Government has 24 hours to save Britain’s pubs from coronavirus, industry leaders warn

THE Government has 24 hours to save Britain’s pubs, industry leaders have warned as they sent a four-pronged ultimatum.

In a letter to the Chancellor The British Beer and Pub Association said thousands of pubs will go under and hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost within days without immediate help from the Government.

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The industry body is demanding the Government underwrites at least 75 per cent of wages so pubs can keep staff on and easily reopen when social distancing restrictions are lifted.

It is also calling for immediate cancellation of beer duty bills and VAT payments that are due to be paid by March 25 for the last financial year.

The BBPA is also asking Chancellor Rishi Sunak to immediately distribute the £10,000 and £25,000 cash grants promised to pub companies.

And it is also demanding the Chancellor underwrites insurance costs for business interruption for a period of at least three months for the pub sector, with money being sent to insurers or to businesses directly.

'NO TIME TO LOSE'

The industry body, which represents 90 per cent of Britain’s brewers and around 20,000 owners of pubs, warned Mr Sunak he has “no time to lose”.

In the letter to Mr Sunak - titled “24 hours to Save our Pub Industry” - BBPA chief Emma McClarkin warns: “Mass and permanent pub closures are absolutely inevitable in a matter of days without a meaningful support package.

“Some of our members are already closing pubs and there is no guarantee that they will ever reopen. We don’t have weeks; we have days to save the sector.”

In a heartfelt plea she adds: “Pubs are the heart of the community and the social hub in all towns, villages and cities across the UK.

“Urgent investment in our sector can deliver disproportionate returns in this extremely worrying time.

“The sector supports almost a million jobs across the country, many in less affluent areas.

“These jobs are in imminent danger, companies will be required to act this week regarding redundancies. The social and economic value that the sector provides to the UK is under threat. There is no time to lose.”

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