UK HOLIDAYS are unlikely to restart until June, with Boris Johnson to announce the road map out of the lockdown later tonight.
The news will come as a blow to many hotels and B&Bs which have been forced to close their doors due to the pandemic.
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According to The Telegraph, it is expected that only limited social gatherings will be allowed from March 29, although this won’t include overnight stays.
Many tour operators were hoping to resume by the Easter holidays, although this has been quashed.
Despite this, a boom in demand from Brits saw Easter holidays soar in price by as much as £1,500.
UK Hospitality’s Kat Nicholls said on Twitter: “We will need to see the full statement today but if pubs and restaurants are not opening until May, hotels June and NTE even later, then the Chancellor needs urgently to set out additional support – extension of existing measures won’t be enough to save businesses for that long.”
She also warned that many faced permanent closure if they weren’t able to have the same summer boom as last year.
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Ms Nicholls told Sun Online Travel: “Last summer we did well – businesses were full – but because of social distancing there were capacity and occupancy constraints.
“Over August, pubs, bars and restaurants were still just trading below break even for the first time since the pandemic started while for holidays parks and hotels, the maximum operation was at 50 per cent so the revenue was 70 per cent of normal levels.
“It will be very tight, and have no scope for adverse affects. If we have a washout summer and lots of rain, or further economic changes, we will see business failures.”
She added: “We need to be in the first phase of re-opening. Summer will be too late for many businesses.”
The Prime Minister is to outline the roadmap out of lockdown, starting from March 8, later tonight at 7pm.
From March 8, when all schools will reopen people will be able to sit down for a drink outside with their household, or with one friend or relative.
The rules will be relaxed further on March 29, allowing either six people or two households to meet outside.
It will only be towards the end of April – in the third stage of the plan – that non-essential retail will open, The Times reports.
As it stands, only essential retail such as supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to serve customers.
Pubs and restaurants are not expected to open before May, while large outdoor events such as football matches and music festivals are expected towards the end of that month.
However, this is all on the condition that coronavirus cases continue to fall.
However, holiday demand from Brits is there for the summer – with some families even put on waiting lists for Cornwall.
One travel company has warned Brits to book holidays before the lockdown end date is announced, as this is when prices are expected to jump.
We’ve rounded up some of the pubs with huge outdoor spaces to visit when lockdown lifts.
