Hospitality chiefs hail easing of lockdown restrictions

Hospitality chiefs hail easing of lockdown restrictions as drinkers and diners flood back to pubs and restaurants

Hospitality chiefs hailed the easing of lockdown restrictions as drinkers and diners flooded back to pubs and restaurants.

Fulham Shore – the owner of Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurants – said sales in the first week that indoor eating was allowed were 3 per cent higher than in the same period of 2019 before the pandemic struck. 

Tasty: The owner of Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurants said sales in the first week that indoor eating was allowed were 3 per cent higher than in the same period of 2019

And Scottish drinks company AG Barr said trading has been brisk in pubs and restaurants that sell its drinks, which include Irn Bru, Tizer and cocktail range Funkin. ‘As lockdown restrictions have eased, we have seen a positive impact on both our sales volume and mix, with a shift back towards ‘drink now’, hospitality and leisure,’ a spokesman for the company said. 

The updates came amid fears that Boris Johnson may delay the end of lockdown – due on June 21 – amid a rise in coronavirus cases and the spread of the Indian variant. 

Business chiefs have urged the Prime Minister to stick to the roadmap, with William Lees-Jones, boss of brewery and pub chain JW Lees, saying: ‘Don’t steal our summer.’