19 July move will cost £200m

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said that the continuation of trading restrictions until 19 July will cost pubs a further £200m.

Responding to the government confirmation that the lifting of all restrictions will be delayed, the BBPA has highlighted that it will cost pubs £100m each week.

The delay to lifting restrictions from 21 June to the present day has already cost pubs £200m, meaning in total the delay in the removal of all restrictions until 19 July will cost pubs £400m.

“Although continuation of the restrictions until 19 July is not a surprise, it is still a tough decision for our sector to swallow," says Emma McClarkin, BBPA chief executive. “The restrictions staying in place for at least a further two weeks will cost our pubs £200m in these weeks alone. In reality though, it will cost much more as confidence in our sector continues to remain low heading into the summer season so critical to our sector’s viability, as well as with the Euros on which normally would be a far bigger boost to our sector.

“Each week the restrictions stay in place, the likelihood of pubs being lost forever increases. It is crucial that all restrictions are now lifted on 19 July. Any further delay would be catastrophic for our sector.”

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