The Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick is reportedly drawing up plans to extend the automatic entitlement for takeaways and off sales for alcohol until March 2022.

Reported in the I newspaper, Mr Jenrick said his department will look into whether this “one-size-fits-all approach should become the norm.”

Mr Jenrick said: “We’ve taken decisive action since the beginning of the pandemic to support our pubs, restaurants, cafes and markets.

“Making it easier for them to provide takeaways has helped these businesses to adapt and helped sustain many through an unbelievably difficult year.

“That’s why I am extending these simple but effective reforms to support these businesses – helping give them and their employees more certainty over the coming year.

“It will also be a boost for their customers who can now look forward to continuing to enjoy meals at home from their favourite restaurants.

“As these reforms have made such a difference I will be considering making them permanent.”

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “The ability to provide takeaway services was a valuable lifeline for many hospitality venues, not just during the lockdown but in the days of reduced and restricted trade, too.

“The extension will undoubtedly help many. For pubs, restaurants and cafes to operate as takeaways gives them a previously untapped revenue stream and a much better chance to survive what will be a tough winter.”

Source: i News