Editor’s Viewpoint: The Warning Signs Were There All Along
By Peter Adams, Editor, CLH News.
The news that 111,000 hospitality jobs will be lost by November’s Budget should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention.
At the risk of sounding like a “stuck record,” this is a warning we and many other observers, spokespeople, and operators have been sounding for the past 13 months.
The tone deafness is truly astonishing. Like you, I watch government officials talking up the economy and how well we’re supposedly doing, and I find myself wondering: am I living in a parallel universe?
The harsh reality is staring us in the face. The sector has lost 8,500 jobs each month since last October – that’s almost 300 jobs EACH DAY.
These aren’t just statistics on a spreadsheet; they’re real people, real livelihoods, and real communities being devastated.
What’s particularly galling is that this crisis isn’t happening in isolation. As the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has reiterated, the government simply cannot place further burdens on businesses when Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her Budget next month.
Jane Gratton, deputy director of public policy at the BCC, put it succinctly: “The ongoing impact of business cost pressures, most notably from the national insurance hike, continues to hit the labour market.”
She’s absolutely right when she adds: “Firms can’t absorb further cost pressures. That’s why we are clear, there must be no more taxes on business in November’s Budget.”
So it’s not just “sour grapes” from our sector then.
Everyone is saying it – from trade bodies to chambers of commerce, from operators to economists. The warning bells are ringing from every corner of British business.
The hospitality sector has always enjoyed a reputation for resilience, for bouncing back from adversity.
We’ve weathered recessions, pandemics, and countless challenges over the decades. But there is a point of no return, and we’re dangerously close to it.
I sincerely hope the Chancellor heeds these warnings. The choice is stark: either provide genuine support to a sector that employs over 2 million people and serves as the backbone of British social life, or watch as pubs, restaurants, and venues continue to disappear from our high streets and communities at an alarming rate.
On a brighter note, the next 10 days mark Cask Ale Week, and I’m pleased to say that approximately 10,000 pubs and breweries across Britain are participating in this year’s celebration, which runs until 28 September.
It’s Friday as I write this, and I’m off tonight to celebrate at the Goat & Tricycle here in Bournemouth – fantastic for real ales! This presents significant opportunities for licensees to drive footfall and showcase traditional cask-conditioned ales.
Please do share your photos and comments with us – let’s celebrate what makes British hospitality truly special, while we still can.
The sector deserves better than the current trajectory. The question is: will anyone in Westminster be listening?
I would encourage all our readers to follow us on X/Twitter @CLHNews and visit our website at www.catererlicensee.com to sign up for our twice weekly e-newsletter.
I can always be contacted at edit@catererlicensee.com