London hospitality labels latest takeaways extension ‘essential’ for trade

London hospitality businesses have welcomed news that their pandemic takeaway efforts will be allowed to continue long term as "essential", but warned that the sector still needs further support and for the lockdown to end on schedule.

The Government announced on Wednesday that all restaurants and pubs will be able to provide food takeaway services until March 2022 without having to apply for planning approval.  

Rules around serving takeaways were relaxed in March to help the hard-hit sector trade during lockdown. This loosening of restrictions was due to end on March 23, but communities secretary Robert Jenrick has now confirmed the measures will be extended for a further 12 months.

Relaxations around the hosting of outdoor markets were also extended.  

UKHospitality chief executive, Kate Nicholls, officially welcomed the move, saying that the ability to provide takeaway services has been "a valuable lifeline for many hospitality venues".

Evening Standard spoke to owners of restaurants, bars and taprooms around the capital to gauge London’s reaction to the news.  

Former The Ledbury chef James Cochran, who now runs restaurant 12:51 in Islington, also labelled takeaways a “lifeline” to hospitality in lockdown. 

He said: "While there’s nothing like the true restaurant experience, the extension until 2022 will allow many great restaurants to stay open and rebuild going forward.

"It will help keep the British food scene alive in what will undoubtedly be many tough months ahead in what has already been the most challenging of years.

“Even with takeaway services many restaurants, both big and small, will struggle. Without them the industry doesn’t stand a chance.”

But he caveated that the industry needs more support from the Government.

He said: “It is vital the government gets behind businesses, or we are in danger of losing the UK hospitality industry as we know it.”

Marcos Fernandez, founder of Spanish tapas eatery Iberica Restaurants, which operates sites in Marylebone, Farringdon, Victoria and Canary Wharf,  said the move was needed as it is vital businesses’ investment in takeaways is allowed to deliver long-term. 

He said: "Delivery and takeaway are not just essential for the survival of the restaurants in the short term, but also in the mid term. Companies are heavily investing in this time to adapt their businesses. This has to be an investment that pays in the future. 

"The prolongation of this for a further year is a welcome change to rules allowing firms to make some money when they are forced to close."

Sunny Hodge, founder of Diogenes The Dog wine bar in Elephant and Castle, said that the extension will be crucial to bars like his.

But the businessman warned that drink-led venues need to be able to return to traditional trade as soon as possible to ensure their long-term survival.

He said:  "This [measure] has proved crucial to our business flipping into an off sales grocery and wine shop model.

"Wet led pubs and bars would have no hope to survive - with or without the furlough extension - if they would not be permitted the means to legally sell their products to take away."

Harry Lobek, founder of the London Shell Company, said he welcomed "the stability this extension will bring" and highlighted the  positive impact it will have on the hospitality supply chain. 

He added: "It feels like a big win for the supply chain to be honest. Lots of our artisan suppliers had to stop completely during the first lockdown. The takeaway rules will allow us to continue working and purchasing their products."

More than 90% of the sales at Dalston’s 40FT Brewery usually come from supplying London pubs, bars and restaurants. 40FT co-founder, Steve Ryan, welcomed the move.

He said: "Our hospitality community needs all the support they can get at this time.

"Many of our casual dining clients have been selling our cans as part of their takeaway menu so this will extension will directly help us also."

But Tredwell's Chantelle Nicholson, who has turned her Hackney destination All’s Well into a takeaway for lockdown, said that she worried the news signalled the current lockdown will run beyond December 2.

She said: “This could be welcome news, but my concern is that there is an intention to continue this current lockdown into the new year, which I sincerely hope is not the case.  

"Whilst takeaway ‘pivots’ can provide some revenue, it’s very challenging trying to cover rent, staff costs and general business overheads.”

And for some London hospitality businesses, the move will have little impact.

Frank Maguire, head of marketing at Truman's Beer - which operates sites with outdoor seating in east and north-east London - explained: "We welcome any relaxation on regulations which helps our hospitality sector, but as we are licenced for off-premise sales already, it makes little difference to us."

He argued that the Government should be allowing venues to serve beer takeaways to walk-in customers during lockdown, not only via click and collect.