How important is the UK hospitality industry – and will it be saved by the new social distancing rules?

Some fear that even with the relaxing of the social distancing rules, many businesses will still go bust and that the future of the sector is bleak. But what's the overall economic importance of our pubs, restaurants and hotels? Ben Chu looks at the numbers

We should beware fetishising the hospitality sector (PA)

Boris Johnson’s announcement that the Government will cut the public social distancing requirement from 2 metres to 1 metre has been hailed as vital for the survival of much of the beleaguered hospitality sector.

According to the industry’s main lobby group, UK Hospitality, the new requirements will allow the average pub or restaurant to run at 70 per cent of capacity from next month, rather than 30 per cent – a level that would have threatened the future of many businesses.

But just how important is the hospitality sector to the UK economy as a source of income, a provider of jobs and a generator of rising living standards?