Following prime minister Boris Johnson's speech on Sunday (May 10), foreign secretary Dominic Raab confirmed that restaurants would reopen on July 4 "at the very earliest". Read the full story here.
The impact of the coronavirus crisis is being felt across all industries, but few are suffering quite as visibly as hospitality sector.
Questions are being raised about how – and indeed, if – the restaurant industry in London can survive the financial ramifications of being forced to close its drinking and dining spaces.
We put some of the key questions to restaurant business insider Katrina Kutchinsky, founder of AKA Commmunications, who explained how restaurants are reacting to the ongoing situation.
When will restaurants be able to open again?
“It’s hard to know, but what is clear is that restaurants, bar and pubs will be among the last to exit lockdown as they are major hubs of social activity.”
How will they be different?
“If the recommendations are to be believed, most will have to remodel their floor plans with space for 20 to 30 per cent capacity, removing tables and chairs so that diners will still be able to adhere to the two-metre rule.”
How many restaurants do you estimate will survive this?
“Covid-19 and the ensuing post-lockdown period are going to be utterly catastrophic for the hospitality industry. At the start of lockdown, a lot of the industry saw their revenue completely disappear overnight. Now, how are you going to pay staff when you have no income and no idea when you can reopen?”
Will they be able to make money with a restricted number of diners?
“No. It is incredible that most London restaurants even manage to break even with the rising price of food and usually exorbitant rents. Heartbreakingly many of them will have to remain closed forever.”
How can we support restaurants while they remain closed?
“Delivery is a huge thing and many places that didn’t deliver before are now offering it, so you can have fine dining at home. Other restaurants have started delivering grocery boxes. You can also donate to Hospitality Action, which has set up a fund to make a one-off award to eligible workers facing hardship.”
What can the Government do to support them?
“Although the Chancellor has helped tremendously, we need more help otherwise 3.2 million jobs could be lost and an industry which contributes £120 billion to the economy annually will be lost forever. That’s why we are calling on the Government to agree a nine-month rent-free period for all hospitality businesses. The campaign is called #NationalTimeout.”
From Katrina Kutchinsky, restaurant and bar publicist and founder of AKA Communications, as told to Lizzie Edmonds
