CAMRA responds to Chancellor’s announcement on extra financial support for pubs

Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement of grants and changes to the Job Support Scheme, CAMRA Chief Executive Tom Stainer said:

“Pubs in areas under Tier 2 restrictions felt like they had the worst of all worlds, with additional restrictions reducing trade further but without receiving additional support – so these new financial support packages, which CAMRA had called for, will be warmly welcomed by the beer and pubs sector.

“New funds for Councils to issue grants for pubs and hospitality businesses, together with reducing the contributions businesses have to pay towards staff wages, will give pubs in areas with high and very high restrictions a much better chance of surviving.

“We hope that the Government will now encourage all local councils to use the 5% of additional discretionary funding available to make sure that breweries and cider makers receive grants and the financial support they need to cope with reduced trade.

“But we are not out of the woods yet. The Chancellor must look at a long-term package of financial support covering pubs and brewers in all tiers to help them cope with reduced trade and knocked consumer confidence from measures like the 10pm curfew. This would make sure we avoid permanent mass pub closures and keep our locals, which are at the heart of our communities, open and alive through the difficult weeks and months ahead.”