Article by: Denis Sheehan, Publisher, H&C News
When I published ‘Brexit benefits to hospitality’ it was picked up and tweeted by LBC Radio’s James O’Brien and political commentator Marina Purkiss (thank you both).
Both have twitter accounts that enjoy substantial followings, 812,000 and 59,000 respectively, and more importantly both enjoy even higher levels of engagement. At this point it is tempting to bang on about follower and engagement ratios, maybe another day, for now I will focus on impact, what the tweets referred to achieved.
They helped in directing more than 33,000 people to read the page, which of course would not take very long as it is a very short page indeed. There is a request on the page that asks any reader with information showing a benefit of Brexit to the hospitality industry in the UK to email it to me.
From 33 thousand plus readers we received very few replies, in fact only a handful.
The attempts were ‘interesting’. One saw city centres devoid of people advantageous, another thought Brexit would lead to more fish and chip shops and less curry houses, and three votes went to Brexit justifying breaking up the UK into smaller parts, including one suggesting London could be proclaimed an independent state.
What is most interesting is the total lack of one suggestion either by email, or by comment in the tweets which will have reached several 100’s of thousands of people offering anything even approaching a particle of a benefit. Not one.
So, to give both sides of the debate a chance to air their views, and in the interest of balanced reporting we are now asking readers to share the disadvantages of Brexit to the hospitality industry across the UK, and specifically the business they work with.
Please email – Editor@HandCNews.com
Note: All verifiable replies will be published here on this page as received (language Timothy) once confirmed with the author.
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“Many of our European colleagues have been forced to leave the UK and as such we have now lost much momentum in creating innovative, authentic food influenced through diversity. That special European service touch has gone, measured, friendly and knowledgeable. It took many decades to make London and much of the UK a culinary destination. Brexit, the ending of free movement, and a government perceived outside the UK as xenophobic is set to destroy that in a few years.”
Reena and Henal Chotai, Proprietors, Red Cup Café, Harrow
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“All sectors of the hospitality industry are experiencing the enormous disadvantages of Brexit. The staffing crisis is the main disadvantage which is seriously impeding the recovery of businesses at a time when they should be benefitting due to staycations. Imported food and wine price rises accompany shortages of the same in many areas. The threatened increase in energy costs is partly due to the dependence on energy imported from Europe. The Hospitality industry makes an enormous contribution to the economy so all these disadvantages will ultimately negatively impact on UK PLC’s wider recovery.
“To help combat these disadvantages needs two important decisions by Government. First relax the immigration rules to help resolve the staffing crisis. Second extend the reduction of VAT to 5% until end of March 2022 which will help the industry get back on its feet. The case for a permanent reduction in VAT has also never been stronger and again should be considered by the Chancellor.”
Harry Murray MBE, Chairman, Lucknam Park
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“Despite offering a four-day working week, above average basic pay, tips, training, and genuine career development opportunities, people willing to work in hospitality are now a rare commodity in Liverpool and across the North.
“The pandemic not only masked the immigration law changes they compounded them and magnified them as EU cousins left to be with their families then the door was closed and the locks were changed while they were away!!!
“If the new immigration policy is truly based on the country’s needs, then a Hospitality Visa incentive for Hospitality professionals with qualifications is essential, and available globally.”
Chef Paul Askew
Owner – The Art School – The Art School Cellars – The Art of Wine
Fellow & Chair, North of England, Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
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“As an industry, hospitality has benefited hugely from our closer engagement with Europe through membership of the EC and then the European Union. Whilst many of those benefits can be quantified economically one area that will have a major long term disadvantage is in the areas of the political, social and cultural links.
“The significant success of the industry over the last 40 years has in part been through a number of Europeans who have had major influences on the quality and standards that the industry can now be proud of. The Roux Brothers, Albert and Michel, Anton Mosimann, Pierre Kaufmann, are but some of the many, and the list can go on and on. Their passion, and commitment to excellence and their belief in the importance of education and training spawned subsequent generations of chefs and hoteliers. They were passionate about their adopted country, their successes were not about themselves but how they would mentor, train and support new generations of talent in being creative, innovative and true Masters of their profession.
“Brexit, some would argue will not prevent such key influencers from coming to the UK, but the counter is why should they? Politically, socially and culturally we have decided to set ourselves apart from those with whom we have the closest affinity. We have made it much more difficult to travel freely, we have established regulation and bureaucratic barriers, we have become less welcoming and less tolerant. We have become hostile rather than hospitable.
“Instead of becoming a Global Britain, we have become more introspective. To borrow and adapt, ” we seem to be blundering blindly into the future, whilst gazing fondly at the past”.
“If that is not a disadvantage of Brexit I don’t know what is.”
Professor Peter A Jones MBE FIH===========================================================================
News from the hospitality and catering 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.
Hospitality & Catering News: Following end of inquiry into Brexit benefits, new disadvantages inquiry opens. – 10 August 2021 – Following end of inquiry into Brexit benefits, new disadvantages inquiry opens.
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