‘Meagre’ £1,000 one-off payment puts 80% of England’s pubs at risk of closure

02 December 2020

The British Beer & Pub Association has responded to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that wet led pubs will receive a one-off payment of £1,000 to assist them through Christmas.

The trade association has said the payment on its own is not nearly enough for pubs to survive 9 weeks. It needs to be accompanied by an increase in the monthly grants. Without both of these 80% of England’s pubs (30,000) face the real risk of closing forever.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “£1,000 on its own is a meagre amount for pubs to cover nine weeks of costs let alone compensate them for the huge loss of business over the festive period. It is quite frankly, an insult to thousands of pubs across the UK that are on their knees. It barely touches the sides of what pubs up and down the country require to cover their costs and ensure they survive. Nor does it recognise the inherent danger they are in heading into the next year without more support should the tighter tier system remain unchanged.

“This December, the average pub will lose £47,000 in revenue. A £1,000 payment is not even a sticking plaster. The current monthly grants to pubs have to be increased significantly if pubs are to survive and be able to play a role in the new year in leading the economic recovery and serving their local communities.

“The tighter tier restrictions go well into next year, they are not just for Christmas. Our sector needs more long-term support to ensure its survival, else more than 30,000 pubs – 80% of those in England - are at risk of closing for good if this is all the Government is going to offer.”

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