Pub group Marston’s has called on the government to do more to support pub owners and operators during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company said its recent deal to manage a 156-strong portfolio of Bains pubs shows its “commitment to growing our pub business” after it struck a deal to put its brewery operations into a joint venture with Carlsberg.
Nonetheless, Marston chief executive Ralph Findlay said the industry now faces challenges that will require more government support.
“The pub sector has been closed for much of the last nine months and remains in a very difficult position,” he said. “Regrettably there have been casualties across the sector and it is vital that the government reviews urgently the opportunity to continue to support pubs as we reopen the economy in the coming weeks.
“It is vital that they not only survive the short-term crisis but are supported in order to recover and flourish. Extending the business rates holiday and VAT cut for the rest of this year is a minimum requirement.”
All of Marston’s pubs are now closed as a third UK lockdown is under way. The company’s trading statement read: “We do not have certainty about the timing of reopening, but in view of comments from the prime minister about the potential for lifting restrictions as the vaccination programme progresses, we anticipate that pubs will be closed for trading until March at the earliest, and expect some of the previous restrictions to remain on reopening.”
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