PUBS have told ministers they need to know within 24 hours whether they can open this month — or they will not be ready in time.
Industry leaders said yesterday at least three weeks’ notice is needed in order to train staff on the new social distancing rules.
And brewers need at least three weeks to deliver draught beer.
Hopes were raised yesterday after reports suggested the UK’s 27,000 pub gardens could reopen as early as June 22 — less than a fortnight away.
But it would mean many would be without a full range of draught ales as breweries ramp up production.
HOAR revealed last week how Britain’s leading breweries are aiming to produce 250 million pints for when the Government finally gives the green light for pubs to reopen.
Downing Street cast fresh doubt on the reopening date after insisting the target remains July 4 at the earliest. The PM’s spokesman said: “We do want to be able to reopen pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes as soon as possible, but it must be safe to do so.
“We’re working to develop a safe way for them to reopen at the earliest opportunity through our pubs taskforce. That work is going well. The roadmap sets out our ambition is to open these from 4th of July.”
A government source suggested some in Whitehall were trying to bounce Downing Street into announcing an earlier date because they were thirsty for a pint.
It followed reports in the Financial Times that three Whitehall officials said the target date was June 22.
The trade body representing pubs and brewers last night demanded “immediate and clear” clarification over the reopening date.
The British Beer & Pub Association warned that the confusion risked deepening the crisis already facing the sector and said pub owners needed certainty in order to plan.
It said the Government must stick by its commitment to reopen pubs from July 4 or face millions more job losses. Pubs also want the Government to reduce the two metre social distancing rule to one metre.
That plan was dealt a blow yesterday as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health warned the move would cause a second spike in coronavirus cases.
