The High Court has ruled in favour of the government after a case was brought by Punch Taverns founder Hugh Osmond, and Sacha Lord, the night-time economy adviser for Greater Manchester.
Pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen – but only outdoors – on 12 April, along with non-essential shops in England. It was argued that there was no justification or scientific basis for hospitality to be kept closed for five weeks, after retailers in England were allowed to serve customers indoors from mid-April.
The hospitality bosses pointed to recent findings from SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) which suggested that the hospitality sector was associated with a relatively low risk of COVID-19 transmission, although it was slightly higher than leisure and retail.
The government has insisted the lockdown easing must be cautious if it is to be irreversible, repeating that it will be driven by “data and not dates”.
A date – 17 May – has been set as the next stage for relaxing restrictions in England, when pubs, cafes and restaurants are expected to be able to serve customers indoors.
Mr Osmond, a former director of Pizza Express, commented: “This case is not ‘academic’ for an industry that is losing £200m every day it remains closed, for the over three million people who work in our industry, or for the tens of thousands of businesses, suppliers, landlords and contractors forced into bankruptcy by Government measures.”
Devolved governments: In Scotland, pubs and restaurants are already allowed to open indoors until 20.00 – but alcohol can only be served to those seated outside. It is hoped venues in Wales will be able to open indoors on 17 May. In Northern Ireland, hospitality may reopen on 24 May.