Clive Watson on Brexit: "The trade would suffer"

Clive Watson, chairman of the City Pub Company and father of structured reality television show Made in Chelsea star Lucy Watson, thinks that to leave would affect staff and trade.

• The PMA500 will be discussing the EU referendum at the next club event in Soho on 28 May. Email Jo Horton to attend.​​

He believes that leaving the EU would cause issues with staffing as in their London pubs, virtually all their staff are from the European Union.

Watson added: “We have staff from France, Spain and Holland.

“They bring culture into business.”

He also believes that it is difficult to recruit “home grown staff” especially in London and other large cities and maintain the present level of service should Brexit happen.

Adding that this could result in “a reduction in sales, poorer offers, ultimately reducing tourism”.

He also mentioned that: “People come to Britain to work because it is a good place.
“The fact that we attract these people shows that there must be something good about our country.”

Following the Brexit survey conducted by William Reed, 41% of people asked said that they thought the prices of food and drink would increase.

Watson agreed with the outcome of the questions and said: “Trade would suffer as goods would become more expensive.”

The City Pub Company is holding quizzes on the referendum.

These will be held in Bath, Bristol and Notting Hill in London.

Watson concludes that the reason behind the quizzes is to “give people the opportunity to get engaged at a pub level.”