Sacha Lord, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester has commented on the announcement this afternoon on the reopening of the economy out of lockdown
“I extend an open invitation to the Government to visit the North, in particular the most working class areas of Greater Manchester which rely on their local, traditional pubs and social clubs for a sense of community and to stave off isolation and loneliness.The vast majority of these pubs do not have beer gardens, a luxury only reserved for middle class areas who have the space and financial capabilities. It is once again the working class who are hardest hit by the decisions coming from Westminster during this pandemic.
Secondly. For the operators across the UK who can trade outdoors, breaking even is not a possibility here. They cannot pay rents, rates and bills or afford to take staff off furlough if they are only serving to 10% capacity. Many will simply choose not to reopen.
With ‘data not dates’ being touted as the reasoning behind decisions, we see no reason why indoor hospitality cannot reopen at the same time as non-essential retail. The hospitality sector has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on ensuring venues are Covid secure and we still have no data to confirm they are a high risk area of transmission. I see no justification for the delay in reopening.
Lastly. We need urgent clarity on the financial support operators will have access to, and cannot afford to wait until the Chancellor’s budget is announced in ten days.
Asking business owners to wait in limbo to find out if they can financially survive and afford to keep their livelihoods, will be terrifying and have huge implications on mental health, stress and anxiety for owners and their employees.”
