Businesses reopening for the first time in months next week have been warned not to hike their prices — because they have already received billions in taxpayer-funded support

Businesses reopening for the first time in months next week have been warned not to hike their prices — because they have already received billions in taxpayer-funded support.

Pubs, restaurants and hair salons are among the venues allowed to welcome back customers from July 4, albeit under new Covid-secure rules, which is likely to mean significantly fewer people allowed inside than before the coronavirus outbreak.

As a result, there have been suggestions that businesses could start charging more in a bid to stay afloat, particularly with some trades incurring other costs such as those involved in supplying staff with PPE.

Pubs, set to reopen next Saturday, are looking at hiring door staff and ‘greeters’ to police queues and ensure social distances are maintained inside the premises

Hair salons are among the businesses considering increasing prices, having incurred extra costs such as those involved in supplying staff with PPE

A quarter of restaurants, for example, intend to increase prices to make up for lost revenue, a poll seen by the

This way to pay for extra precautions, according to The National Hair and Beauty Federation. 

Meanwhile, Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said pubs were looking at hiring door staff and ‘greeters’ to police queues and ensure social distances are maintained inside the premises.

He added: ‘At a time when pub revenues are down because there are fewer customers and costs have gone up, it might be that pubs can only make it work by raising prices. I would hope pubs can avoid this or only raise prices a little, but we understand they may have to, just to remain viable.’ 

Elsewhere, retailers have said shortages in supplying DIY goods, homeware and cookware has led to price inflation in recent weeks.

However, government bosses will be keeping an eye on any ‘price gouging’ where customers are charged more for items than is considered reasonable or fair, which saw some traders prosecuted at the start of the pandemic. 

Business minister Nadhim Zahawi said: ‘We have said we will monitor any bad behaviour in terms of price gouging and we will keep a very close eye on that and take action. That is not something businesses should be contemplating.

We will stamp it out.

‘If pubs or salons put their prices up consumers will vote with their feet. We have given over £10billion in grants to small businesses and £28billion in the bounce back loan scheme, so there has been a lot of support from the taxpayer. 

‘There is also the VAT deferral, the business rates holiday, so the taxpayer has given them enormous support.’ 

Business minister Nadhim Zahawi said the government will monitor ‘any bad behaviour in terms of price gouging’

It comes as ministers will today unveil plans to turn streets into outdoor markets and allow pubs to use car parks as beer gardens.

New laws being published today will loosen restrictions on drinking, dining and shopping outdoors — where the risk of transmission is regarded as much lower.

The Business and Planning Bill, which should be fastracked through Parliament in time for lockdown easing on July 4, will make it easier for local authorities to pedestrianise streets to help struggling businesses.

A government source said: ‘People talk about the cafe culture on the Continent and we want to recreate something like that here this summer — you could call it al fresco Britain.

‘It obviously depends on everyone adopting a can-do attitude to try and save the summer, but we are going to play our part by cutting red tape and getting out of the way of business.

‘You could see closed-off streets laid out with tables and chairs for dining.

We are removing the need for planning permission for outdoor markets, so you could see small shops and boutiques which are struggling with social distancing setting up market stalls.’

The move is designed to counter criticism that guidance for indoor hospitality and retail is too onerous and off-putting to customers.

Pubs and restaurants blast ‘unworkable’ rules that mean groups of friends from more than two households will be BANNED from sitting together…

so what else can or can’t YOU do after ‘unlockdown’ on July 4?

Pubs are to open with a hush rather than a bang with no raised voices, no loud music and a cap on numbers — and even stricter restrictions than expected. 

They are among a range of safeguards that also include a requirement that pubs, restaurants, cafes and even takeaways to collect the names and contact details of customers. 

Pubs are concerned this will be difficult, costly and bureaucratic — and that the measures as a whole will deter customers. 

And publicans are not the only businesses struggling to meet the new requirements ahead of the July 4 day of freedom. 

Hotels, hostels, B&Bs and other parts of the hospitality industry are also struggling to ensure they are ‘Covid-secure’ ahead of July 4. 

Theme parks have also been told to ensure visitors don’t ‘unnecessarily raise their voices’ while imposing strictly distanced queues. 

And hairdressers have also been told to keep their clients’ details for 21 days, while also providing disposable PPE for customers.  

So what are the challenges that each sector faces? 

Pubs and Restaurants

Under the new rules, groups of friends will not be allowed to sit together in pubs and restaurants with only people from a maximum of two households allowed to share a table from July 4.

Publicans and restaurant owners were surprised by the guidelines, which were published by the government yesterday and far stricter than expected.

Friends from more than two house holds will be allowed to visit but only outside, on terraces or beer gardens, and even then, only in groups of up to six people.

If they don’t comply, pubs risk being closed by environmental health officers or their local council.

The Information Commissioner has warned pubs and bars they must abide by data protection privacy rules around keeping details of customers secure.

This comes amid evidence from New Zealand of the misuse of this information. A woman using a Subway outlet who left her details on a contact form was subsequently pestered by a member of staff who tried to contact her via text, Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.

Bosses at UKHospitality and the British Beer & Pubs Association say the need to collect customer information is a major problem.

In theory, staff will be required to demand contact details and keep them securely for 21 days. This is so they can be handed over to the NHS, track, trace and isolate regime.

However, the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls said: ‘This is going to be incredibly challenging.

‘With 11 days to go it is just not practical to develop a new system in one fell swoop.’

There will also be problems around restrictions on the number of people allowed in, enforcing social distancing, handling glasses, and running pubs with table service.

A waitress in PPE at a Greene King pub in Fort St George in Cambridge, as England adjusts to the new normal

The rules for socialising include asking customers not to shout, which could spread infection, while any music, or football on TV, will be turned down.

The guidance states: ‘All venues should ensure that steps are taken to avoid people needing to unduly raise their voices.’

There will be no standing at the bar.

There will also be controls on how many drinkers gather in a pub or beer garden.

The guidance adds: ‘Where necessary, inform customers that police and the local authorities have the powers to enforce requirements in relation to social distancing.’

Chief executive of the BBPA, Emma McClarkin said: ‘We do have significant concerns over the collection and storage of personal customer data.’

The Information Commissioner’s Office warned firms they must abide by data protection rules, ‘only collecting personal data that is necessary, making sure that it is not retained for longer than needed and keeping it secure.’ 

Temporary changes to licensing laws will allow many more licensed premises, such as pubs and restaurants, to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises.

Pictured, people sit outside a pub that sells takeaway drinks in London

Police will retain the power to enter pubs to break up ‘large and irresponsible’ gatherings even after lockdown measures are eased, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that, while many of the rules and regulations of the past few months will become merely guidance, some powers will remain.