Hospitality under siege

The battle to save the hospitality industry in the face of increasing restrictions and shutdown orders under COVID-19 measures is now involving petitions and threats of legal action against the UK government.

Leading figures are backing a petition calling on government to appoint a Minister for Hospitality, to match those championing the national parliamentary roles for arts and sports. The petition was started by Ewan Venters, CEO of Fortnum & Mason. It has won support from chefs Tom Kerridge, Marcus Wareing and Brian Turner, Lucknam Park’s chairman Harry Murray and Robin Hutson, CEO of The Pig Hotels.

 The petition can be found at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/552201.

In another initiative, the Night Time Industries Association has revealed that it is ready to take legal action against measures which could force pubs, clubs and bars to close. And in Scotland 100 hotel owners and managers have written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, warning that the current ban on serving alcohol will lead to job losses and a damaging drop in revenues.