APPETISERS
A
s the spread of Coronavirus has ushered
Rishi Sunak announce a £330 billion package
in a series of unprecedented lockdown
of support soon after, as well as the freezing of
measures, the hospitality market has
business rates for a year.
taken a significant share of the impact. As a result,
Brands have since taken steps to protect their
restaurants and bars around the world have been
workers; Manorview Hotels has retained all staff
forced to cease operations and furlough or lay-off
on 50% of their salaries, whist Whitbread – the
vast swathes of their workforce. In the UK, a study
parent company of Premier Inn – has pledged
by the University of Essex’s Institute for Social
to keep furloughed workers on full pay by
& Economic Research predicts 6.5 million jobs
topping up the 20% of wages lost as part of the
could be lost in the fallout, with accommodation
government retention scheme.
and F&B services bearing the brunt with over
Elsewhere, unable to work in their typical
1.3 million potentially unemployed. Across the
capacity, many chefs are finding ways to
Atlantic meanwhile, The US National Restaurant
contribute to the social battle against the virus.
Association has projected up to seven million out
Facilitated by the charity Chefs in Schools, a team
of work, and a US$225 billion decline in sales.
from The Dorchester have been volunteering in
As one of the early casualties of the crisis,
Tower Hamlets’ Manorfield Primary, where,
A Workforce Immobilised With hospitality markets worldwide suffering the economic impact of COVID-19, millions of hotel bar and restaurant jobs are on the line.
some restaurants and bars opted to pivot to
like many schools, the free meal programme
delivery or collection models. But even with this
continues to feed the children of key workers.
adaptation, job losses were inevitable, as chains
Likewise, kitchen staff from The Berkeley have
and independents alike sought to minimise
been working on a voluntary basis to deliver
overheads for the survival of the company.
more than 1,500 meals a week to locals. But
In the face of this crisis, prominent individuals
whilst essential in times like these, voluntary
and groups have been quick to emphasise the
services can only last as long as there is a support
need for both clarity and community. Early
system willing and able to keep those indefinitely
action included activist and chef Alex Claridge
treading water from sinking.
of The Wilderness in Birmingham launching a
A three-week extension to the UK lockdown
petition urging British Prime Minister Boris
was announced in mid-April by British deputy
Johnson to outline a clear support plan and take
Prime Minister Dominic Raab, though it is
responsibility for the livelihoods at stake.
looking increasingly likely that a longer period of
“I couldn’t sit by and watch the hard work of
distancing will be necessary, with estimates of up
my team, my peers and 3 billion other people
to a year until a vaccine is prepared. Whether this
crumble before my eyes overnight, and started a
support – by way of loosening measures or a full-
petition to ask for our questions to be answered,”
scale bail-out – is able to carry the considerable
Claridge explains. “The £75 billion contribution
weight this amount of unemployment and
the hospitality industry adds to the economy
revenue loss comes with, remains to be seen.
annually must, we argue, afford us at least that.” Over 200,000 people signed, and contributed to ongoing industry pressure that saw Chancellor
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