87% of operators say curfew has hit consumer confidence

08-Oct-2020 - Last updated on 08-Oct-2020 at 10:14 GMT

Industry survey: respondents are from across the hospitality industry

Almost nine in 10 (87%) operators said the Government’s 10pm curfew has hit customer confidence, an industry poll has revealed.

The latest Hospitality Leaders Poll carried out by Lumina Intelligence for MCA, The Morning Advertiser, Restaurant and Big Hospitality also found 63% of the 298 respondents won’t survive six months with the 10pm curfew in effect without further financial support.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the 10pm curfew for hospitality businesses earlier this month (Tuesday 22 September).

However, voices from across the trade including business leaders and industry bodies have called for the curfew to be scrapped.

Confidence levels

#CancelTheCurfew

The Morning Advertiser is urging its readers to use #CancelTheCurfew across your social media and to tag in your MPs and other politicians demanding an answer to the trade’s question – where’s the science for the curfew?

If they can’t answer that, then we want the Government to #CancelTheCurfew

The survey has also polled respondents’ confidence on the future of their business each week and the latest results show 48% illustrated levels of confidence.

This was a slight drop on last week when half (50%) of those asked showed some levels of confidence.

Respondents were also asked if they had faith in the Government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis with almost three quarters (73%) saying they didn’t.

Operator views

One operator said: “The curfew is causing enormous economic impact and I cannot see how it reduces the spread of Covid-19.

“The hospitality industry has been exemplary in implementing safe ways of operating - I have been so impressed by operators across the country - an industry to be proud of.

“I used the Eat Out to Help Out scheme virtually every day it was on offer and safety standards were fantastic then too. The Government must surely now see that the return of schools and colleges has been a major cause of the resurgence of the virus.”

Another said: “Table service for rural pubs increases staff costs with limited customers will see the demise of hundreds of essential rural pub communities. Increases danger to both customers and staff threefold. [The] 10pm curfew harms limiting revenue stream and dissuades customers from even coming out.”