Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement to Parliament today (5 November), National Chairman of CAMRA Nik Antona has made comment.
Antona said, “The Chancellor’s announcement that the furlough scheme will be extended until March 2021 with an 80% contribution from government is welcomed news for pubs who have struggled to make ends meet - not just in lockdown periods, but also as a result of restrictions such as the curfew and limits on household mixing.
“These measures have reduced trade and knocked consumer confidence, making it hard for publicans in all tiers of restrictions – and in all nations of the UK - to pay fixed costs, meet wages bills and turn a profit.'
Antona finished “As well as furlough support, CAMRA continues to call on the Chancellor to commit to a long-term, sector-specific financial support package to see pubs and the breweries that serve them through the tough winter months ahead. Otherwise, we risk seeing thousands of pubs being forced to close for good.”