Following the recent announcement that Lincolnshire has been placed in Tier 3, I have contacted the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, on behalf of owners of pubs, restaurants and cafés in the Louth & Horncastle constituency to ask for further support for the hospitality sector.
I supported the need for East Lindsey to be moved into Tier 3 on 2 December due to higher than average rates of infection in our District and the pressure our local NHS is experiencing, with Lincoln Hospital having declared a critical incident. I have serious concerns, however, about how the restrictions will affect local hospitality businesses without additional financial support.
I have listened with care to hospitality business owners who have expressed the difficulties they are currently facing under local restrictions. They have stressed that further financial support is needed to ensure their sustainability during this period. I have acted on their concerns, calling on the Chancellor for additional measures and outlining how vital it is to continue to support the sector, protect jobs and back our independent pubs, restaurants and cafes in East Lindsey over the winter period.
To promote local hospitality businesses, I have also created a social media campaign, where I am advertising takeaway and delivery services of pubs, restaurants and cafes in the area on my social media and website. I am encouraging people to order local and have created a public Facebook group called ‘Cheers to our Locals in East Lindsey’ for businesses to share their current menus and services.
The hospitality sector is vital to our local economy, and it is important to support them during these difficult times. Whilst we cannot visit our locals in person at the moment, I would encourage people to continue to back them by ordering takeaway and delivery where they can.
Residents can join the ‘Cheers to our Locals in East Lindsey’ Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/419699929416286. If you run a pub, restaurant or café, you can take part in the campaign by sharing posts to the group to introduce your business and publish your current takeaway/delivery menus and services.
