Beer gardens in England will not be allowed to open before the end of the month, Downing Street has said, quashing suggestions that ministers were considering allowing pubs to serve beer outside from 22 June.
A group of ministers nicknamed the “Save Summer Six” was reportedly weighing up plans to open beer gardens, amid concern that the hospitality sector is facing up to 3.5m job losses unless pubs, restaurants and cafes resume business soon.
But Downing Street played down suggestions that the government was preparing to accelerate its phased blueprint for restarting the economy.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said the government’s roadmap “sets out our ambition to reopen open pubs, bars and cafes as soon as possible; but the date in the roadmap is from 4 July, subject to advice at the time.”
However, ministers have been examining changes to regulations, such as those governing which businesses can put chairs and tables out on pavements. Relaxing these rules could make it easier for more outlets to provide the takeaway services permitted throughout the lockdown.
Proposals to allow beer gardens to open from 22 June were first reported on Sunday night in the Financial Times, which cited three Whitehall officials.
But the Guardian understands that the pubs industry was not told of any such plan and has since informed the government that most pubs would not be ready within a fortnight anyway due to the length of time it takes to brew beer to supply the pubs, as well as the complexity of bringing staff back to work, arranging deep cleans and getting rid of out-of-date beer.
Beer that has gone off has to be thrown away but this often involves discussions with local water boards, while the process has to be recorded to verify the amount being disposed of, so that pubs can claim the right amount of beer duty back from brewers.
The decision on reopening pubs is further complicated by rules on social distancing.
No 10 is understood to have told senior figures in the hospitality industry that cutting social distancing requirements from 2 metres to 1m would be discussed at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, amid concern about job losses in the hospitality industry.
Trade bodies such as UK Hospitality and the British Beer & Pubs Association (BBPA) have submitted estimates showing escalating numbers of closures and job losses based on social distancing at 1m, 1.5m and 2m.
If the required distance is not reduced, so-called “wet-led” pubs, which rely more on the sale of alcohol than food, are likely to be particularly hard hit, because they rely on packing in drinkers in large numbers.
The BBPA has also voiced concern at the prospect that pubs could lose access to the furlough scheme and grant support if they are technically allowed to open, even though the reality of social distancing rules means many cannot.
The trade body wants the government to provide financial backing to any pubs that are rendered unviable as a result.
If ministers agree to provide that support, maintaining social distancing at 2m would mean many more pubs, bars and restaurants would draw on the funding, increasing the cost to the Treasury.
