Leaders announce £40m emergency aid package for Liverpool region’s struggling hospitality sector

Political leaders in Liverpool announce £40million emergency aid package for the region’s struggling pubs, bars and restaurants amid Covid lockdown

  • Council leaders from Liverpool and surrounding areas scrambled to find funding
  • They are urging the Government to provide more long-term financial support
  • It comes as region hit by tighter coronavirus restrictions last week as cases rise 

Political leaders in the Liverpool region have announced £40 million in emergency funding for struggling pubs, bars and restaurants amid the latest Covid restrictions.

Council leaders from Liverpool, Wirral, St Helen’s, Sefton, Halton and Knowsley – which make up the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – urged businesses to postpone decisions over jobs and closures as they were scrambling to find funds to help them.

The sector reportedly brings in an estimated £5 billion for the region and supports more than 50,000 jobs in 4,000 businesses.

Last week, health secretary announced tighter restrictions for parts of northern England, including Liverpool, which means people from different households are banned from meeting inside, including in pubs, bars and restaurants. 

Today, the combined authority has announced they have put together the £40 million care package for the industries hit hardest by the region’s latest Covid restrictions, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Council leaders in the Liverpool region have announced £40 million in emergency funding for the area’s hospitality sector to help them survive the latest restrictions brought in last week

In a joint statement, speaking directly to businesses in the sector, the leaders of the region said: ‘The new Covid-19 restrictions will make the already perilous situation for our economy even tougher than it already is.

‘As Leaders of the Liverpool City Region, we all understand why further restrictions may be needed to halt the spread of Covid-19 in the communities we represent.

‘But we also know that at the same time they will deal a hammer blow to our economy and in particular to our vital hospitality and leisure sector, on which over 50,000 jobs depend across our region.

‘We want to send a message to those businesses that we understand the pain you are going through, your fight to survive and that we stand with you.

‘We have made it clear to the Government that with new restrictions must come a comprehensive package of financial support for our economy and that this is particularly urgent for businesses in your sector, many of which have already reached breaking point.

‘We pledge to you that we are doing everything we can to convince the Government to help.

‘But we know that this is not enough and that words will not help you pay your staff, your rent or your suppliers.

‘And, as elected leaders, we are collectively committed to Build Back Better from Covid-19.

‘But we know that once a business is gone it is gone and that if we do not act now to protect our economy from these new restrictions, we risk having nothing to build back from.

Liverpool (pictured) and surrounding areas is facing restrictions on people from different households meeting inside which includes their homes as well as pubs and restaurants

Liverpool (pictured) and surrounding areas is facing restrictions on people from different households meeting inside which includes their homes as well as pubs and restaurants

‘So, our teams have worked at full-tilt, in partnership across the Combined Authority and our six Local Authorities, to identify and re-purpose funds for an up to £40m in to a package of emergency interim financial support, aiming to support as many businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector as we possibly can.

‘We have taken this extremely difficult decision with the aim of providing last resort, stop-gap funding to keep viable businesses going in the short-term and protect as many jobs as possible while we continue to lobby the Government to invest in our economic survival and our future recovery.’

It comes as tighter restrictions have been brought in for large parts of northern England.

According to the new rules, It is now illegal to meet people indoors from other households in the Liverpool City Region, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Warrington.  

This means that people are prevented from mixing with those outside their household or support bubble in pubs, restaurants and other indoor venues.

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