A sneaky loophole found by McDonalds has allowed them to stay open past 10pm, starting from today.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces new measures that were coming into effect nationwide. Included in these measures, were instructions that told businesses to close at 10pm.
More specifically he said: “Businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises, can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service or drive-thru.”
So, McDonalds will mostly be able to go back to opening 24 hours a day in a lot of branches, despite not being able to sit in throughout all those times.
McDonald’s UK and Ireland CEO Paul Pomroy confirmed: “With thanks to our delivery partners Uber Eats and Just Eat, more than 800 restaurants will also be offering McDelivery past 10pm.”
He did mention however that they will be monitoring infection rates in areas around the country, and potentially closing branches if they deem it safer than keeping them open.
He added: “We will be guided by local and national government regulations.”
Despite the government doing what they think is best for the safety of the country, many people in the hospitality sector have criticised the new rules, saying that the new measures are extremely damaging to businesses.
UK Hospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: “The additional restrictions announced this week place even further burdens on a sector that is operating with razor-thin margins and needs all the help it can get. It is vital that these restrictions are reviewed regularly.
“We need comprehensive financial support so that those businesses that survive the winter can begin to rebuild next year, starting with a package of measures to support short time working.
“The VAT cut for hospitality must be extended through 2021, as must the business rates holiday. We also need the government to step in now and help to deal with the rent debt that has built up over months of enforced lockdown.”
Many business owners are hoping the chancellor addresses these new issues when speaking this afternoon, but for now, the future of the hospitality sector in the UK looks very uncertain.
