75% of UK pubs and restaurants open by the end of May

The number of licensed venues in the UK more than doubled from 32.9% in April to 76.2% in May, but still 25,000 licensed premises remained closed.

Over 90% of pubs and restaurants were open but only 50% of nightclubs are open. Those that are open are struggling to find staff and this will only get worse, when, on the 30th June, the grace period will end for EU workers who don’t already have right to work in the UK. The new points system does not allow for low skilled workers to enter the UK from the EU, and with many already returning to their home countries because of Brexit, a weak pound and the pandemic, staff shortages in the hospitality sector are inevitable.