Pubs and restaurants are reopening but how are they coping?

April 12th has arrived, the date that gave us the chance to finally jot something down in our calendars. Of course, this is just the first lockdown lift hurdle, so there are many rules we still have to adhere to.

Outdoor seating is an absolute must. For everyone desperate to get their fix of their favourite drink, remembering to take a coat to the pub is almost as important as remembering your mask.

As it stands, over 40% of sites have outdoor seating in England compared to Scotland who only have an average of 22.9%. By far the best types of venue providing outdoor seating happen to be community pubs and food pubs.

With only 7.2% of restaurants currently having outdoor seating, we can guess that they are most likely holding out for May 17th due to their limited outdoor space. Restaurants seem to have been hit the hardest with over 1,800 sites closing since March 2020. There has also been a 17.1% decline in casual restaurants between March 2020 and February 2021.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of British Beer & Pub Association, said in response to the Chancellor’s Budget speech: “The new grants are worth £400 million for pubs and will go some way in helping many of them survive through to the time when they can reopen and operate viably. It is, however, crucial that the Government ensures all pubs benefit - It is imperative that the Government allows pubs to operate without restrictions as planned from 21st June. This will give them the best chance to get back on their feet and serve their communities.”

We can all hope June 21st plays out the way we’ve planned and that in doing so, our pubs and restaurants will thrive again.