Restaurant group: "we've lost thousands of pounds from cancellations because of Omicron uncertainty"
The CEO of Solita - who have a restaurant in Sheffield - says mixed messaging is hurting the hospitality sector this Christmas.
It's feared the hospitality sector in York is being hit by people being encouraged to work from home.
As of this week people in England must all "work from home if we can" under the new Plan B rules set out by the Government.
The move has been confirmed due to Omicron variant cases spreading across the UK, with new rules also stating that face masks must be worn on public transport and in some indoor venues.
Chris Harrison is CEO of Solita, who have restaurants across the UK including in Sheffield:
"Uncertainty is the word again. It's Déjà Vu and a lot of bad memories. For me, everything kind of goes back to that initial week in March 2020 at the point of which the Government told people not to go out and do things - but didn't provide support at that moment. It feels like we're there at the moment.
"How do you work from home and then support a hospitality business? It cripples lunch trade and cripples post-work drinks. All of that goes with the work from home order, and yet we're back paying business rates; VAT has increased.
"We've lost an inordinate amount of bookings because of public fear. I understand that there are a growing number of cases and Omicron is a health risk, but therefore we have to act differently and learn from what happened last time. We either react quickly and support businesses, or we decide to battle on and tell people not to work from home; to get boosted and get on with our lives. We've been left in the lurch again".
Chris says Solita have had lots of Christmas party cancellations because of uncertainty, but also lots of smaller bookings:
"One of our locations had 75 cancellations in terms of numbers just over Friday evening and Saturday - that is worth £2,500 of revenue to us. Two corporate clients cancelled their Christmas parties for this week; £11,000 of revenue gone. There's no legal reason for them to cancel, but this mixed messaging has had an impact.
"As it currently stands there's no need to wear a mask in restaurants, and that's mixed messaging. It's confusing for staff and creates uncertainty. I really feel for the staff as they've been through a lot and the impact of mental health has been big on them.
"Some of the staff are often on the lower end of the earnings scale and are working fantastically well for us, but they know if people aren't coming through the doors then hours might be affected. Trade affects us from top to bottom".
A vote on further Plan B restrictions is due in Parliament later today.