Hospitality expert reacts to business measures in mini-budget

Sam Martin, CEO of Peckwater Brands, said: “The support that the government has announced is a lifeline for businesses, little and large alike. Energy bills were the concrete slippers that were sure to drag hospitality businesses down through a cold, hard winter, but slashing those bills (almost) in half means the UK’s cafes, restaurants and pubs stand a fighting chance.

“The winter holidays are a massively important period for hospitality businesses, with many relying on the increased trade and footfall at this time of year to become profitable. Paying to run energy-heavy kitchens and heat large spaces promised bills that could have sunk the high street for good, so this reduction in business energy prices is a huge win for hospitality.

“This first effort to keep pubs and restaurants open is a step in the right direction. The government’s job now is to double down on its relief for businesses to ensure that the UK’s pubs, restaurants and cafes make it through this latest crisis. I hope that the measures contained in this mini-budget will support and sustain the hospitality sector through the winter.”