CHARLES GRAHAM: Cautious welcome to hospitality comeback
While previous easings have been welcomed, I suspect Tuesday’s good news for the hospitality sector - including the cutting of the 2m rule so that it is in line with World Health Organisation recommendations and much more practical for pubs and restaurants - will have received the loudest public cheer for months.
We are, after all, social creatures by nature, and to have been deprived for months of simple, taken-for-granted pleasures such as going out for a meal at the end of a tough working week, has been difficult to bear.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut we and the affected businesses do need to approach these relaxations with no little caution. We must not lose sight of the possibility that too blasé an approach could have us all back down under full lockdown.
And we can’t expect all our old haunts to be back in business on July 4. In fact some may never re-emerge.
As if we needed reminding, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s latest quarterly survey of businesses found that we are facing “an economic crisis like no other.”
For the number crunchers the GM Index, which is a combination of seven key measures, is at its lowest ever level (-31.7 compared with 31.9 in the first three months of this year) - a plunge of over 63 points.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdOnly 10 per cent of employers said they were trying to recruit staff, compared with 54 per cent in the first quarter of this year. And business confidence is low, with a massive 93 per cent of respondents concerned about volume or revenue and 51 per cent worried about capital and cash management.
In short, our economy is in a parlous state and there are forecasts that the recovery will be slower than originally hoped for, so less a V or U-shaped line on the graph: more a tick.
So there are many tough months if not years lying ahead.
But if people can get out there to spend and push money through the system again - and manage to do it without triggering a new upsurge in coronavirus cases - it’s a big step in the right direction.
For some though, a hair cut and sociable pint is nothing compared to seeing loved ones again and the further loosening of restrictions on family gatherings is to be even more greatly welcomed - at a safe distance of course.
A message from the Editorial Director, Gillian Parkinson:
Thank you for reading this story on our website.
But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy when you pop out for your essential shop or subscribing for delivery.
Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.
As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: "Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBut being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.
We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: You can subscribe for delivery by contacting us at [email protected] or calling us on 0330 4033004 for details of a participating newsagent near you.