Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to unveil his package to boost the economy. As the ailing hospitality industry expects a temporary cut in VAT to boost spending, Pub and restaurant owners in the capital eagerly await Sunak's plan of action.
Ranjit Mathrani, chairman of Masala Zone parent MW Eat, said Sunak needed to “protect jobs, by providing a route to fund a return to part-time work with full furlough for longer for hospitality firms and double the employer National Insurance Contribution threshold".
Mathrani had a number of other suggestions the government could look at to help companies, including extending the business rates holiday for firms in the hospitality sector.
Patrick Frawley, founder of East London Pub Co, said: “Sales are about 40% of what we usually do and I think we did well to achieve that. Additional staff and security are required to operate within the guidelines which won’t be sustainable even in the short term.”