Shops and pubs desperate for ‘Black Wednesday’ trade roar as closure lifts

Shops and pubs are desperate for big business tomorrow when they reopen after four weeks of forced closures.

But even as the national lockdown is coming to an end in England, Boris Johnson warned that the public “cannot afford to relax” yet or Covid would spiral out of control again.

The prime minister suffered a damaging blow to his authority yesterday when 55 angry Tories voted against his regional tier plan.

Despite being in the lobbies urging his MPs to support him, his advocates inflicted his worst bloody nose since the election.

The new restrictions, which take effect today, only passed after Labor abstained.

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Shoppers are expected to spend £ 1.5bn today as stores reopen for Welcome Wednesday, or Black Wednesday, as some have dubbed it.

Only essential stores were allowed to remain open during closure.

Millions will go out to buy Christmas gifts, and prices will drop dramatically in an attempt to change stocks.

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Many stores, including some from Primark, Smyths and John Lewis, will extend their opening hours to help cope with the rush.

Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the Center for Retail Research, said: “People will take the opportunity to go shopping after being stuck at home for weeks.

“Today will be a very busy shopping day with preparation for the weekend.”

Figures from CRR and VoucherCodes suggest a splurge of £ 1.5 billion as millions make their way to stores, with some, like Ikea, offering additional security to maintain social distancing in queues.

Shore Capital retail analyst Clive Black said lifting the blockade was a “godsend” to main streets and shoppers, with many who ignored the Black Friday rush preferred the experience of going to the stores.

He said: “It will be a great day, especially for those who are not addicted to Black Friday and who have been stuck with going to supermarkets.
or essential retailers. ”

Some experts say that sales fatigue can appear.

Figures from delivery company ParcelHero suggest that the excitement for Welcome Back Wednesday will start to wane in the coming weeks with the stride down main streets plummeting 50% year-over-year in the run-up to Christmas.

Many pub bosses will continue to drown their sorrows as thousands remain closed or can only open with a limited number for a drink and a “hearty meal.”

Figures from the British Beer & Pub Association reveal that 16,454 pubs on Level 3 will remain locked down, restricted to offering takeout and delivery.

At Level 2, 13,920 will remain closed because they do not serve substantial meals or they will find that it is not worth opening them to a limited number.

The government announced £ 1,000 for each pub it would have to close amid the new tier system, but bosses said it won’t prevent businesses from collapsing.

The BBPA cautioned that the sum “is not close enough to prevent thousands of pub closures.”

Executive Director Emma McClarkin criticized the government for a “slap in the face” to pubs and brewers in what should be their busiest time.

She added: “It is outrageous that you can have a pint in a theater, concert hall, movie theater or sports field without a substantial meal, but not in the pub.”

Kate Nicholls, head of UKHospitality, said conservatives lack “a shred of logic”.

He added that there are more than a million jobs at stake and warned that the new tier system could doom nine out of 10 hotel businesses to be unviable by the New Year.

The prime minister acknowledged “people’s feelings of injustice” for being placed at higher levels than they felt they deserved, due to their home’s proximity to high-index areas.

A number of conservatives criticized the levels that they said were “unnecessary” and “disproportionate”.

Johnson spent the day courting his MPs in Commons tearooms and answering questions on a Zoom call.

He suggested that the government would consider smaller areas when deciding on tier arrangements in the future, a demand from the conservative rebels.

But No10 refused to publish a secret document on the economic and health impact of the restrictions in local areas.

And there were more problems ahead after the conservative-led Stratford-on-Avon council notified Health Secretary Matt Hancock that it will seek judicial review of the decision to place it at Level 3.

Council leader Tony Jefferson said the decision was “arbitrary and irrational” as the city has one of the lowest infection rates in England.

The Tory Commons rebellion of 53 plus two tellers, the largest since 44 Conservatives voted against the 10 p.m. curfew in pubs in October, was large enough that, if all opposition parties had voted Against the government, the new rules could have been defeated.

Labor leader Keir Starmer, who has previously backed the restrictions, said it would not be in the national interest to reject them when the virus presents such a risk.

But he warned that the prime minister’s overall Covid plans pose a “significant” danger to public health.

He accused the prime minister of short-term decisions that later “collide with the stark reality of the virus.”

Johnson suggested that people visiting elderly relatives over Christmas should get tested for Covid – despite the warnings, community testing won’t be ready until the New Year. Cabinet ministers expect some areas to fall to lower levels when restrictions emerge for their review on December 16.

But scientists advising the government see little room for widespread easing before Christmas.