Pub group to cut 2150 jobs due to coronavirus restrictions

More than 2000 jobs are being axed at pub chain Marston’s as curfews and new coronavirus restrictions have hammered trade.

The group said around 2150 of its pub workers currently on furlough support will be impacted, while it will also launch a further cost-cutting plan by the end of the year.

Marston’s put the blame squarely on the recent nationwide measures to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases, which has seen curfews placed on hospitality venues and the closures of sites not serving food in high-risk areas such as Liverpool.

The UK Government imposed a 10pm curfew on pubs and hospitality venues across England from September 24, but since then Scotland has imposed a raft of further restrictions including closures in some areas and a 6pm curfew elsewhere.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also on Monday announced the new three-tier lockdown system, which has seen Liverpool subject to measures including the closure of bars, pubs which do not serve meals, gyms, betting shops and casinos.

Marston’s said it has 21 sites in Scotland, of which eight are currently closed, and 18 in the Tier 3 Liverpool region, although the majority of these serve food and are allowed to remain open.

Marston’s pubs in Scotland:

Jenny Burn, Glasgow
Old Plane Tree, Glasgow
Steam Wheeler, Glasgow
Old Gatehouse, Kirkintilloch
Waterwheel, Port Glasgow
Queen of the Loch, Balloch
Red Squirrel, Stevenston
Raven’s Cliff, Motherwell
Lockards Farm, Dumfries
Pine Marten, Dunbar
Old Colliery, Edinburgh
Foundry 39, Edinburgh
Chain Runner, Livingston
Rowan Tree, Armadale
Highland Gate, Stirling
Sweet Chestnut, Dunfermline
Spiral Weave, Kirkcaldy
Campderdown Elm Dundee, Dundee
Dunnichen Stone, Forfar
Harbour Spring, Peterhead
Three Witches, Inverness

Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, said: “The additional restrictions which have been applied across the UK most recently present significant challenges to us and will make business more difficult for a period of time.

“I very much regret that the consequence of this is that the jobs of around 2150 of our colleagues will be impacted, but it is an inevitable consequence of the limitations placed upon our business.

“We will be looking at our cost base further in the coming weeks.”

Marston’s claimed the new rules “undermine consumer confidence and create uncertainty”.

It said: “The introduction of these further restrictions and guidance affecting pubs is hugely disappointing in view of a lack of clear evidence tying pubs to the recent increase in infection levels, and our own data which suggests that pubs are effective in minimising risks.”

Details of the job cuts at Marston’s comes as its annual results showed pub sales tumbled 34% to £515m in the year to October 3, impacted heavily by the lockdown earlier this year.

Since pubs reopened in July, like-for-like pub sales were 10% lower over the 13-week period, helped by the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out meal discount scheme in August.

Brewery sales were 22% lower over the year at £306m, though sales in retailers and off-licences lifted 23% as pubs were forced to close.

Marston’s announced a deal in May to merge with Carlsberg’s UK arm to form a joint venture worth around £780m.

The tie-up will create the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company and is set to complete at the end of this month.