Effort to ‘save our pubs’ is backed by MP

Arundel & South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has backed a campaign aiming to save pubs from the risk of closure.

Led by the Countryside Alliance, the ‘#UnlockInn – Save the Great British Pub’ campaign follows a recent survey that found six in ten pub landlords feared they would go out of business if lockdown restrictions were not sufficiently lifted until the summer.

It found 92 per cent of landlords wanted the rule that customers must order a substantial meal in order to buy a drink scrapped.

Mr Griffith said: “As we continue to successfully roll out the Covid-19 vaccine, focus should move now to how we go about repairing our economy.

“Whilst it has been right to be cautious, it is clear pubs and the hospitality industry at large, need to be trading again soon.

“Pubs should be allowed to sell takeaway drinks and when allowed to reopen fully need to do so without unnecessary regulations like the substantial meal requirement.”

Thecampaignhasfiveasks, which organisers hope the Prime Minister will consider when outlining the roadmap for leaving lockdown: to allow pubs to serve alcohol with takeaways as soon as possible; for the ‘substantial meal’ rule to be scrapped when pubs open; for increased financial support if pubs are forced to be shut into the summer for a practical road map for pubs and the hospitality industry to help them realistically prepare for when they can resume trading again and for VAT at five per cent to be extended while ensuring rates are cut by 50 per cent for the same length of time to help pubs get through the economic recovery.