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Want to ensure that 90% of UK pubs never survive the COVID-19 lockdowns?
This is one way to do it.
According to reports that first surfaced in the Sunday Times over the weekend, the UK government is considering leaving the lockdown in place until late March, possibly March 23rd, the anniversary of the start of the first lockdown.
But as Beer Today notes, pubs and restaurants would have to stay shut longer.
A government official told the paper: “The May Day bank holiday is more likely the moment you see pubs re-opening,” set off warning bells across the UK hospitality industry.
BBPA’s Emma McClarkin
Boris Johnson told the nation as he set out the latest Covid-19 regulations (the nation’s most restrictive so far) that vaccines which have just become available in the UK, was the nation’s way out of the pandemic and that the ‘end is in sight’.
But that ‘end in sight’ continues to be kicked down the road…
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said pubs across the UK will be lost for good if they cannot re-open until May 2021 and do not get extended financial support from government.
The trade association also emphasized that the government needs to be clear on its roadmap for the re-opening of pubs.
This from the BBPA’s Chief Executive, Emma McClarkin…
“We really hope that the speculation about pubs being forced to stay closed until May is not true. We strongly believe that pubs are safe places to socialize and can play an important role in our social and economic recovery.”
“If pubs are forced to stay close until May, it would mean they have faced 14 months of lockdowns and restrictions. How on earth could the government expect them to survive?”
“The government has a duty to tell publicans when it plans to let them re-open, with a clear roadmap alongside the vaccination program. If it won’t be until May then it needs to extend financial support for them to survive, and to brewers whose businesses also face jeopardy.”
We wish that we could say that 2021 hadstarted better than 2020…but we can’t.
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