According to the trade body there have been more than 600,000 job losses, 12,000 business failures and lost sales of £86Bn. UKHospitality says it is ‘crucial’ that the Government sticks to its plan for a full removal of restrictions no later than 21 June 2021.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, commented: “Hospitality can lead economic recovery in the UK, providing jobs to people who have lost them and continuing to serve those most in need in communities all over the country. To do this however, we need to be able to operate without being strangled by restrictions. 

“We also urge the Government to look again at some areas of support it introduced in the Budget, in particular the business rates cap, which unfairly penalises a large proportion of hospitality businesses who will find themselves paying full rates just days after restrictions are fully lifted in June. That cannot be right, and we urge ministers to think again.”