‘We just want to open’: Pub landlords react to Boris Johnson vaccine passport proposal

Jaega Wise said she would do whatever it takes to get The Tavern On The Hill open
Evening Standard

Pub landlords have criticised Boris Johnson’s suggestion it could be up to them to decide whether to only permit vaccinated customers.

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday that it “may be up to individual publicans” whether they require customers to have a “Covid vaccination certificate”.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is reviewing the possible use of coronavirus status certificates under plans to ease England’s lockdown.

Fresh details emerged of a strong incentive for pubs to adopt checks of health certificates under plans being considered in the Government's review.

Though no decision has been made, the PA news agency was told pubs may be allowed to scrap social distancing rules if they check customers' certificates at the door, allowing them to operate far more profitably.

But the use of certificates may not be as straightforward as vaccine or no vaccine, as recent negative test status may also be considered and landlords may be incentivised to employ them.

The boss of the Shepherd Neame chain said on Thursday that making jabs mandatory for entry to pubs is a “fairly poorly thought out idea”.

Bosses of Young’s, Greene King and City Pub Group called the idea “unworkable”, “devastating” and “chaotic and discriminatory”, respectively - echoing strong resistance from trade bodies.

Master brewer Jaega Wise, 32, is finally ready to launch The Tavern On The Hill in Walthamstow on April 12 after spending months in lockdown renovating the 19th Century boozer.

She told the Standard: “Honestly we’ve had the pub for a while and not been able to open due to the pandemic. We’re happy to follow the rules to get our doors open.

“We simply cannot launch the pub without being able to open, so to say it’s vital is an understatement.

“Obviously launching outside only is not ideal, but we’ve been given quite a lot of notice this time, so that’s allowed us to buy outside furniture, parasols and generally get ready.”

The Tavern On The Hill needs to launch after it’s owner spent months refurbishing the Walthamstow boozer
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Rob Smith, landlord of The Vine Inn, Essex said he would not be asking punters for vaccination certificates at the door.

He said: “This is another poorly judged comment by the PM to cause confusion and consternation within the hospitality industry.

“Licensees should be allowed to decide for themselves what policy they want to have in their business.

“Let us decide what is best for our businesses.

“If a customer doesn’t want to come to the pub because of the virus then they have a right not to come. Equally people who want to go out have a right to do so.

“My pub will not be asking for certificates or proof. We will continue to use social distancing, sanitiser, PPE and advocate personal responsibility for people to have an enjoyable and safe experience in the pub.”

Rob Smith said he wouldn’t be asking for proof of vaccine when he reopens the Vine Inn
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Tory lockdown sceptic Steve Baker further warned the move could create a “two-tier Britain”, while Labour frontbencher Ed Miliband said it would be wrong to leave the public health measure up to pub landlords.

Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Shepherd Neame pub group, has said making vaccination a mandatory prerequisite to attend a pub is “a fairly poorly thought-out idea” which could lead to young staff having to deal with intimidation from customers.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I’m very concerned about the pressure we put on our young people – 50% of people (working) in pubs are under 25 – you’re going to force them to make some very challenging judgments, because they’re not qualified or trained as door staff, as they might be in the nightclub sector.

“So those people might therefore be subject to intimidation, if people think they are being unfairly discriminated against, and then there’s the question about who’s going to enforce this – are police going to do random checks?

“I don’t think so, I don’t think that’s the society we want.”

He added: “This is a fraught with difficulty I think, and it is, in my view, a fairly poorly thought-out idea at this stage.”

The British Beer and Pub Association said the requirement would not be “appropriate or necessary”.

Mr Miliband, Labour’s shadow business secretary, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “If this was really a public health measure, you wouldn’t be saying, ‘Well, it is going to be a landlord discretion’ – you’d be saying, ‘This is the Government’s view, this is what’s safe’.”

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