Scapegoated pubs will need funding deal to survive PM’s announcement

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a three-tier local lockdown for England, CAMRA’s Chief Executive Tom Stainer said:  

“Pub-goers understand the need to tackle the virus, but today’s announcement has exacerbated the feeling that pubs have become a scapegoat for the pandemic.

“In Merseyside, pubs are being forced to close whilst similar businesses like restaurants are allowed to stay open. This is despite the fact publicans have done everything asked of them to make their venues COVID-secure. 

“In the rest of the country with medium and high alert levels, pubs face severely reduced trade as a result of the Government undermining consumer confidence. 

“Whilst measures announced by the Chancellor last week to help pubs forced to closed are necessary, those pubs that are allowed to stay open are at risk too. A quarter of pubs say they are at risk of going under by Christmas. 

“That’s why 180,000 CAMRA members across the country are being asked to e-mail their MPs today to demand a financial support package to save pubs from extinction. 

“This is a make or break moment for British beer and pubs as we know them. We desperately need a proper sector support package to help pubs and breweries at all alert levels with costs they are struggling to meet – or we risk losing our locals altogether.”