Pubs set for June reopening in bid to ‘save the summer’
Chancellor Rishi Sunak leading push by MPs for imminent hospitality industry relaunch

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The reopening of UK pubs may brought forward to 22 June under a new plan to “save the summer”.
Rishi Sunak is one of six ministers calling themselves the “Save Summer Six” who want to speed up the relaunch of the hospitality industry in order to boost the economy.
The proposals would allow some of the 27,000 UK pubs that have gardens or other outdoor spaces to serve customers for the first time since lockdown began in mid March, the Financial Times reports. And restaurants with outside seating could also be back in business.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin welcomed the move but warned that struggling pubs “would still lose money”.
“Few pubs will be able to make a profit using outdoor space only but partial reopening will provide a psychological boost to a beleaguered industry,” Martin told The Guardian. “It will signal the intent of the government to make progress towards normality, which will be welcome.”
The government initially set a date of 4 July to begin the third phase of easing lockdown, which includes pub reopenings.
The proposed timetable has been announced after Business Secretary Alok Sharma warned Boris Johnson last week that failure to reopen the hospitality sector in time for the summer could cost up to 3.5 million jobs, according to The Sunday Times.
Trade body UK Hospitality has told the BBC that allowing pubs to open this month was a step in the right direction, but that easing social distancing was more important.
The organisation estimates that with the current two-metre rule, pubs would be able to make about 30% of normal revenues. But if social distancing regulations were reduced to one-metre, predicted revenues would increase to between 60% and 75%.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said that the proposed June relaunch “does at least give us momentum - allowing businesses to plan and customers to book. July 4 had always only been an aspirational date to start re-opening.
“This gives some certainty about the direction of travel. Some businesses have not opened since last November, because they are seasonal. It is important to start as soon as they can.”
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
The Swift-Kelce effect: a 'dream pairing' for the NFL
Why everyone's talking about Taylor Swift's appearance at the Chiefs vs. Bears game to see Travis Kelce added millions of TV viewers
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
When will your favorite show be back now that the writers strike is over?
The Explainer Here's when to expect new episodes of the late-night shows, 'SNL,' and more
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published
-
Inflation crisis: is a recession the only answer?
Talking Point Experts suggest sharp slowdown may be necessary to avoid economic spiral
By The Week Staff Published
-
Food price caps: a return to 1970s living in UK?
Talking Point Government plan labelled ‘hare-brained’ as industry bosses warn it could lead to shortages, push up inflation and cut competition
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sticky inflation and sluggish growth: why does UK economy continue to struggle?
Today's Big Question Food prices, Brexit and the Bank of England have been blamed for poor economic performance
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Public sector pay and inflation: what’s the link?
Talking Point Economists say government warnings of wage-price spiral are overblown
By Julia O'Driscoll Published
-
What can Sunak learn from Thatcher about taking on the unions?
Today's Big Question The ‘Iron Lady’ only opposed striking workers from a position of strength with public support – unlike the current PM
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why is levelling up causing Rishi Sunak so many problems?
Today's Big Question Tory revolts on onshore wind farms and housebuilding targets threaten government’s flagship policy
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why UK companies are facing a dystopian, zero-growth future
feature In prioritising stability, the Treasury risks ‘stifling enterprise and entrepreneurship’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Does the UK need higher levels of immigration to thrive?
feature Keir Starmer says UK must wean itself off its economic dependence on migrants despite labour shortages
By The Week Staff Published