order the products to take away. It’s still supporting the business.
It’s worth checking the best way to deliver or collect, as many delivery apps take a commission from the outlets.
Cook at home
Quite a few restaurants are offering DIY packs, ready meals and “finish at home” style packs. You just need to heat up the ingredients and present the meal.
Invest in vouchers
A lot of establishments have vouchers available to buy and they can be used in the future. Having the money roll in from vouchers boosts business confidence, and it’s good for consumers to have something to look forward to.
Don’t forget the high street
Even through lockdown, shops that sold food remained open, such as delicatessens. More will reopen when safe and allowed, so
keep tabs on the high street outlets as you can get great fresh produce from delis etc.
Share on social media
As customers, we need to be cheerleaders for our favourite independents so a post on social media reporting on a great meal can lead to more bookings.
Turn up for your bookings If you book a table at a restaurant in the coming months, make sure you turn up. In previous lockdowns, independent businesses were hit by a wave of no-shows since reopening.
Normalise deposits
Learning from previous lockdowns, independents have been forced to ask for deposits with their bookings, requiring customers to put down a small, refundable fee to reduce the risk of people not turning up.
Don’t be put off if they ask for a deposit, it will come off your bill.
The nation recently gripped by icy temperatures, houses can suffer a number of problems. But there are simple steps you can take to stay safe and warm, and avoid common winter issues in properties.
One common problem is frozen or burst pipes, meaning no water in the home.
Emily Brady, from Yorkshire Water, said: “If you turn your tap on to find no water, you might have a frozen pipe.
“First, check all exposed pipes for any leaks or bursts, if you can’t see anything, turn the tap on at your kitchen sink and heat the pipe with a hairdryer. Never use a naked flame to defrost a pipe.”
Sunny Solanki, a British Gas engineer, said: “We often come across frozen condensate pipes – which don’t actually require specialist training to fix.
“During the Beast from the East in 2018, frozen pipes were our engineers’ most common call out issue.
“The best solution is to stop the water inside your hot water pipes from freezing in the first place – water expands when it turns to ice, which can lead to burst or damaged pipes. Insulating materials are an easy, costeffective solution, available at most DIY stores.”
A survey by heating industry website heatingforce. co.uk found 73 per cent of residents suffer peeling paint in winter, while twothirds suffer from draughts.
Alex Ion, from heatingforce.co.uk, said: “Once paint has cracked or peeled, it’s only a matter of time before moisture will appear and begin to cause damage.”
Recommendations to prevent it include proper insulation, moisture barriers and sufficient ventilation to reduce condensation. Special paint formulated for cold weather is also available.
Regarding draughts, Mr Solanki said: “You wouldn’t leave the back door open when the heating’s on, but warm air could still be escaping without you realising – and cold air could be sneaking in!
“Draught excluders are available from most DIY stores, and they’re an easy,
affordable way to draughtproof your home.
“As well as sealing the joins around doors and windows, don’t overlook measures like letterbox brushes, chimney balloons and even keyhole coverings.”
More seriously, according to the survey, more than half of residents suffer from mould in their homes.
Mr Ion said: “Winter creates the ideal environment for mould to grow in homes, with 56 per cent of people having had this issue. Controlling moisture is the key, so make sure there is good air circulation in your home.
“Use an exhaust fan or open a window when showering, cooking and washing the dishes. Act quickly if you see condensation on windows, pipes, or walls inside a building. Dry out the area and determine if the source of condensation is from a
leak or the result of high humidity.”
Regular servicing is recommended to help prevent boiler problems.
Mr Solanki said: “Your boiler can seize up if it’s not turned on for an extended period of time. It’s a good idea to run central heating for at least an hour a day during colder months, to make sure it keeps running smoothly.”
Other top tips to stay warm and safe include bleeding radiators. Mr Solanki said: “Air can enter the system and form bubbles at the top of your radiators, which stops them from working efficiently” - and “furnishing for warmth”.
He added: “Think about where your heat sources are, and make sure radiators can do their job. Putting your sofa in front of a radiator will absorb heat that could warm the rest of the room.”