Sacha Lord: 'Hard work starts on 19th of July'

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Speaking to Express.co.uk Mr Lord, Night Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester and founder of Parklife festival, outlined how the UK hospitality industry will take years to get back to pre-pandemic levels. Mr Lord explained how despite how things may appear on the surface on 19th July ‘Freedom Day’, the piling debt and accrued rents of businesses behind the scenes will take “at least three years” to clear. As a result he went on to issue a passionate call to arms for Brits to get out and support local businesses as soon as possible on the 19th July as the country begins its economic fight back from coronavirus.

Mr Lord said: “I was asked if you are going to be able to relax on the 19th July.

“The simple answer is no, that is when the hard work starts.”

He stressed how on the 19th July the public will walk into pubs and restaurants and “it will look like its back to normal” which he said is a positive for the British public.

But he highlighted how behind the scenes “the amount of debt hospitality has taken on – its been phenomenal”.

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For an industry already on its knees, Mr Lord stressed life for the hospitality industry will not simply go back to normal as the ripple effect of covid will impact the industry for years.

He added: “VAT has been building up, rents accrued, people I know have borrowed money off friends and family just to stay affloat.

“That is going to take at least three years to have it fully paid back and get back to pre-pandemic levels.”

And in a passionate plea to Britons up and down the country, Mr Lord urged people to get out and support local haunts to help in building Britain back from a catastrophic period for UK businesses.

UK hospitality industry in 'catastrophic' situation says expert

He said: “Anyone that is watching, I would urge you – the second the 19th July arrives, if we can open up fully, then please go and support your independents.

“We need to do everything we can to support them and just get them through the next few months – it’s going to be tough for them.

“They have done everything they can to keep people’s jobs in line for the last 16-months – they have done it for their workers, now we need to do it for them.”

Mr Lord’s comments come as his industry has faced countless setbacks in the past 18-months due to coronavirus restrictions of which Mr Lord says has been compounded by “a catalogue of errors” from the Government.

Major setbacks in the past year have included the delay on the re-opening of indoor dining until May 17 which Mr Lord took the Government to court over in order to force them to prove the science behind the restrictions. Mr Lord lost the case despite the Government failing to provide evidence for their decision.

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But as a result of a second, separate ruling, Mr Lord along with Hugh Osmond, founder of Punch Taverns, triggered the scrapping of the bizarre clause which labelled Scotch Eggs as a substantial meal.

Despite the rule causing much amusement among the public it had a devastating impact on businesses and jobs.

The pair also forced the Government to scrap the unpopular 10pm curfew for venues which was also highly damaging to the hospitality industry.

Tough covid restrictions and rulings surrounding the sector has sent thousands of businesses to the slaughter by rendering them unable to operate under the restrictions, it is estimated 188,000 people have lost their jobs in the industry as a result of coronavirus.

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