Frustrated Northampton landlords join criticism of Government plans for pubs and lack of support

Landlords in Northampton have criticised the 'confusing' Government plans for pubs and lack of further financial support for their industry.

The official 'roadmap' for recovery says pubs could be among the group of business allowed to open from July 4 at the earliest, subject to coronavirus cases reducing.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) slammed the lack of clarity in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's speech last night (Sunday, May 10) with landlords across the country struggling.

Chris D'alessio, who owns The Picturedrome and The Old White Hart, said: "In terms of the business, we were left out of the plans.

"He's now saying July 4, but I have a feeling that won't happen and there's no protection for pubs other than grants and furlough which only go so far.

"I thought his statement was almost pointless but we're expecting more details to come."

Chris has furloughed most of his staff and is paying himself and his business partner, Suzy Keeping, enough to survive but only has enough reserves to last so far.

If pubs are allowed to open with strict restrictions on the number of customers or two-metre distances, the publican is concerned they will not make enough money to break even as his overheads are so high.

"Of course we are worried about the future when we've only been in business since November 2018 and we had a good first year," he said.

"For all of that to be taken away through no fault of anyone... it is what it is and we're all in the same position.

"We've protected the staff but now we need to think about how we're going to protect the business."

The landlord at The Wheatsheaf in Dallington, Paul Tyrrell, became so frustrated by the lack of advice and support for pubs that he wrote an open letter to the PM begging for help.

Mr Johnson's speech gave him little hope, saying: "Again we've been left on the back burner. I thought it was confusing and then the foreign secretary has been giving conflicting advice.

"It just reiterates a lot of what I wrote in my letter as here we are in limbo again with the same worries and concerns."

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said 40 per cent of pubs will not survive beyond September if the Government does not offer any more support.

“Without this specific additional financial support, the social hubs and heart of communities in many towns, villages and cities across the UK will be lost forever – resulting in immeasurable damage to the wellbeing of our nation," she said.

"Our clear and urgent ask to the Government is that they recognise the real jeopardy facing the great British pub and put in place targeted measures now to save it, or risk losing local pubs forever.”