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Wetherspoons boss calls for pubs to reopen the same time as shops ‘to save jobs’
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Wetherspoons’ boss calls for pubs to reopen at the same time as non-essential shops to save jobs in the industry.
The chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, has warned that the pub industry is ‘on its knees’ and needs to be opened to save jobs.
He went onto explain that pubs made a massive contribution to the economy, with Wetherspoons chain paying about £10 of tax for every £1 of profit they make.
Much of the hospitality industry across the UK is currently closed unless they can offer takeaway food and drink, with a number of restrictions also in place on that.
Scientists have warned that talks of reopening pubs, bars and restaurants are too premature.
However, Martin argues that pubs and restaurants are ‘Covid-secure’ having invested in safety measures like plastic screens, table-service only, floor markers and more.
He said: “Surely it is possible for the hospitality industry to reopen at the same time as non-essential shops, now that a vaccine exists, on the basis of the social distancing and hygiene regulations.”
He added that the various lockdown measures imposed on pubs since March last year could spell a ‘disaster’ for finances.
In the financial year to July 2019, JD Wetherspoon, its customers and employees generated £764m of taxes, Martin said.
He added: “The amount of tax paid by Wetherspoon is replicated, according to the size of the company, throughout the pub industry, and shows just how important pubs are to the economy.”
It comes after chief executive of the Young’s pub chain, Patrick Dardis accused the prime minister of a ‘lack of respect’ for the sector and for basing the decision to close pubs on ‘unproved’ science – a claim experts dispute.
He added that the industry needed a ‘road map’ to reopening with social distancing restrictions in place but that these should only last a few months.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter medical school said talk of reopening pubs by April was premature.
Adding: “What the executives of pubs need to know is that failure to get it right equals back to square one. And back to square one equals much more pain economically, much more hardship.”
He said people drink alcohol to relax and that one of the consequence of relaxing is that ‘you drop your guard’.
Industry figures released last week show a net loss of almost 6,000 licensed premises last year, triple that of 2019.
The hospitality industry is one of the hardest-hit sectors throughout the pandemic with UK Hospitality boss Kate Nicholls recently warning that there could be ‘very little’ left if closures last until May.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the ‘roadmap’ to leave lockdown a week from now, with some reporting they expect the reopening of non-essential shops to happen in a matter of weeks.
The Times reports that ministers are examining plans that could allow people to take breaks as early as the Easter holidays. A government source told the paper: “There’s an active discussion about how soon we can do it and we’ll be guided by the data.
“There’s talk of April at the earliest, but a lot of things have to go right. It’s unlikely but it is being talked about as a possibility.”
News
Mount Snowdon has officially changed its name following a petition
The petition got 5,000 signatures
Mount Snowdon has officially had a name change, following a petition which garnered 5,000 signatures.
A county councillor from Gwynedd brought forward a motion which encouraged the local authority to drop the English name of both Snowdon and Snowdonia, leading to the petition.
Councillor John Pughe Roberts said the reason for implementing the motion was ‘all down to respect’ for both Wales and the Welsh language.
Caff55 / PxHere
The petition urged the National Park to formally use the Welsh names Eryri for Snowdonia and Yr Wyddfa for Snowdon.
And now, the Snowdonia National Park Authority will use both Welsh names, rather than the English versions.
Officials at the National Park voted in favour of the move earlier this month, saying it was ‘a mark of respect for our cultural heritage’.
Naomi Jones, head of cultural heritage at the Snowdonia National Park Authority, said: ”Many public bodies across Wales have moved to use both the Welsh and English names, or the Welsh name only, when referring to Yr Wyddfa and Eryri, as have many of the mainstream English-language press and filming companies.
“This is very encouraging, and gives us confidence that this change in the Authority’s approach will be accepted for the benefit of the Welsh language and as a mark of respect to our cultural heritage.
“We have historic names in both languages, but we are eager to consider the message we wish to convey about place names, and the role they have to play in our current cultural heritage by promoting the Welsh language as one of the National Park’s special qualities.
“By referring to our most renowned landmarks by their Welsh names we give people from all over the world the opportunity to engage with the Welsh language and its rich culture.”
Raintheone / Wikimedia
However, the National Park will still legally have to use both the Welsh and English names in any official documentation.
Snowdon is one of the most well-known landmarks in the UK, and stands at 3,560ft – making it the highest mountain in Wales.
Police have arrested a man following their release of CCTV footage featuring a car they believe was used in three attempted kidnappings around Salford.
A man driving the vehicle reportedly attempted to force a 15-year-old girl into the car at a bus stop in Monton on November 21st.
Detectives also think the same man ‘possibly’ tried to abduct another girl earlier that same day, as well as a third teenager five days previous.
Now police have confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested by officers today, Monday November 28th, on suspicion of three counts of attempted kidnap.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the victims have been left ‘extremely shaken up’.
Officers identified the vehicle in the footage as a black Vauxhall Astra with a silver cover on the driver’s side wing mirror.
Greater Manchester Police
Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield, of GMP’s Salford CID, said: “Although we have made this arrest, we are still very much looking to speak to anyone who may have information or dashcam footage, which could help us to establish the circumstances.
“We understand that the local community will be concerned but we are doing all we can to solve this investigation.
“I’d urge anyone who knows anything at all to please get in touch as soon as possible. In particular we are interested in the movements of a Black Vauxhall Astra 08 plate with a silver driver’s wing mirror cover; the passenger side is black.”
Police are still keen to speak to anyone with dashcam footage from the following times:
- Liverpool Street, Salford, between Fitzwarren Street and Albion Way on November 16th, between 7:45-8:20pm
- Mossfield Road and Ackworth Road, Swinton, on November 21st, between 8-9am
- Rocky Lane, Monton Green and Monton High Street on November 21st, between 6-7pm
News
Police believe this car was used in three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
Do you recognise the vehicle?
Police have released CCTV footage of a car they believe was used in three attempted kidnappings around Salford.
A man driving the vehicle attempted to force a 15-year-old girl into the car at a bus stop in Monton on November 21st.
Detectives also think the same man tried to abduct another girl earlier that same day, as well as a third teenager five days previous.
According to Greater Manchester Police, the victims have been left ‘extremely shaken up’.
Detective Inspector Chris Horsfield said: “It’s very important that we get this man identified and off the streets as soon as possible.”
Police have identified the vehicle in the footage as a black Vauxhall Astra with a silver cover on the driver’s side wing mirror.
Greater Manchester Police
Anyone with dashcam footage from the following times, officers are keen to speak to you:
- Liverpool Street, Salford, between Fitzwarren Street and Albion Way on November 16th, between 7:45-8:20pm
- Mossfield Road and Ackworth Road, Swinton, on November 21st, between 8-9am
- Rocky Lane, Monton Green and Monton High Street on November 21st, between 6-7pm
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Mount Snowdon has officially changed its name following a petition
Man arrested following three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
Police believe this car was used in three attempted kidnappings of schoolgirls
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