'Instantly ripped up Christmas' Restaurants face 'hundreds of cancellations' with new rule
THE HOSPITALITY sector has been one of the most affected by the Covid pandemic. With new Covid rules coming into force this week, business owners are now facing hundreds of cancellations.
Boris Johnson: Don’t cancel Christmas parties or nativity plays
Chef Gary Usher has revealed the Government's Plan B announcement is having a "devastating" impact on restaurants.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures to stop the spread of the Omicron variant.
The new "Plan B" measures include working from home, face coverings in most public spaces and some venues requiring Covid passes.
The rules will come into force on Monday, December 13 and mask-wearing in public settings from Friday, December 10.
Chef and owner of six restaurants Gary Usher revealed how the new regulations are affecting the hospitality sector.
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He posted on Twitter: "Can't lie last night's plan B news is devastating for my industry.
"I'm trying to think of positive things to say about getting through December but I don't have anything.
"On an absolute downer about this.
"Telling people to work from home has instantly ripped up Christmas reservations."
He said he has had "hundreds and hundreds of cancellations" across his restaurant group.
"At Elite Bistros we’ve done everything by the book with Covid and tried to do the right thing constantly closing the restaurants and following guidelines but personally I don’t now support plan B because I don’t respect or trust anyone making the decisions."
Gary said he believes the hospitality industry has been "shafted".
The chef explained: "We have taken 100's & 100's of cancellations for December across the six restaurants.
"Including a party of 70 on Thursday."
Earlier this month, hospitality bosses across the country spoke of their despair in the middle of a "flood" of Christmas party cancellations.
The Government clarified, however, that Christmas parties don't need to be cancelled under the new rules.
Boris Johnson's spokesman confirmed this.
"The Prime Minister has been very clear on this.
"On Christmas parties, we don't want people to cancel such events."