Two nightlife-associated trade groups, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and the UK Door Security Association (UKDSA), both issued statements regarding the U.K. government’s decision to lift all COVID-19 restrictions.
In his statement, NTIA CEO Michael Kill thanked the government for the step, adding that recovering from the economic impact will take time. “Experts have suggested that recovery to pre-COVID levels will take several years, but we cannot lose sight of the short-term role that the government must continue to play in supporting the sector, beginning with the chancellor’s budget in March,” he wrote.
Kill also thanked officials for lowering value-added tax (VAT) to help struggling business owners. The VAT is a fee attached to ticket purchases imposed by the U.K. In 2021, the UK government lowered the VAT to 5% after industry professionals warned legislators about the financial consequences of keeping it at 20%.
Also speaking on the subject, UKDSA members emphasized their dire state, saying that trained security professionals “remain at a critical level.” After thanking the government for lifting restrictions, they went on to remind everyone that the summer festival season is fast approaching. “It is important as we move into the summer that we regain and build on pre-pandemic security resource levels in line with demand.”
The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions comes as the country continues to see a decline in new cases. As of February 21st, 2022 49,205 cases were reported. This is in stark contrast to January when cases peaked at 194,494 on the 5th.
