Weekend news bulletin for pubs - 16 and 17 May

Further reading:

• Government plans to ‘open at least some pubs from 4 July’​ - The Government is hoping to open businesses including some pubs this summer (4 July), as part of the final phase of its three-step plan to ease lockdown restrictions.​

• How will the Government’s recovery strategy affect pub staff returning to work?​ - The Government’s 50-page Covid-19 recovery plan states that ‘at least some’ pubs could open as early as 4 July. But what measures does it suggest could be in place to protect staff when they return to work?​

• What could the Government plans mean for customers returning to pubs?​ - The Government has set out a 50-page plan to emerge from Covid-19 lockdown that includes advice on three distinct phases and social distancing. But what could this mean for returning pub customers?​

• Scaled down social distancing ‘might just save’ pubs​ - While Brits were doing their best to enjoy a VE Day bank holiday weekend in lockdown, Denmark cut social distancing from two metres to one metre in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance. Could a similar step help UK pubs when the time comes to reopen?​

• Furlough to be extended until end of October​ - The Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), commonly known as furlough, will be extended by four months to the end of October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak outlined in a series of tweets on 12 May.​

• Pub boss calls for more support​ - Further grant support from the Government will be needed if pubs are to open under any kind of restrictions, according to one of the UK’s leading pub company bosses.​

• How to get ready to claim self-employed income support​ - Self-employed publicans can claim the income support grant from the Government this week (online service available from Wednesday 13 May) and we take a look at exactly how to receive the funds.​

• ‘The state aid we’ve received has helped us survive’​ - Tom Talbot of Livelyhood Pub Company and City Pub Group’s Clive Watson dialled in to MA500’s online conference to discuss what Covid-19 financial support they had received and how it had helped their businesses survive shutdown.​

• Ei offers rent credit for pubs ineligible for grants​ - Ei Publican Partnerships is giving a three-month rent credit to its pubs that are not eligible for Government grants.​