According to hospitality executives, pubs lost “all of their Christmas bookings almost overnight” as fears about the Covid variant and mixed messages from ministers decimate an already struggling industry.
Bosses claimed that government warnings regarding Omicron, new guidance for working at home and other threats had convinced many punters not to continue with festive gatherings.
One London hotel told MailOnline it was expecting £100,000 worth of losses from cancelled events, rooms and covers – and said many staff were fearing for their jobs given the extent the industry relies on a lucrative Christmas period.
Pubs, especially those located in urban centres and who rely heavily on commuters, are also suffering.
Mark Fuller, CEO of Karma Sanctum Soho, a boutique 30-bedroom hotel which includes a bar and restaurant, said he had seen up to £50,000 worth of Christmas events cancelled
Gary Murphy, Director of Campaign for Pubs told MailOnline that it was a huge problem across the country. High street expert Dr Jackie Mulligan (right) urged ministers to put in place fresh support for hospitality
Gary Murphy, Director of Campaign for Pubs told MailOnline that it was a huge problem across the country.
“Quite evidently, the government wants to decrease socialising. So, inevitably many businesses are cancelling parties and people are becoming uncomfortable going out.
“I have seen many pubs lose all their patronage almost overnight. This is especially true for those located in the town centre. Boris Johnson is always on television and people become more anxious every time he announces new restrictions.
Mark Fuller, CEO of Karma Sanctum Soho, a boutique 30-bedroom hotel which includes a bar and restaurant, said he had seen up to £50,000 worth of Christmas events cancelled.
MailOnline received this statement from him: “All of our events were cancelled. There are many cancellations at the last moment for both dinners, and rooms in hotels.
‘Overall we’re looking at least £100,000 worth of losses compared to 2019, which is a real dagger in the heart when there was no 2020.
“Talking to other industry friends, events are being cancelled all over the place.
“What looked like a fantastic Christmas turned out to be nothing but a damp squib.”
People are concerned about their job security because of the dependence on Christmas. If you don’t have a great one, there will be big questions as to what will happen in January.
“I get why people are afraid to put their lives at risk. I am not mad at them.” However, we are not receiving any assistance from the government.
Chris Hanson of Blend Kitchen, Sheffield said that he has lost 30% of all his bookings to date.
He said, “The city footfall loss is dramatic for us business and we already see cancellations.”
“The government must step in now to support city businesses that are experiencing trade losses at this critical time.
“We are an employer, and we use local suppliers to make a significant impact on people’s lives and livelihoods – particularly since we’re a social enterprise.”
The footfall in London’s West End is still 30% lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Dr Jackie Mulligan is an expert on Government High Streets Task Force and founder of ShopLocalOnline.org. She urged ministers not to cut off support for hospitality.
She stated that Downing Street was silent about the lack of support for hospitality businesses and others impacted by Omicron variant.
“A lot of small businesses feel like the Government is giving up on them and choosing to take refuge in one.
The working from home guideline has seen a significant drop in the high street’s financial burden, and Christmas parties have been cancelled all over the place.
“Small retail and hospitality businesses can be resilient, but it’s not possible to leave them hanging. It’s becoming a nightmare to deal with the mixed messages and uncertainties at this crucial moment in the year.
Chris Hanson of Blend Kitchen, Sheffield said that he has lost 30% of all his bookings to date
Last night, the UK reported 1,239 additional confirmed Omicron cases – an increase by 65 percent over 24 hours.
Sajid Javid (Health Secretary) admitted that 10 individuals had been admitted. Boris Johnson has announced today the first death.
While the PM still insists Britons are allowed to attend Christmas parties in Britain, there are many who are more concerned about large crowds of people and anticipate tighter rules.
People in England should be encouraged to work remotely under Plan B. Covid passports are available for big events.
Today there was a lot of incredulity about the suggestion by the PM that people should not go to work but still attend Christmas dinners and parties.
NHS data indicates that people in their 40s and 50s who have received a Covid boost since September have double-digit numbers of eligible patients who still need to be given a third dose. Yesterday the NHS Online Booking System for Covid Boosters was made available to over-40s. A booster has not been administered to 81% of the people between 40-49.
The above image shows the current rate of booster programmes (green bars) as well as how they will need to increase to meet the goal of one million jabs every day (red bars). NHS leaders warn it will be difficult to scale up the programme.
The graph below shows the number of vaccination centers that were opened in April for the initial drive. It is also a comparison to the amount involved in the booster rollout. The graph shows there are less mass vaccination centers now than before.
Stephen Reicher is a professor of psychology at University of St Andrews. He was also a member of Government’s Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours.
We must do something, or else our society will be overrun and overwhelm the NHS.
There are many things that you can do. It is obvious that the first and most important thing you can do to limit infection spread is to decrease the amount of your social connections.
Nobody wants to leave Christmas parties behind, nor do they want to be without friends and family.
It’s almost like Christmas dinner. If you make too much of a Christmas breakfast you will spoil your appetite for Christmas dinner.
“And in the same spirit, we should think very seriously about who our contacts are. What are their importance? Are they really necessary? Or is it better to take action now in order to ensure that those contacts are available if we need them.
Official data shows that 5.83 million people are still waiting for NHS treatment. This is the 11th consecutive month of record numbers. Some 1.6million more Britons were waiting for elective surgery — such as hip and keen operations — at the end of September compared to the start of the pandemic
Pictures from London this morning suggested working from home guidance was already having an effect, with Waterloo, Euston and Paddington, usually rammed with commuters between 7am and 9am, largely empty.
As offices were emptied, tube platforms and carriages were also unoccupied.
MailOnline discovered that traffic also ran freely along routes normally jammed by cars on Monday mornings in London. One resident of central London tweeted, “I’m right in the middle London. Roads are unbelievable quiet now”
A commuter also tweeted this: “Work at home, order well, and get back.” Tube completely empty today’.
There was also much quiet on roads and railways throughout the UK (including in Leeds, Manchester Birmingham, Birmingham, and Newcastle) this morning.
Although the working from home recommendation represents the latest step in Mr Johnson’s Plan B, which aims to stop the spread Omicron throughout the UK, critics such as his MPs think it is just a steppingstone towards another lockdown.
Waterloo Station at 7am was nearly empty today, as commuters chose to remain at home in the wake of Boris Johnson’s failure to provide work-from-home guidance.
Paddington was also deserted today as no one commuted to Paddington until the New Year.