Amidst local restrictions and lockdowns across Northern towns, we have seen the reopening of some business sectors who were previously closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

One of the most affected industry has been the hospitality sector, along with entertainment and tourism. 

Adeel Saleem is the owner of Eastern Pavilion in Oldham, a popular wedding venue. He has had concerns around the support available to the hospitality sector, in particular the wedding venues sector which remains closed whilst pubs, bars and takeaway services were eased out of lockdown on 9 July.

According to Hitched, one of many websites listing wedding venues, a basic search revealed there are around 15,956 wedding venues across England with around 1,778 in the North West and 1,188 in neighbouring Yorkshire and Humberside. These include barn weddings, castle weddings, woodland, Marquees and Church weddings. 

The Government has given permission to small wedding gatherings of up to 30 guests in bars, pubs and restaurants representing around only 58 venues on this particular website search. This of course can be seen as only a drop in the ocean and as far as Asian weddings are concerned and of no real value. 

Hence, this continues to be a growing concern across the sector for whom many expenses such as rent and other outgoings are a growing problem, not to forget the pressure of previously booked weddings still not able to go ahead and customers now demanding their money back.

On the day when record number of people are recorded to be out of work, the worst since the last recession in 2008, Adeel Saleem said, “The financial support given in the form of loans and grants was welcomed and good at the start of the pandemic but aimed at supporting the sector for around three months, with schemes aimed at covering 25% of the annual turnover. 

"We have lost a full 12 months of business as we heading into our second term of peak season but remain forced to close despite following the guidelines and carry out extensive risk assessments and social distancing and liaising with local Public Health officers. 

"One size does not fit all and the generic approach is unfair and the lack of understanding in relation to our sector and its implications to local employment and other support business such as catering, suppliers, makeup artists, confectionery, clothing, entertainment , car hire etc. to name a few is becoming evident as many are small family run and will have no option but to close. The government support to these businesses has failed.”

Asian Image:

Eastern Pavilion in Oldham is still closed

Many Entertainment and live music venues will still have a red sign outside their premises. 

Adeel Saleem  added, “We have set up a support group consisting of wedding venues from across the North of England and have continued to liaise with our local councillors, MPs and local authorities but sadly to deaf ears, with no progress being made despite months of communication.” 

MPs from across the North of England, including Naz Shah MP for Bradford West, Imran Hussain MP for Bradford East, Afzal Khan MP for Manchester Gorton, Kate Hollern MP for Blackburn are amongst MPs across the country who have continued to raise the voice of many businesses within this sector.

All of whom have said that the Government needs to do more to support the sector and allow venues to open in line with pubs, bars, restaurants and takeaway services.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East has been nominated the task as coordinating on behalf of MPs across the country on this particular issue.  She explained, “I was initially approached by some local wedding venues who were beginning to struggle like many other businesses. 

"Many of the venues are much bigger than average wedding venues and can follow the social distancing guidelines.”

She added, “ I wrote to the Ministry of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and explained that the job retention scheme (Furlough) needed to be longer to cover the summer wedding season, the rate rebate must be extended to next year and that those venues that were bigger must be allowed to open as they could easily follow the social distancing guidelines and support the track and trace as they knew their customers, but we have been told 'no'.”