The One Voice group of industry and consumer trade bodies have today written to Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government regarding the news that the temporary extension to Pavement Licenses has now been made permanent.
The move, allowing pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to continue trading in these vital additional outside spaces, has been welcomed by the hospitality sector. The new pavement culture will allow customers to continue reconnecting with friends and family in more places than ever, as part of the Government’s wider High Street Strategy, also launched this week.
They have however, requested that MHCLG promotes a pragmatic and collaborative approach specifically from Local Authorities, with hospitality businesses as they start their road to recovery.
A spokesperson for the trade bodies said:
“We are encouraged by the specific announcements from Government this week, fully recognising the contribution from the hospitality sector and its central role in the nations’ economic recovery.
“We will now need a consistent, collaborative and pragmatic approach from Local Authorities to ensure that the spirit of this decision is reflected locally, in order that hospitality can truly take advantage of this permanent expansion of their outside areas.
“Also, as legal restrictions are lifted, replaced by Government guidance, hospitality businesses will be operating to a risk assessed approach, tailored to their individual venues, which needs to be fully understood by Local Authorities.”
Notes to the editor:
About the British Institute of Innkeeping:
The BII is the leading independent licensee support organisation for individuals working in hospitality, with over 9,000 individual members running premises across the UK – predominantly tenanted, leased, managed and freehold pubs. The organisation provides expert helplines, online business support, and guidance on key industry issues, face-to-face networking opportunities and savings on a range of supply deals for its members.
Press release from BII
For further information please contact:
Molly Davis, Head of Communications on molly.davis@bii.org