‘The government must act now for our industry to survive the winter’.

That’s the stark warning delivered in a letter by The Wonky Table to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The group represents more than 500 restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs and event management businesses in the BCP and Wimborne conurbation.

It was started by Andy Lennox, Founder of the Zim Braai and Nusara restaurants.

In the letter addressed to Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, Andy says the hospitality industry is about to enter the ‘dark quarter’ of January to March without the traditional Christmas reserves.

He writes: “Without being in Tier 1 has effectively put an end to Christmas for our industry and the next four months and for many forever.

“The money spent over the last year will all be in vain if a further robust financial package is not put in place immediately.

“Whilst we welcome the return of 80% furlough, this protects employee’s jobs but we must be here to pay them.

“With the current support package in place, many will not be.

“Businesses have now had no trade up to Christmas, will now have a disastrous Christmas, we will then enter the historically quiet dark quarter of January to March in 2021 without the traditional reserves of November and December trade – not to mention the extra pressure we already have on our businesses carried over from the initial lockdown.

“To have some hope of survival, we need to see a package of financial support which will not only help with the immediate impact but also for the recovery in 2021.

“Many operators have already gone, many more will now go and those who survive will be on their knees.”

The letter, which is supported by the Leader of BCP Council; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Chambers; BH Area Hospitality Association (BAHA); UK Hospitality, and seven Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), calls for:

1. Hospitality specific grant – to go further than the current ‘up to 3k’ grant available to business. The letter states: “A substantial grant is an absolute priority.”
2. Extension of VAT at five per cent ‘ “This is an absolute lifeline for our industry.”
3. Extension of rate relief for another 12 months – “We would urge the government to confirm this action now to help the industry plan for the future.”
4. Emergency extension of BBLS (Bounce Back Loan Scheme) and CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) – “If a successor loan is not ready, then limits on BBL and CBILS should be increased.”

The letter, which was sent on December 8, concludes: “We hope that the government will consider these proposals as a collective and an essential extension of the lifeline which the hospitality industry needs to survive the current situation.”