Restaurant and pub owners are cautiously welcoming the announcement by Government that there will not be any new restrictions before New Years Eve.
This move provides relief to beleaguered hospitality businesses after Christmas was marred by cancellations owing to concerns over Omicron’s variant of Covid.
Daniel Farrow is the owner of The Gatherers restaurant and bar in Norwich. He said that 60% of his bookings were cancelled during the week leading up to Christmas.
26-year-old Mr. Farrow said, “It’s really great news. That really helps people.
“But, you know that having a great New Year’s Day will only be one day of a month when we should have traded at our full potential. We traded at 20% in reality.
Daniel Farrow is the owner of Norwich’s Gatherers Bar and Restaurant (pictured). He stated that his restaurant saw 60% cancellations in the last week.
“I only wish that it’s a happy New Year’s Eve.
“At the moment we are at the end December, and I believe the damage has been done with Omicron’s whole start and the subsequent semi-restrictions.
Mr Farrow slammed the Government’s offer of a one-time £6000 grant for affected businesses, saying that amount only covered one day’s lost revenue from cancellations.
“That may seem like a lot, but it’s only a day’s worth of income,” he said. That’s a day of loss.
“When dealing with 80% losses, that’s a day from the whole month’s worth of losty trade.”
Michelle Utz (landlady at Hoops in Essex) echoed her disappointment over the grant, but she was cautiously more concerned about the Government’s announcement.
Ms. Utz (41), said that she was expecting the worst, but it is better than getting it last minute at 10 o’clock. [the Government]You can’t be open at New Year’s, you say.
Michelle Utz (landlady at Hoops in Essex) echoed her disappointment over the grant, but she was cautious regarding the Government’s announcement.
“I feel that people are still cautious. With the seven-day isolation, we’re still losing clients and staff.
Ms Utz said that Omicron is only one issue for her company at the moment.
“The cost of food has gone up,” she said. Wages are up. Then you realize that you are currently employing X number of people and suddenly, they cancel their contracts because “someone has tested positive”.
‘We need to take £22,000 a week to break even and it’s just living on the edge at the minute.’
Michael Kill (CEO of Night Time Industries Association) reacted to news that England will not have any new restrictions before New Year’s Eve
“Following a very anxious few weeks, we are happy that the Prime Minister has listened and today announced that there will no more restrictions before the New Year.
“Our industry can now plan with confidence over the next week and promote one of the major nights of the year within the next days.”
Kate Nicholls is chair of UKHospitality and welcomed the announcement with a Twitter post
To recoup their lost profits during the holiday period, venues will hope for an enviable New Year’s Eve.
“It is crucial that, given this chance that we continue to acknowledge our responsibility to public health strategy, urge our customers not only to support us during the period but to play their part to ensure this is the beginning of our recovery.
“We ask the government to work with us in order to develop a long-term strategy for managing covid variations. It is evident that this open and close approach, which had an enormous impact on the industry’s performance, cannot be sustained.
Chair of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls said that the news was welcome for all hospitality companies. Losing New Year in addition to December would be devastating, and that keeping restrictions at a minimum protects jobs and businesses.