Hospitality and brewing organisations have hailed confirmation of a major lifting of covid restrictions on Monday, 19th July.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) says the arrival of ‘Freedom Day’ will enable 2,000 more pubs to re-open that have remained shut because they cannot viably operate.
But it adds that investment from the government in pubs and breweries is now crucial as they begin their recovery.
Chief executive, Emma McClarkin, said: “After nearly 18 months of closure or heavy restrictions, Freedom Day, on Monday, 19th July, is a huge milestone for our sector.
“It means our beloved locals can properly reopen and operate as they are meant to do so. A pint on Freedom Day is going to be all the more special!”
James Calder, chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), said: “Our sector should be hailed for having complied with every instruction, every piece of guidance, and every rule, despite how maddening and damaging many of them often were. This is because, in the majority, they have helped to get us to where we are as a country.
“Yet since last week’s announcement, muddled messaging and rowing back by government threatens to undermine confidence in the re-opening and long-term recovery of our sector. We now need a message of confidence and reassurance as we did in summer 2020 around Eat Out to Help Out — because as we proved, hospitality is safe. As recent events have shown, pubs are vital to the health, wellbeing, and happiness of the nation.
“With this announcement we now begin the long road to recovery for our sector and for the country. Over the past 16 months, small brewers have lost 80% of their on-sales and built up debts averaging £30,000, which now must be repaid. Finally lifting the restrictions will give them the opportunity to begin to rebuild their business, but only if the public have the confidence to return.”
Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “The lifting of these final restrictions is a huge step on the road to recovery for England’s pubs, social clubs and breweries. 19th July will be the opportunity for our pubs to be able to trade at full capacity, with table-service replaced by people ordering and chatting at the bar.
“Not only will this see the much-anticipated return of the traditional pub experience for customers, it will also help licencees make ends meet after a devastating 16 months.
“CAMRA will continue to campaign for the government to continue to support pubs, including by changing the rate of duty charged on draught beer served in pubs to help them compete with supermarkets. Pubs are also in need of clarity from the government as restrictions lift, namely on what is expected of businesses in continued contact tracing and checking covid status, which we hope will be released in the coming days.
“We are calling on everyone to support their local pubs, social clubs and the great local breweries that serve them in the weeks and months ahead. As restrictions lift across the UK, we can help the Great British pub recover, thrive and cement their place at the heart of community life up and down the country.”
