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It feels as if the desperation to create a "normal" Christmas means tighter restrictions in the lead up to 25/12 and a prolonged closure afterwards. Disastrous for restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafes, particularly for those in Tiers 2 and 3 and on high streets and city centres.
All in the name of squeezing bodies into houses over a concentrated period of time, places that are unarguably less regulated and safe than those very same restaurants, pubs, hotels and cafes, whatever some might have said about EOTHO. What might this mean for #ukhospitality?
With the tailwind of 5% VAT, being open through Dec. could get many through Winter. For those on the high street, it would be nothing less than a lifeline. The Furlough is great, but the increasing NI and fixed cost burden is beginning to make decisions for employers on headcount
We've found being closed is expensive, but it's the act of having to close and then open that is ruinously so. Wastage, bodies to close the site down & deal with o/s bookings and then 2 days back at site to prepare to open and administer new bookings. All with no revenue.
Many in hospitality will decide to mothball until spring, with all the implications on the livelihoods of those that depend on them: their community, the landlord and the supply chain: the marketing freelancer, the plumber, the ratcatcher, the beekeeper, the brewer, the local rag
Although EDS has been lucky to be busy since July, many more are in the process of long agonising journeys to permanent closure and boarded up high streets. There is hope with the advent of vaccines, but a dire situation is about to become much worse for many.
This is about ensuring we have a hospitality industry at the end of this journey. Boarded up pubs and restaurants will come back to life eventually but we need them to be ready to go in the Spring or the recovery will be much longer and more painful.
