Weekend news bulletin for pubs - 16 and 17 May

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown ahead of the weekend of 16 and 17 May.

Further reading:

  • Government plans to ‘open at least some pubs from 4 July’ - The Government is hoping to open businesses including some pubs this summer (4 July), as part of the final phase of its three-step plan to ease lockdown restrictions.
  • How will the Government’s recovery strategy affect pub staff returning to work? - The Government’s 50-page Covid-19 recovery plan states that ‘at least some’ pubs could open as early as 4 July. But what measures does it suggest could be in place to protect staff when they return to work?
  • What could the Government plans mean for customers returning to pubs? - The Government has set out a 50-page plan to emerge from Covid-19 lockdown that includes advice on three distinct phases and social distancing. But what could this mean for returning pub customers?
  • Scaled down social distancing ‘might just save’ pubs - While Brits were doing their best to enjoy a VE Day bank holiday weekend in lockdown, Denmark cut social distancing from two metres to one metre in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance. Could a similar step help UK pubs when the time comes to reopen?
  • Furlough to be extended until end of October - The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), commonly known as furlough, will be extended by four months to the end of October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak outlined in a series of tweets on 12 May.
  • Pub boss calls for more support - Further grant support from the Government will be needed if pubs are to open under any kind of restrictions, according to one of the UK’s leading pub company bosses.
  • How to get ready to claim self-employed income support - Self-employed publicans can claim the income support grant from the Government this week (online service available from Wednesday 13 May) and we take a look at exactly how to receive the funds.
  • ‘The state aid we’ve received has helped us survive’ - Tom Talbot of Livelyhood Pub Company and City Pub Group’s Clive Watson dialled in to MA500’s online conference to discuss what Covid-19 financial support they had received and how it had helped their businesses survive shutdown.