Hospitality industry to stage London protest over Coronavirus restrictions

By James McAllister

- Last updated on GMT

Hospitality industry to stage London protest over Coronavirus restrictions

Related tags Coronavirus Hospitality Protest Government

Members of the hospitality industry will converge on Parliament Square next week to peacefully protest the restrictions being imposed on businesses in the sector.

Organised by long-standing industry marketer Rachel Harty, HospoDemo demonstrators will urge the Government to rethink its policies relating to hospitality venues, both in terms of restrictions being placed on businesses and the level of industry-specific support available to help compensate them.

The protest will take place at 10:30am on Monday 19 October.

Demonstrators from all corners of the industry will come together to represent their trades, dressed in uniform, and equipped with pots, pans, ladles, cocktail shakers, wooden spoons and other hospitality-related props with which to make themselves heard.

Expected attendees will include Jason Atherton, Tom Aikens and Jillian Maclean.

All attendees have been advised to adhere to social distancing measures and to come wearing a face covering.

“The blows that have been dealt to the UK hospitality industry over the last six months have caused a great deal of frustration and hardship," says Harty.

"Hospitality outlets have responded by investing heavily in safety measures to enable staff to return to work, and to encourage customers back through the door.

"However, the recent 10pm curfew and increasing local lockdowns have created an existential threat to a large proportion of hospitality businesses.

"The sector has already lost 25,000 premises since March, and it’s time for strong government action to prevent the loss of more businesses and jobs and protect a sector that is part of the fabric of this country.”

It comes as restaurant and pub owners in the capital face the prospect a further hit to trade as a result of the Government's decision to raise the city's Coronavirus alert level from 'medium' to 'high'.

The move, which 'could be the death knell' for thousands of hospitality businesses​, will mean households across London will be barred from mixing in any indoor setting including pubs, restaurants and bars

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