More than 2,000 jobs are being axed at pub chain Marston’s as curfews and new coronavirus restrictions continue to hammer the industry.
The group said it will cut around 2,150 of its furloughed pub workers, as it launches further cost-cutting measures by the end of the year.
Marston’s put the blame squarely on the recent nationwide measures to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases.
Pubs have been badly hit by the 10pm curfew, while pubs in Liverpool and other tier three Covid hotspots are set to be shut down again.
Visit our live blog for the latest updates Coronavirus news live
Marston’s has 21 sites in Scotland, of which eight are currently closed, and 18 in the tier three Liverpool region – although the majority of these serve food and are allowed to remain open.
Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay 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 2,150 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 placed 13,000 of its 14,000 workers on furlough earlier in the year, and said the new rules have undermined consumer confidence and caused uncertainty.
Pub owners have already warned that the fresh curbs will wipe out their businesses.
As the second wave of coronavirus continues to spread across the country, more areas will be placed under tier three restrictions, which will spell more bade news for pubs.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.