Over 50 pub sector bosses demand firm opening date from the government

Pub sector bosses from a range of large and smaller pub companies, between them owning 20,000 pubs, have written to the government to demand clarity on a reopening date.

They say the sector has reached “crisis” point and they are burning through millions of pounds in cash each week. Without certainty they will be unable to make the necessary plans to get staff back to work and venues ready to trade once again, with the further need to implement pub safety measures.

Greene King CEO Nick Mackenzie said “Despite our best efforts to work with government and our significant investment to ensure the safety of our customers and team members, with under three weeks to go until the reopening date outlined in the government’s roadmap, we have neither the finalised safety guidelines or confirmation of the definitive reopening date. It’s incredibly frustrating for us and our people and we need government to make a clear decision now on allowing pubs to open from 4 July.”

His frustration is shared across the industry, with brewers having to kickstart production on the assumption that pubs can reopen on July 4th.

Without certainty by the end of this week, it is claimed that hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost throughout the industry, and result in many permanent pub closures – with upcoming changes to the government’s furlough scheme estimated to cost an additional £120m according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Kevin Georgel, chief executive of Cornwall-based St Austell Brewery, said: “We’ve been forced to take a significant gamble by starting to brew draught beer again. With pubs potentially opening in less than three weeks, we’ve had no choice but to start brewing in preparation. If pubs are not allowed to open on 4 July this will be a huge and wasted cost to us, during a time that we are fighting for survival.”