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Feb 15 (Reuters) - Wetherspoon founder and Chairman
Tim Martin on Monday called on the government to open pubs at
the same time as non-essential shops reopen, saying the pub
industry was on its knees under the latest lockdown and warned
of economic mayhem.
Britain's hospitality sector has been hit hard by the third
coronavirus-led lockdown which forced Wetherspoon into a second
cash call last month.
"Surely it is possible for the hospitality industry to
reopen at the same time as non-essential shops, now that a
vaccine exists, on the basis of the social distancing and
hygiene regulations, which were agreed with the health
authorities, after full consultation, for the July 4 reopening
last year," Martin said.
"Unless the industry does reopen on that basis, economic
mayhem will inevitably follow," he said.
The British Beer & Pub Association also urged the government
last week to give a clear timeline and date for when pubs could
reopen. https://bit.ly/3qoL5QT
Pubs reopened on July 4 last year after the first lockdown
was lifted, followed by a second lockdown later that year.
Martin, an outspoken critic of coronavirus restrictions,
last year accused the government of panicking.
Data showed on Sunday that 15 million first doses of
COVID-19 vaccinations had been delivered in Britain, fuelling
calls for a relaxation of lockdown measures.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out on Feb. 22
the government's plans to ease the lockdown.
(Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru; editing by David
Evans)
