Speaking at a press conference yesterday (16 March), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that people should avoid gatherings and crowded places, such as pubs, restaurants, clubs and theatres.
However, he didn’t go as far as issuing a lockdown on such places, as has happened in other Coronavirus-hit countries, including France and Spain, leading to outcry from the hospitality industry and claims it has left them in limbo.
Commenting on the Government’s advice UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls says: “This is catastrophic for businesses and jobs. The government has effectively shut the hospitality industry without any support, and this announcement will lead to thousands of businesses closing their doors for good, and hundreds of thousands of job losses.”
“Over the past few weeks the industry has suffered unprecedented drops in visits and many business are already on their knees. This latest advice leaves the industry in limbo, with no recourse to insurance.
“The Government must act now to stop them going under and protect the people’s jobs. These venues play a unique role as community hubs and it’s in all our interests to protect and preserve them so they are still there once we emerge from this crisis.
“We need immediate and far-reaching support from the government, and meaningful business continuity measures.”
Restaurant owners took to Twitter to vent their frustration over the advice, saying it removed culpability from the government and placed it on businesses.
Chef/restaurateur Alex Rushmore wrote: “Utterly enraged by the spineless approach taken by @10DowningStreet and @BorisJohnson regarding hospitality industry. Totally hung out to dry. This is not leadership.”
Tom Kerridge, owner of two-Michelin starred The Hand & Flowers responded on Twitter with: “WTAF do we do now????@BorisJohnson.”
The news has also been met with defiance by some in the industry. Elite Bistro’s Gary Usher tweeted: “I haven’t opened six restaurants to watch six restaurants close down & never open again. The future holds no certainty that is one of very few facts. Another fact is you will have to drag my stubborn corpse out of sticky Walnut before someone tries to take Elite bistros from me.”