Cancellations across North Yorkshire's hospitality sector could be the 'last straw' for many
It's as York Central MP Rachael Maskell plans to meet with businesses over Omicron impact
Last updated 17th Dec 2021
We're told a lack of financial support over the festive season could be the 'final nail in the coffin' for many businesses in North Yorkshire's hospitality sector.
'Mad Friday' is normally one of the busiest nights of the year for pubs, bars, and clubs.
However, a rise in the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has led to plenty of cancellations at local venues over the festive period-including tonight.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell will be meeting with members of the hospitality sector today (Friday, 17 December) to hear their concerns.
Meanwhile the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, will hold crisis talks with business leaders who have seen takings plummet due to fears over the spread of Omicron.
The North Yorkshire MP faces pressure to produce a rescue package for the hospitality sector as Christmas festivities have been scaled back after the rapid growth in cases of the coronavirus variant.
The latest daily figures showed almost 90,000 Covid-19 cases were recorded as of 9am on Thursday, the highest figure so far in the pandemic, and a health chief warned there could be a "major problem" as the latest wave hits NHS staff.
Boris Johnson insisted that the Plan B measures he has imposed in England are "sensible" and "proportionate" while the booster jab campaign proceeds.
"Lockdown by stealth"
Mr Johnson rejected claims the Government was imposing a "lockdown by stealth" but urged people to be "cautious" about their activities over Christmas.
But the impact of the measures already taken have hit pubs and restaurants hard, forcing Mr Sunak to cut short a work trip to the United States to fly home for talks with the sector.
The Chancellor said "I appreciate that it is a difficult time for the hospitality industry" and promised the Government would continue to do "whatever it takes" to support lives and livelihoods.
Trade body UK Hospitality's boss Kate Nicholls and pub chiefs have made a plea for business rates relief and VAT discounts to be extended, warning that the sector has been knocked harder than expected by the new restrictions.
Ms Nicholls said hospitality sales have already plunged by more than a third over the past 10 days with £2 billion of trade already lost in December.
The British Beer and Pub Association said an estimated three million Christmas bookings had been cancelled in the past week.
Premises are forecast to sell 37 million fewer pints and lose out on £297 million in trade across the festive period compared to 2019.
The combination of the Plan B restrictions and Prof Whitty's comments meant "consumer confidence has been hugely undermined", chief executive Emma McClarkin said.
In a letter to Mr Sunak she said a failure to offer further support "risks mass closures in an industry which remains on a knife-edge after a brutal previous 21 months".