James Shorthouse, Head of Alternative Markets, comments on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest announcement this afternoon ordering bars, gyms, cafes, restaurants, spas, cinemas and other hospitality and leisure venues to close.
“It has been clear from recent political comments that this announcement was due and many leisure and hospitality operators have been anticipating their inevitable closure.
“We welcome the financial support measures for the industry and they provide hope that once the restrictions are relaxed, the hospitality industry will still have an adequate pool of professional trained staff and some sort of normality can eventually resume.
“However, it is imperative that support is offered to those in the supply chain for these leisure and hospitality operations and also to the freeholders of the tens of thousands pubs, restaurants and other affected businesses across the UK which are leased which are dependent on rental income. These companies really need assistance at this time to ensure the survival of the industry in the future.”