Almost 40% of hospitality businesses say Government’s tier system is difficult to enforce

Almost 40% of operators say they are finding the Government’s rules a challenge, either because they are too hard to enforce or because customers are not being truthful about the nature of their visits.

The latest Lumina Intelligence poll of board level hospitality operators shows that a quarter of hospitality operators believe they do not feel they can properly adhere to the Government’s localised lockdown policy, citing the rules as difficult to enforce.

In addition, 15% of the hospitality operators asked believe customers are 'not playing by the rules' and exploiting loopholes in the Government’s tier system.

Under the rules in England, businesses in Tier I have to adhere to the ‘rule of six’, which means only groups of up to six people from different households can meet indoors, while in tiers two and three no households are allowed to mix indoors. In addition, hospitality businesses in Tier three have to close unless they can operate as a restaurant and serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks.

Scotland, meanwhile, is operating a five-tier system from 0-4 with similar restrictions. However, in Tier 3, both indoor and outdoor alcohol sales are banned, and Tier 4 mandates a complete shutdown in hospitality and non-essential retail.

Of the poll of 203 board level operators running pubs, restaurants and food to go operations, 52% of respondents are currently in a Tier 1 area, 31% in Tier 2, and 13% in a Tier 3 area.

So far areas including Nottinghamshire, Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Warrington and South Yorkshire are in Tier 3, with Birmingham expected to be added to the list.

Almost a third (30%) of hospitality operators asked believe the tiering system has given preferential treatments for businesses based in the south with one publican believing the disparity in locations was creating more problems.

“The local lockdowns are being made a mockery of by customers travelling to neighbouring areas to eat and drink, which could be a vector for increased transmission into areas that are in Tier 1,” he said.   

When asked whether the ‘loophole’ that allowed venues to host business meetings for six people from different households in tiers 2 and 3, just over a third (34%) say it is 'no use at all' in helping their business.

Confidence among hospitality leaders rose slightly this week, with the number of respondents asked who are ‘not confident’ in their future trading falling week on week to 52%.

The weekly poll is conducted by Lumina Intelligence for BigHospitality, Restaurant, MCA, and The MA​.