Many Aylesbury pubs and clubs 'likely to close' unless Government takes immediate action

The British Beer and Pub Association has said many pubs and clubs are likely to close amid Boris Johnson's Coronavirus measures, unless immediate action is taken.
The British Beer and Pub Association has said many pubs and clubs are likely to close amid Boris Johnson's Coronavirus measures, unless immediate action is taken.The British Beer and Pub Association has said many pubs and clubs are likely to close amid Boris Johnson's Coronavirus measures, unless immediate action is taken.
The British Beer and Pub Association has said many pubs and clubs are likely to close amid Boris Johnson's Coronavirus measures, unless immediate action is taken.

The Bell and the White Swan remain open at the moment, as does The Kings Head, Shoot Pool and Snooker, The Aristocrat, The Harrow, The Bricklayers Arms, The Old Millwrights Arms.

The claims come amid growing concerns of the future of local pubs as measures begin to halt the spread of coronavirus across the UK.

Even J.D Wetherspoon Chairman TIm Martin has called the Government's advice which suggests people should steer clear of pubs 'a tactical error'.

Liz Hind, who is the publican at The Old Millwrights Arms, said: "We've had no contact from the Government. It's been a complete and utter disaster.

"We've been told grants are available last night but we've had absolutely no indication of how we go about getting these grants.

"What we need immediately is support from Government to pay our workers. Most of them rent their properties too - so if we have to close down or don't receive support, this starts a negative cycle where people could be kicked out of their homes and forced on to universal credit.

"While the Chancellor discussed mortgage holidays or homeowners, he did absolutely nothing to help out renters."

Universal Credit applicants have to wait at least one calendar month for the first payment.

Several Job Centres have also shut down during the coronavirus outbreak.

Germany, France, Italy and several other EU Countries have moved to subsidise the wages of people affected by coronavirus closures.

The boldest move so far has come from Sweden, which is allowing businesses to defer tax payments for up to a year at a cost of more than SKr300bn (€27.5bn) to the treasury, or 6 per cent of gross domestic product.

Liz continued: "We can't afford to be putting people out of work. We need to protect bar workers jobs and the only way to do that is to refund pub owners the cost of staff wages. We don't want our staff on benefits.

"We're much more than a pub though - we're a community and we desperately need to ensure older people who come in for a drink and a chat have a support network to help them. Sometimes older people come in, we talk and they tell you horrible stories of how isolated coronavirus has made them feel."

The British Beer & Pub Association have said the measures outlined by Boris Johnson 'needed detail' with the main focus undoubtedly being on labour costs.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:

“We recognise as a sector that we are in unprecedented times and are prepared to play our part, but whilst we welcome the measures outlined today, they do not deal with the immediate cash flow and liquidity problems our industry faces.

“Local Authorities paying out grants to pub businesses is welcome, but how quickly these are administered is critical to keeping pubs in business and employees in jobs beyond the coming weeks.

“The rates relief announced for pubs is welcome in principle, but we urgently need greater clarity on the detail. Such relief provides little comfort for pubs that have no income.

“Without an urgent cash injection our sector will need to reduce its biggest cost, labour. It also won’t be able to take advantage of the planning changes proposed by Government today enabling pubs to help feed the nation through delivery.

“The Government literally has 24 hours to put together a pub specific package to prevent irreversible closures and job losses. The pub industry stands ready to work with the Government to create the rescue package that is needed.”