Bar and restaurant workers are taking to TikTok to show the eerie emptiness in their establishments during the first month of the year, heightening fears that Covid restrictions and economic uncertainty may continue to empty tables throughout the year. “This is probably the quietest January I’ve worked”, said pub manager Willow Gwyn-Williams. She believes the cost of living crisis and people’s financial situation are to blame for this scarcity of customers.
Videos featuring empty dining areas and bar stools are receiving tens of thousands of likes on TikTok. Despite everything, the mood among hospitality employees during this time of year is often glum. The quieter trading period means fewer working hours, particularly for part-time staff, which can be difficult in light of increasing employment costs, National Insurance contributions, and the imminent rise in minimum wage announced in the latest UK Budget.
UK Hospitality, a trade body, and some restaurants and bars warn that they may endure prolonged periods of weak consumer demand. This potential downturn will be brought about by the increase in employer National Insurance contributions and minimum wage, which would significantly raise the cost of running an establishment.
The UK government recently announced changes to support the industry by removing alcohol duty on draught pints, initiating the lowering of business rates, and some relief on National Insurance Contributions; small businesses are anticipated to see a drop or no change in the contributions they make to NIC for their employees as well. Consumer behaviour, on the other hand, appears to be at odds with the support: several people plan to spend less than they did in the same period last year
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