One of the UK’s best known hospitality chains has axed 1,300 jobs, with all workers set to leave by Christmas.
Mitchells and Butlers – which owns Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery – said more than 1,000 workers have been placed on consultation.
The business said it could no longer support the roles due to lockdown restrictions that could see many regions placed into Tier 3 measures on Thursday.
Latest figures show Mitchells and Butlers has taken a £123million hit since the start of the pandemic.
The majority of Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery branches remain temporarily closed across England, though many of its 1,700 outlets could reopen in Tier 1 and 2 regions from December 2.
However, even in these areas, trading will be limited to 11pm with last orders at 10pm.
The pub chain which employs 44,000 people in around 1,700 restaurants, furloughed 99% of its workforce in March.
The redundancy announcement adds to a growing number of job cuts made by hospitality chains in recent months.
Wetherspoon is cutting up to 450 jobs from six pubs in airports, while Revolutions Bars said it will shut a total of six sites.
Greene King is also axing 800 jobs and closing 79 pubs, while Marston's has admitted 2,150 staff are at risk.
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Elsewhere, Carluccio’s, Costa Coffee, Gregg’s and Pizza Hut have all announced redundancies since the start of the pandemic.
Phil Urban, chief executive of Mitchells and Butlers, said the future remains uncertain.
"Throughout a very uncertain and challenging year our businesses and teams have adapted quickly,” he said.
"We saw direct evidence of this from a strong trading period in July and August before further restrictions came into force.
"With our great estate, balanced portfolio of brands and proven management team, we remain optimistic that we will be able to regain the momentum previously built and continue to achieve sustained market outperformance, when the current operating restrictions are eased."
