Boris Johnson's lockdown easing plans: Businesses react to PM's 'road map' including reopening of pubs and hotels

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his plan for easing lockdown restrictions in England over the next few weeks and months.

The "cautious" proposals for moving out of the national lockdown were unveiled by Mr Johnson in parliament following a virtual meeting of the cabinet on Monday.

The Prime Minister said there was no "credible route" to a zero-Covid world, but the success of the vaccine would help ease restrictions.

Leaders across the South West have spoken out in response to the lifting of rules , which will be made in four steps. The first step will see schools and colleges reopening on March 8, and two households of up to six people meeting outside, including in private gardens, by March 29.

Outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis courts and outdoor swimming pools, will also reopen on that date and people will no longer be legally required to stay at home. However, they should still work from home where possible, the Prime Minister said.

Step two, which will be five weeks later and no earlier than April 12, will see non-essential shops, hairdressers, nail salons and holiday lets reopening. Pubs and restaurants will be able to operate outdoors without a curfew too. Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will also reopen as well as community centres.

Step three will start on May 17 and will see the 'rule of six' replaced by a maximum gathering of 30 people outdoors. Pubs will also reopen indoors and hotels, hostels, B&Bs, theatres, concert halls and sports stadiums will open back up. The Prime Minister said the UK will also pilot larger events.

Step four will start on June 21, including removing all legal limits on social contacts, including weddings and nightclubs. Mr Johnson said the UK could potentially use testing to reduce the risk of infection. He also said the Government was considering "Covid-safe certification" although it was "aware" of the risks of exclusion with that.

The Government has said it will be led by data not dates, however, and easing will only take place if the right progress is made with stopping the spread of the virus.

All the dates set out by the Prime Minister are based on:

• The vaccine deployment programme continuing successfully;
• Evidence showing vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated;
• Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS;
• The assessment of the risks is not changed by new variants.

There have been mixed reactions across the South West of England, where hospitality and tourism is a major industry.

'A good starting point'

The CBI South West said the proposals offer "hope" for the country - and for business.

“The roadmap is a good starting point to the hard yards ahead and caution is rightly the watchword," said Deborah Fraser, CBI South West director. "Businesses in the South West back the step-by-step approach to re-opening and an end to damaging stop-start restrictions."

She added: “We now need to turn this roadmap into genuine economic momentum. The Budget is the second half of this announcement – extending business support in parallel to restrictions will give firms a bridge to the other side. This is particularly needed for sectors who will have to wait for up to three months to re-open and have an anxious 10 days ahead before the Budget.

“Meanwhile businesses are committed to working with government to refresh practical guidance for firms and to fast-track the roll out of tests in workplaces in the months ahead.

“With good news coming every day on the vaccines, the roadmap offers a pragmatic and safe route out of lockdown in England. South West businesses will play their full part in doing so with public health in mind and the confidence to kickstart a recovery.”

'We are extremely disappointed'

Raoul Fraser, founder of holiday park company Lovat Parks, which has three parks in Cornwall and one in the New Forest, said he was "extremely disappointed" his business would be unable to reopen at Easter.

"We are very grateful for the government support over the past year and hope that our holiday parks will be able to re-open safely on April 12.

"We have a number of Covid-19 safety measures in place which we did last year and our customers benefited from the fresh air and beautiful countryside. We are extremely disappointed that none of our customers are able to visit our parks for the Easter weekend."

'It's no less depressing having it confirmed'

Hotelier James Brend, operator of Brend hotels that has 11 hotels, restaurants and golf courses in Devon and Cornwall took to twitter to call on Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak for additional support for hospitality.

Holiday lets can re-open from April 12 but hotels will have to wait until at least May 17 until they can operate.

He said: “Even tho (sic) it had already been leaked, it’s no less depressing having it confirmed that you can’t trade for another 84 days. Over to you @RishiSunak, a lot of hospitality businesses are hanging in the balance…”

'We are ready to open now'

The Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), which represents around 40 hotels in the city, said the roadmap would lead to more “short-term pain” for their businesses – but will “hopefully result in long-term gain”.

Raphael Herzog, chair of the BHA, said: “Once again, our plea for hotels to be treated fairly and equally to the likes of non-essential shops has been ignored.

“We have invested significantly in making our premises as Covid-safe as possible; it is safer to stay in a hotel having a drink at a table, with dinner served, than it is visiting a shopping mall or a grocery store.

“It’s safer for people to socialise in Covid-secure hotels and restaurants rather than have parties in their flats, houses or gardens.”

He said: “We are ready to open now. Since we have to endure this short-term pain for long-term gain, we are looking to Rishi Sunak to ensure hotels get all the support they need, and we would like to hear from him before he delivers his budget next week.

He added: “As we’re unable to open until May 17 at the earliest, it’s even more important that the Government provides us with the support we need to ensure our businesses survive. From that date it seems we will be able to have weddings and conference but restricted number, hopefully wedding will be bigger than 2 households.

'It's good to have a road map'

Stuart Elford, chief executive of Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and chair of British Chambers of Commerce South West, welcomed the “road map” and said there can be no more “stop start” for the economy from further lockdowns.

But he said it would have given businesses more confidence if the Prime Minister had outlined the economic support available now, rather than defer to the Chancellor’s Budget on March 3.

He said: “On the one hand, it’s good to have a road map, which will be welcomed by businesses, but the downside is he (the Prime Minister) has not indicated the additional package of support and we now have to wait for the Budget for news on that, which is not helpful for businesses trying to plan., or those facing a cliff edge.”

