Oakman Inns’ Reaction to the PM’s Announcement to the Re-Opening of Pubs
Oakman Inns’ CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, said: “We’re delighted that the Prime Minister, the Government and their Scientific advisors have listened to the hospitality industry and the recent comments we’ve made with regard to our determination to open our doors, and welcome their decision to reopen the pubs and restaurants of England on 4th July. Far more important, however, is the decision to reduce the 2m social distancing rule to 1m plus.”
Borg-Neal said: “There is substantial public enthusiasm for us to reopen and we have already taken over 3,000 bookings for July 4th with two of our 28 pubs already fully booked. The critical impact for us will be the reduced capacity – not a lack of public demand. The significant challenge will be to ensure that everyone who visits us and works for us has a safe and enjoyable time.”
To comply with the new regulation to collect their customers’ contact details, Oakman Inns has created a bespoke mobile app which allows customers to make reservations and then order drinks and food from their phone without leaving their table.
“Apart from our reopening, my greatest delight, is that two households can meet inside or outside in groups of up to six, although there is still some clarification needed. It will be part of the normalisation process that will help bring the country back together, as families and neighbours are able to meet up and celebrate birthdays and anniversaries that have been on hold.
“However, for some of our colleagues in the hospitality industry it will be impossible for them to open economically until the distancing requirement has been removed. Those businesses are going to require continued financial and legislative support to give them a breathing space.”
Borg-Neal believes that the entire hospitality sector still requires a package of fiscal interventions as businesses which have effectively been halved or terminated by the Government – through no fault of their own – will have increased operating costs as well as reduced capacities as a direct result of the distancing rule.
“I’m sure the sector will require long-term financial stimulation in order to return to pre-pandemic financial levels. For example, we’d like The Chancellor to immediately cut the headline rate of VAT and would like the Government to make a full root and branch reform of Business Rates ahead of April 2021.”
Dermot King, COO of Oakman Inns, is also calling on The Chancellor to scrap employers’ NI on all employees who earn under £20K - which is in effect a tax on job creation. He explained: “This is a perfect opportunity for the Government to take control of a much-needed comeback from the appalling economic hurricane that has been created by this pandemic. One part of the economy that will be affected is the future opportunities for our young people. At Oakman Inns, we employ over 1,000 people of whom 60% are under 25, and, with a series of supporting measures, our sector, which employs over 3m people, is uniquely positioned to quickly create and provide the environment for young people to start a career and benefit from training, personal development and independence.”
King continued: “I’d also like to see a review of the fiscal disparity between supermarkets and the hospitality sectors with specific focus on VAT on food and drink sales and business rates.”
Borg-Neal added: “We now need to get on with rebuilding our pub group, retrain and take care of our 1,000 staff, support our suppliers and communities and continue to look out for all our friends and neighbours.”