British pubs were on life support before the pandemic. Many won’t survive new restrictions
CNNThe Southampton Arms barely survived the spring. “I think this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many,” Tim Martin, founder and chairman of the Wetherspoon pub chain, told CNN Business. “We’re taking away the ancient, inalienable right of free-born people of the United Kingdom to go to the pub, and I can understand how people feel about that.” Even before the pandemic hit, the industry was struggling, as people ditched drinking in pubs for bars, restaurants and their homes. “The way it was done caused many problems and caused tens of millions of pounds of lost stock.” New restrictions Holt of the Southampton Arms said he’s “very worried” about the new restrictions. Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said in a statement that there “seems to be little available evidence that pubs, with their strict adherence to government guidelines, are unsafe.” “Pubs were struggling to break even before today and these latest restrictions will push some to breaking point,” she said.