Pubs, hotels and restaurants employ 10% of the UK workforce and have revenues bigger than aerospace, automotive and pharmaceuticals combined.
But while they are facing catastrophe with the lockdown, bosses of its biggest players warned the Evening Standard that the disruption of reopening and then having to close again if the virus resurfaced would kill many altogether.
“It will cost us a fortune to get going again. We only want to do that once,” said one.
Deep cleaning each kitchen after months of closure will cost thousands of pounds. Pubs and bars will have to spend heavily on cleaning and checking cellar systems and pipes to get up to health and safety standards.
Bigger groups will have to locate and recruit thousands of staff. Food supplies will have to be found again by which time many suppliers have either gone bust or pivoted to serve other sectors.
Kate Nicholls at trade body UKHospitality said many catering and logistics suppliers had switched to supply the NHS and supermarkets.
They would need time to pivot back and will need certainty the High Street is not going to be closed again after spending all that time and money.
Social distancing will also have a cost. Restaurants can keep tables far apart, but the reduced number of covers may make them economically unviable.
One pubs operator said: “Pubs are a place to meet and mingle. Social distancing of any sort just won’t work. It’s best to wait until the virus is gone. But that could mean closing for months. If we’re closed for much more than six months, without assistance, there won’t be an industry left to save."
