RAI
The RAI were screaming 1 in 2 were going to close without government supports & lobbing for the taxpayer to foot the bill for EWSS, Reduced Rents, Water Charges, & Reduced Vat, Outdoor Dinning Furniture (who paid for the outdoor insurance?) & it was going to take at least 2 years to return to 2019 levels.
Bail Outs? What do you think?
The government did supply supports with EWSS, CRSS, BRSS, reduction in the 13.5% - 9% Vat rate, Tax Warehouse & Commercial Rate Waiver.
When these were in place and the whole industry was treading the water the builders were released from hibernation in May 2021, it was clear the effects of lock down were varied & to my horror it was evident many many pubs & eateries had the said builders in, painters & decorators, completing substantial and expensive refits and refurbishment. It was my turn to scream loudly, when will the bill be paid?
Are we now in a better place?
Some decent eateries which were really good sociable places to meet & which have been very well government supported are now just takeaways but stacked to the ceiling with packaging and goodies to serve their online business. You have to applaud their entrepreneurship but to what cost to the local community & it leaves me with this thought were did their staff go? & with the government taking redundancy out of the restaurateur’s hands that’s a win win for them.
Whats Changed?
Have quick look around on your next trip to your local. We have heard all the guff Covid has brought new improved tec, better customer engagement super standards in hygiene (which should have been there Pre C anyway) new improved menus,better sustainably choices, lowered carbon foot print. (Really) & I forgot to mention the new super improved fast service!!!!!! & I guess we will be paying for this forever.
Every place that could, was opened for takeaway during covid and now are left with a lot of containers that ,no all, but some are not recyclable or compost. Not much had changed in the smaller places since Covid-19, buying a lot of food from a long distance somehow is less expensive then buying at the local shops so I really don't see any change in the carbo foot print and if is even possible the staff are getting slower.
Great job.