Hospitality businesses have hit out at what they see as a lack of support from the government for the industry.

They convened a meeting this week to vent their concerns about their plight.

The hospitality industry lost 40% of its turnover last year and, a report by accountancy firm PwC concluded.

It’s predicted it will lose 30% again this year.

Geoff Joughin, chairman of Licensed Victuallers’ Association - which encompasses pubs - said: ’We are in very desperate financial situations, not just the LVA but all across hospitality and indeed small businesses across the island.’

The government’s Business Premises Support Scheme has been extended to all businesses eligible for it.

This is a grant payment based on the cost annually of commercial premises business rates.

But it came under fire at the meeting, which was held at Barbary Coast on North Quay, Douglas, on Thursday.

To be eligible for the grant, businesses and those who are self-employed must declare their turnover has been impacted by at least 25% in comparison with May 2019, plus must operate from commercial premises.

’We want to appeal to the government to give us some help and the salary support, we feel, needs to carry on until people don’t have that 25% deficit,’ he said.

The LVA represents about 60 businesses.

Mr Joughin added: ’It’s been difficult for the Treasury to get the balance right because we’re 60 individual businesses but we employ over 1,000 people.’

He said the impact on individuals’ mental wellbeing was his primary concern.

’With closures and cancellations, it’s put our members in a very stressful situation.

’I welcomed customers back in, they were very pleased to be back and that’s why it’s so necessary the government support the public house industry and the restaurants because they need to communicate,’ he added.

Enzo Ciappelli, of Enzo’s Restaurant and chairman of the Restaurateurs’ Association, was concerned about the government’s handling of the situation.

He said: ’I’ve found our government to be very ignorant of our industry.

’The grants that were given to every single eatery, including some of the takeaways and some major restaurants that have a lot of employees, were exactly the same across the board.’

Support is based on the rates payable because it reflects the size of the business premises, so a large restaurant would receive more than a small takeaway operation but they will both be entitled to proportionate support if they have experienced a 25% reduction.

Seventy-three per cent of businesses employ fewer than five people but the same grant is given to catering and entertainment venues no matter how many people they employ. The owner of Barbary Coast, Darren Walker, who was also speaking on behalf of Jak’s bar, couldn’t get his ’head around’ this.

’The one payment that fits all was quite literally ridiculous,’ he said.

Mr Walker added: ’The money that I’ve received from the government for grants, for being closed for five months, comes to less than one month’s rent or it comes to less than one month’s wages for the staff that I have to pay while getting salary support.’

Mitch Sorbie, of Just Pizza and Pasta on the North Quay, which is one of the larger employers in the sector, said: ’Going forward, we desperately need to have some sort of help from the government.

’Salary support is vital, it’s tailored to the size of your business.’

There was a 25% reduction in the turnover for May which members of the trade found to be a ’kick in the teeth,’ as expressed by Jamie Lewis, an independent person in the hospitality trade.

Andy Saunders, an LVA representative and owner of Quids Inn, also expressed his frustration.

’Ninety-five per cent of our businesses are small or medium sized businesses and we are the backbone of your economy,’ he said.

He had experienced a ’good mid-week evening’ the day before and only took 8% of what he would expect to have taken on a usual TT Wednesday.

The Isle of Man Courier contacted the Treasury but it has declined to comment.