Hospitality warns on ‘freedom' delay

ANY delay to social distancing restrictions being lifted on June 21 will cost billions of pounds and put thousands of businesses and jobs at risk, hospitality leaders have warned.

- Jon Coates

The owners of pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, live music and wedding venues have been angered by scientists calling for the postponement of “Freedom Day” for a few weeks to vaccinate more people.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of industry body UKHospitality, said: “The speculation from scientists about whether there should be a delay doesn’t help when people are looking to return to work.

“If the road map is delayed there will be very real harm to the industry. It would cost £3billion in lost revenue if restrictions were in place for another month.”

There are 106,000 licensed venues in the hospitality sector, so the £750million a week in lost takings amounts to £7,075 a week per business on average.

The industry is also set to be hit with a £92million bill for business rates for July, which is £868 on average per venue.

Government advisers yesterday said a two-week delay to Freedom Day is being considered due to fears the Delta/Indian variant is fuelling a rise in infections across England.