Winter Plan could force pubs to make a ‘detrimental change’ as the sector continues to be battered

The government have introduced a “Winter Plan” with a “Plan B” as the UK enters it’s second Covid winter.

A pub, restaurant and nightlife trade body has warned the government that businesses across the UK are once again in a position where they will have to make an “enormous and detrimental change to their operating model.”

Michael Kill CEO NTIA said, “On Sunday, the sector was rejoicing that our campaigning efforts had paid off and that the policy around Covid Passports was dead.

“Today, businesses up and down the country are once again thinking they may have to make an enormous and detrimental change to their operating model in the future, if infection rates increase.

“The idea too, that a vast and logistically challenging policy can be kept in ‘reserve’ and implemented at one week’s notice, as has been reported, is absurd. It is no way to treat a sector that has already been so badly hit.

“Sometimes it feels like Ministers have no idea what it is like to run a business, let alone the types of businesses we represent.

“We have already seen the impact of the potential implementation of Covid Passports, with an estimated 30% drop in trade, ticket sales flatlining for events and workforce displacing to other industries with less stringent restrictions.

“This policy would do so much damage.

“The Government needs to recognise the sacrifices made by businesses within hospitality and the night time economy against the public health crisis, being one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic. Businesses need certainty if they are to have the confidence to invest and rebuild our industry.

“To give them this certainty, the Government should be clear that vaccine passports have been scrapped completely and aren’t part of any ‘Plan B’.”