During the past six months we have published headlines that seven months ago we would never have considered, the regular use of words like ‘catastrophe’ have unfortunately not been out of kilter. So, we make no apology for using them.
The emergence of Covid-19 has been literally catastrophic for all too many hospitality businesses already. Businesses that were loved, were viable and maintained viable employment for tens of thousands of people have disappeared through no fault of their own.
As an industry hospitality has more than played its part in combating Covid-19.
In March, the hospitality industry ‘did its duty’ and following government guidelines closed to help stem the tide of transmission.
In July, following significant investment in enabling ‘safe hospitality’ many providers reopened doors and returned to welcoming guests under limited trading conditions.
In August, hospitality was at the forefront of the government’s policy to start getting the country back to some semblance of normality through engaging with Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out Scheme. This helped many in hospitality and was much appreciated.
Now, as parts of the UK are once again locked down amidst a myriad of policies that seem little more than whims, the hospitality industry faces an Autumn of confusion and a winter of… obliteration.
Some hospitality businesses have been rightly closed for flouting Covid-19 regulations, we report on and applaud that. We try not to report through rose tinted spectacles but with objective pragmatism.
Covid-19 is here to stay, it is not going away and will be with us for the foreseeable future.
Even when vaccines are discovered and tested to be safe for use, Covid-19 is unlikely to be totally eradicated. So, at some point we are going to have to learn to live with it.
We are not advocating heard immunity or simply opening up hospitality as was pre Covid-19.
We are advocating questioning the actions of the government to date as many of their actions do need to be questioned.
The most recent measure to ‘curfew’ hospitality from 10pm has been implemented without any scientific justification to support the action. It looks like a policy based on an assumption that hospitality is now no more than a sacrificial lamb for government. A government hoping to look as if it is doing something effectively, when it patently is not.
For millions of people who are passionate about being hospitable to others for their living, the cost of this sacrifice is far deeper than financial.
News from the hospitality and cratering industry is also being featured extensively in our Facebook and twitter social media accounts with the opportunity to engage with others in hospitality and share your views.
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Hospitality & Catering News: hospitality curfew sacrificial lamb – 29 September 2020 – hospitality curfew sacrificial lamb
