Pubs and restaurants are closed in England again to slow the spread of coronavirus, but the measure has owners worried whether they will survive financially. ©AFP/File Paul ELLIS

 

London (AFP) – Almost three quarters of UK pubs and restaurants expect to shut permanently next year following damaging coronavirus restrictions, an industry poll indicated Thursday.

The British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and UK Hospitality said in a statement that 72 percent of surveyed businesses “expect to become unviable and close in 2021”.

The survey, conducted by market research company CGA, also showed that pubs and other hospitality businesses want the UK government to provide more support.

CGA polled 446 businesses representing more than 20,000 venues nationwide during November.

“The evidence is here to see of the devastating, long-term impact the government’s restrictions are having on hospitality and pub businesses,” the three trade organisations said in a statement.

“Without a change in approach and more support from government, much of our sector could be gone within a year — that means businesses and jobs lost plus much-loved venues closed forever.”

A separate survey meanwhile suggested Thursday that one in three UK restaurants fear they may not survive the next three months following the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

The Office for National Statistics said its survey found that 34 percent of businesses in the accommodation and food services sector have “little or no confidence” they will last beyond the end of January 2021.

The ONS, which carried out its survey in the first two weeks of November, added that 14 percent of all businesses also feared for their survival.

The statistics agency added that just 63 percent of companies in the accommodation and food sectors are currently trading.

English pubs temporarily closed their doors in early November as the country effectively shut down for the second time this year to try to curb spiking Covid-19 infection rates.

The current lockdown has also shuttered restaurants, gyms and non-essential shops and services until December 2, with hopes business could resume in time for Christmas.

To help cushion the blow, the government has rolled out a new multi-billion-pound support package by extending its furlough jobs scheme paying the bulk of workers’ wages until the end of March.

Britain has been the worst-hit nation in Europe from coronavirus, recording more than 53,000 deaths from some 1.4 million positive cases.

Disclaimer: Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Source: AFP.