Thousands of UK pubs will go under without bailout, industry warns

Thousands of pubs will close for good unless they are granted a special bailout, the industry trade body has warned, after the government said pubs would be among the last businesses to reopen when Covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased.

Amid suggestions that pubs could be closed until Christmas, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said “extra support” would be required for an industry already in long-term decline.

In an appeal to the government, the BBPA said the furlough scheme to help businesses pay staff would need to be made available to pub owners for longer. Business rates relief could also be extended to 10,000 pubs that were currently ineligible, the BBPA said.

The Guardian