Hospitality could lose £600m in latest round of train and tube strikes, says UKHospitality

Rail and tube strikes taking place this month are expected to cost hospitality up to £600m, according to a trade body.

Tube strikes are taking place today (15 March), while train strikes have been scheduled for 16, 18, 30 March and 1 April.

UKHospitality said hospitality businesses will continue to lose millions as a result of the dispute, which reportedly cost the industry £2.5b between summer 2022 and January 2023.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “This week’s rail and tube strikes will heap further disruption on hospitality, particularly in central London, with the potential to cost the sector as much as £600 million in lost sales.

“Our pubs, bars, coffee shops, hotels and restaurants, to name a few, continue to suffer as collateral damage, with total lost sales since the start of the dispute last year now expected to reach more than £3 billion.”

“The disruption impacts are felt far and wide. Businesses lose crucial sales, workers are often unable to work and earn, and the public are forced to cancel plans with family and friends.

She added: “As we approach the valuable Easter season and head towards the summer, it’s essential that all sides continue negotiations as a matter of urgency and reach a resolution that avoids even more disruption that impacts workers, consumers and businesses.”

Delivering the Spring Budget today, Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons: “High inflation is the root cause of the strikes we’ve seen in recent months. We are continuing to work hard to settle those disputes.”