Hospitality trade bodies have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement to scrap all Plan B measures from next week, but have warned the government not to underestimate the severity that these measures have had on the industry during the last quarter of 2021, and in particular the festive period.

Hospitality representatives are now expressing the need for further financial support beyond the grants already announced to allow them to recover from the effects of the Plan B measures.

Trade bodies are now urging the government to extend the current lower level of VAT, with a view to making this permanent.

UKHospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls comments: “This is fantastic news for the hospitality sector, after the critical Christmas trade was laid to waste for the second year running.

Lifting the working from home recommendation is a particularly important move as it enables town and city centres, and the businesses that are their lifeblood, to begin their revival and recovery.”