Pub and restaurant bosses warned this weekend that the industry was on the brink of crisis, with almost a million jobs at risk, as ministers impose tighter local restrictions and draw up plans for a new national lockdown lasting two weeks.
Pub chains are calling on chancellor Rishi Sunak to maintain his furlough scheme, which is due to run out at the end of October; extend the cut in VAT well into next year; and slash beer duty.
Some 900,000 workers in the hospitality sector are still on furlough. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of lobby group UK Hospitality, warned that all these jobs are at risk as restrictions are imposed to stem a second wave of Covid-19.
Tim Martin says new restrictions would be ‘devastating’
SIMON DAWSON
Pubs in some areas in the north of
