Pubs are set to mount a legal challenge against plans to shut the country's bars.
Both the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the British Beer and Pub Association are instructing lawyers over the plans which are expected to be announced on Monday.
Boris Johnson is expected to place a four-week shutdown of bars as coronavirus cases continue to rise.
It is reported that the Government wants pubs, bars, casinos and gyms to close with orders being put in place for four week blocks.
However, industry figures argue the restrictions, which have already had a significant impact on pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues across the country, are not based on any “tangible scientific evidence” that closing venues suppresses transmission of coronavirus.
Data from Public Health England shows that 24 coronavirus outbreaks linked to hospitality venues accounted for 918 total acute respiratory infection outbreaks recorded over the past week.
Michael Kill, chief executive of NTIA, which represents more than 1,400 businesses, said the hospitality industry had been left with no other option but to challenge the government, the Guardian reports.
“Another closure will undoubtedly cause extreme hardship.
"The gravitas of the situation and the impact on the industry has been elongated and uncompromising,” he said.
He added: “We need to know about the government’s methodology, the science behind it, because otherwise it just feels like these measures against the hospitality industry are disproportionate and unfair.”
Publicans across the North East have already raised concerns over the previous 10pm curfew put in place as cases in the region increased.
And this weekend, landlords in Gateshead said that they faced ruin should venues be ordered to close.
Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, is leading the challenge.
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He told the Guardian: “We are calling out for the scientific evidence that supports closure.
"The vast majority of businesses have put in place impeccable measures to protect their customers, all at an extra cost to their business, yet it feels like the government are taking another cheap shot at the hospitality industry."
A vote on the curfew has been scheduled for Tuesday.
However, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has made clear the Government will resist any legal challenge to close down pubs and restaurants under new coronavirus controls.
Mr Dowden told Sky News: “I think they will find that if they challenge the Government we do have robust evidence for doing this.
“The evidence shows that there is a higher risk of transmissions in hospitality settings. There is academic evidence from the United States.”
