Hospitality and pub industry leaders, including the BBPA, UKH, BII and CAMRA, have today written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding support for their sector, following the delay to the roadmap for reopening, which will mean restrictions are not removed until 19 July 19 at the earliest.

The hospitality sector leaders have said they are “bitterly disappointed” by the delay to the full reopening of their sector, which will cost pubs £400m alone.

As a result, they have urged the Prime Minister to delay the reintroduction of business rates payments, which would cost the sector some £93 million in just July, by at least three months.

They have also called on the Prime Minister to prioritise the additional £1.5 billion business rates support package announced back in March, to ensure eligible businesses such as brewers can apply as soon as possible.

A spokesperson said, “Our sector is facing one of its toughest periods in its history and this latest delay is yet another setback.

“Many pubs cannot break even under current restrictions and around 2,300 still remain closed.

“It is now absolutely critical that the Government provides our sector with further support – else the recovery of our pubs will be over before they’ve even been given a chance.”

(source: BII, image: pexels)