As the UK gears up for New Year’s Eve celebrations, there are concerns more reservations could be cancelled as a result of rail strikes and the cost of living crisis.
The cost of living crisis has forced Brits to look at their NYE plans as industry experts say bar and restaurant bookings are down.
There is “huge” concern that strikes will further hit New Year bookings and result in job losses in January, the Night Time Industries Association said.
The government says it is doing all it can to mitigate the impact of strikes. Train services continue to be hit by cancellations and delays as rail workers stage a series of national strikes in a dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.
Kate Nichols, chief executive of industry organisation UK Hospitality told BBC Breakfast losses in December were worse than expected due to rail worker walk outs. “We know that when the train strikes were announced… you saw cancellation rates as high as 50-60% in the centre of London and 20-30% around the rest of the country directly attributable to those strike days.”
