Star Pubs & Bars continues to offer 90% rent reduction during lockdown

By Restaurant

- Last updated on GMT

Star Pubs & Bars continues to offer 90% rent reduction during lockdown

Related tags Star pubs & bars Public house lockdown Coronavirus

Pub group Star Pubs & Bars is to continue to offer all its pubs on core leased and tenanted agreements a 90% rent reduction during the weeks in which hospitality businesses are required to close due to lockdown in England, Scotland and Wales.

The venues will receive the concession regardless of whether or not they choose to operate a takeaway service, says the company.

The move sees Star Pubs & Bars invest a further £4 million in January and takes its total investment in rent reductions to over £44m since last March.

Announcing the move, Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs & Bars managing director has called for more support for pubs from the Government beyond the grants that were announced earlier this week.

“The Prime Minister needs to help pubs weather the months ahead by working with our sector on a roadmap to recovery. Whilst the grants announced this week are welcome, their impact is temporary and limited,” he says.

“Pubs need an extension of the business rates holiday and a cut in VAT to survive the coming months. More immediately, the Government needs to review the ban on sales of takeaway alcohol.

“This is unnecessary and damaging to many pubs for whom these sales provide a small lifeline during lockdown.

“Pubs, through no fault of their own, are being put in jeopardy by this latest lockdown and the wellbeing of those working in them put under enormous strain.”

The pub group, which is part of Heineken UK, operates around 2,500 venues that are leased out to small businesses and entrepreneurs with a supply agreement.

It says its rent concessions will continue to remain under constant review, and will depend on any Government policy alterations such as changes to tier restrictions and additional government support for the pub sector.

Related news

Follow us

Hospitality Guides

View more

Generation Next