More than a million jobs could go as pubs, restaurants and bars face a near £8billion loss of trade amid “carnage” caused by the new Covid tiers rules, hospitality chiefs have warned.
They fear tens of thousands of businesses will close without urgent Government help. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “The new tier system will deliver another huge blow.
It is more vital than ever that the Government provides urgent further financial support.” PM Boris Johnson had earlier admitted pubs, restaurants and hotels –“the soul of our communities” – were bearing a “disproportionate share” of the burden.
Ms Nicholls said 98% of businesses in the hospitality sector now fall in Tier 2 and 3 areas, which is almost 160,000 firms with