He said South West businesses need to know whether business rates and VAT will be deferred, whether loan repayments will be deferred, and the furlough scheme extended, and whether “new grant and loan schemes will come in”.

“Businesses need to know now,” he said. “They are keen not to take on further debt and need confidence. Hospitality, leisure and tourism have suffered terribly, and we rely on them in the South West.

“This is why we want to know the package of support now, to prevent businesses folding.

“But a least the PM has given some idea of the minimum times we can expect to wait before certain types of businesses can open, because stop-start is damaging businesses. We need a plan out.”

'It does not give many companies real hope of surviving'

South West-based chambers of commerce Business West said many of the companies it represents would be "disappointed".

“It certainly does not give many of them real hope of surviving the next few months - particularly in the hospitality sector where so many restaurants and nightclubs will not be open until June," said Business West managing director Phil Smith.

“This means that support for hospitality businesses in particular will be so important for the Chancellor when he presents his budget next Wednesday."

The business organisation also called on a "meaningful extension" to the furlough scheme, with some training and re-training commitments included.

“I have to say that I am hopeful this support will be forthcoming from the Treasury as the Prime Minister promised business: “We will not pull the rug out," added Mr Smith.

“That gives struggling companies some hope that they can hang on with further furlough support. We also hope that Rishi Sunak can also extend the business rates holiday for companies."

He added: “What we saw today was a cautious Prime Minister who was intent on not falling into the trap of overpromising and not delivering.”

'Clarity on dates around weddings welcome'

Cornish wedding planners have welcomed clarity on wedding restrictions being lifted.

The government has announced that subject to the key coronavirus data requiring dates to change, weddings with 15 guests can take place again from 12 April. From 17 May the number of guests at weddings can increase to 30 and from 21 June there will be no restrictions on weddings.

Leading wedding planner Hazel Parsons, co-founder of Cornwall’s Out of the Ordinary Weddings, said: “Clarity around these dates will be welcomed, both by couples who have had to put their wedding plans on hold, and businesses who depend on weddings for their survival.

“Weddings bring £14.7 billion to the economy annually, supporting jobs and businesses from florists to photographers. These businesses employ over 400,000 workers across the UK. The restrictions on weddings have meant many of these businesses have struggled to survive.”

She said that small weddings are likely to remain even after restrictions ease as modest gatherings have become more socially acceptable - and there will be more elopements than ever before.

“Scenic areas like Cornwall and Devon are set to benefit from this trend.”

'Create an extra bank holiday'

Tim Jones, chairman of South West Business Council, said that with hospitality, leisure, tourism and retail now not unlocking until after the Easter weekend, the Government should look at creating an additional bank holiday.

But it must also ensure that a fourth lockdown never happens.

He said: “This road map is not a surprise to the business community, we expected April and May would be the target dates.

“But it does provide a degree of certainty, the yo-yo effect has been difficult to manage for businesses, going in and out of lockdown. And lockdown four would be unthinkable.”

He said businesses would rather wait for the vaccine programme to provide enough protection so they could open for good, than end lockdown early and face another period of inactivity.

Mr Jones said the prospect of continental travel remaining unlikely could also bring a boost for South West tourism and businesses would rather wait patiently than risk returning to action too soon and face another lockdown.

“Most businesses in leisure, retail, tourism and hospitality are saying they would prefer certainty and not return to lockdown, or a tiered system, which did not work,” he said.

He said there is widespread expectation that the Government will announce support packages in the March 3 Budget but stressed: “There is potential for some more initiatives, until we are at the point where we are fully up and running again. In one case an additional bank holiday, if we are going to lose Easter, would bring an injection of cash to the South West.”

But Mr Jones was disappointed that while Mr Johnson announced the reopening of schools from March 8, there was not firm statement on universities.

Mr Jones said the higher education sector was important for the region’s businesses and should operate “in parallel” with schools.

“We will be lobbying for that element,” he said.

'Light at the end of the tunnel'

Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said the Prime Minister’s roadmap provided some "very welcome" direction of travel.

He said: “Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, many businesses in the hardest hits sectors such as non-essential retail, leisure and hospitality may be disappointed with the timescales and feel he is being overly cautious.

“The roadmap shows that the earliest opening date for such sectors falls after the Easter weekend, but it does at least give businesses a timeframe to work to.

“Clearly, it is now up to all of us to take every step necessary to ensure we hit each milestone on the roadmap at the very earliest opportunity.

“We also require clarity from the Chancellor in the Budget next week about support for businesses and re-assurance that there will be no cliff-edge when it comes to phasing this out.”

'A long road ahead'

Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth, said there was still "a long road ahead" for hospitality and tourism businesses.

She said it was "crucial" the government supported the sector, including extending furlough, continuing business rates relief and extension of VAT to 5% as well as further grants.

“Our sector has been hit incredibly hard by Covid-19, with over 52% of business for 2020 lost already up to January and 40% of businesses saying they believe they will not survive post May.

"Across the wider SW region there are currently over 160,000 people in the sector on furlough with a loss of £3.7bn in turnover.

“Not being able to welcome tourists for Easter will be a further blow for many, however with a series of steps outlined businesses will be able to start to plan ahead for the rest of the year.

"We have been, and will continue to lobby government for further support for the sector, particularly in relation to VAT relief and furlough extensions.

"We look forward to being able to start to fully reopen from May 17 and will continue to work closely with our partners across the city to put Plymouth and its tourism and hospitality offer in the best possible position for recovery.”

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