Marston's warns 2,150 jobs at risk due to new restrictions

Pub group Marston’s has warned that 2,150 jobs across its estate are at risk due to the impact of tightening coronavirus restrictions.

Measures such as the 10pm curfew, full table service and the three-tier system have negatively impacted consumer confidence, the company said.

Eight of Marston’s 21 pubs in Scotland are closed due to local lockdowns, though its 18 pubs in Liverpool, which is the only region in the ‘highest risk’ tier, remain open.

Marston’s said the measures had “inevitably and regrettably” affected jobs.

“Because of the recent additional restrictions, we have reluctantly concluded that around 2,150 pub-based roles currently subject to furlough are going to be impacted,” the company said in a statement.

“Furthermore, we have initiated a full review of overhead costs which will be concluded by the end of December. These decisions are difficult but are necessary due to the restrictions placed upon our business at this time.”

The company said guidance affecting pubs was “hugely disappointing” and lacked “clear evidence”.

It added that very few instances of coronavirus had been reported by its employees or customers.

Pub groups have been hit hard by the curfew and tightening coronavirus restrictions. Earlier this month the chief executive of Fuller's predicted up to 10% of its workforce could be cut in the wake of renewed instructions to work from home.

Greene King will also close 79 pubs with the loss of around 800 jobs after seeing a drop in trade due to the 10pm curfew.

Marston’s owns 1,400 pubs across the UK and employs around 14,000 people.

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