The boss of pubs group Marston’s has warned he does not expect venues to reopen until March at the earliest and even then social distancing restrictions will remain in place.
Chief executive Ralph Findlay said the Government must step up and extend the business rates holiday beyond its current end date in April, and cut VAT when doors finally open again.
“The pub sector has been closed for much of the last nine months and remains in a very difficult position,” he said.
“Regrettably there have been casualties across the sector and it is vital that the Government reviews urgently the opportunity to continue to support pubs as we reopen the economy in the coming weeks.
The boss of pubs group Marston’s has warned he does not expect venues to reopen until March at the earliest and even then social distancing restrictions will remain in place.
Chief executive Ralph Findlay said the Government must step up and extend the business rates holiday beyond its current end date in April, and cut VAT when doors finally open again.
“The pub sector has been closed for much of the last nine months and remains in a very difficult position,” he said.
“Regrettably there have been casualties across the sector and it is vital that the Government reviews urgently the opportunity to continue to support pubs as we reopen the economy in the coming weeks.
Five shares to help investors cash in on market recovery thetimes.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetimes.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pub operator and brewer Marston s has reported it made a loss of almost £400million in the year to October due to the pandemic.
With more than half of its pubs remaining closed even after the end of the November lockdown, Marston s warned of challenging and uncertain winter months ahead as the UK remains under a three-tier system of Covid restrictions.
The owner of Pitcher & Piano, which said around 780 of its 1,368 pubs are still shut, unveiled pre-tax losses of £397.1million in the 12 months to early October, up from £20.1million a year earlier. Uncertain winter months ahead: More than half of Martson s pubs are are still closed