Aylesbury Vale pub calls for better communication over grants
They say that guidance and support has been lacking throughout the pandemic
The organisation of grants for pubs needs to be improved, to help them get through the pandemic.
That's from an Aylesbury Vale pub, as one survey shows 74% of pubs are still waiting on Christmas grants.
The Chandos Arms in Weston Turville say they are lucky to have received the grants they have through the government's grants, but say even for them its been difficult.
The grants system was introduced to support an industry struggling in the coronavirus world of lockdowns and extensive restrictions even when open.
But, Holly from The Chandos Arms says there has been a serious gap in communication:
"We applied for the first grant on Friday, and it was in the bank on Monday, but there was nothing else?
"We didn't receive any notification or anything, it was just in the bank. We were thankfully awarded the highest amount, but the criteria wasn't clear.
"But then for the November grant, we didn't even get half of the full amount. The £1,200 we got didn't even cover wages for a week, and that is with furlough.
"From the first to the second lockdown what is the difference? We can't be open but the funds dropped by over £20,000.
"Then for this lockdown, we just got an email from Aylesbury Vale District Council that we have been awarded 3 grants.
"These all got paid in the same day though, why not spread them out? It feels like a shambles really, we don't have the full criteria of what we can apply for and what we are entitled to."
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has today revealed that 3 in 4 wet led pubs (74%) are still yet to receive their Christmas grant promised to them by the Prime Minister at the beginning of December 2020.
Stewart, Holly's business partner at The Chandos Arms says they know they are in a better position than others:
"The restrictions that we have the grants should have been clearer and eligible for more pubs.
"We are fortunate we offer food and drinks, so have been able to offer delivery and takeaway.
"But I know of countless pubs that do not have kitchens and cannot offer that and so are limited to what they are entitled to.
"There is so much confusion, one minute you cannot apply for a grant then you can and then you can't.
"I understand why there might be confusion because it has had to be organised to quickly but there are a lot of mixed messages.
"It seems like we have had to take a back seat on it all and are not being communicated with.
"We just don't have the resources to go through all of it."