news. first off, the reaction from your sector, your business to what has happened in the last few days. i think it is a sense of bewilderment at the moment. the prime minister is announcement to work from home is coinciding with the prime minister, some incredibly conflicting advice to customers about what to do, whether to go to a party, not go to a party, go to a pub not go to a pub. and feeling insecure and uncertain and not coming out to city centres, they are deterred. the messaging centres, they are deterred. the messaging is centres, they are deterred. the messaging is what is doing the real damage. and could this have prepared something that could ve been put in place to reassure customers? this reminds me place to reassure customers? this reminds me greatly place to reassure customers? try 3 reminds me greatly of march 2021 for wii, the prime minister was telling people not to go to pubs but but the
last clip, it was closing it down and at that time, we didn t have a furlough scheme, the prime minister introduced a furlough scheme and we were able to protect manyjobs and protect many livelihoods. we are not in that position now and with the amount of business that we ve gotten in city centres, it is inevitable that across the sector, sites will be close left right and centre and that leads us with an enormous financial pressure. and also leaves us with an enormous problem but what to do with our colleagues and our staff. he to do with our colleagues and our staff. ., ,., ., . .,, , staff. he also mentioned closures, but are you staff. he also mentioned closures, but are you estimating? staff. he also mentioned closures, but are you estimating? we - staff. he also mentioned closures, but are you estimating? we run i staff. he also mentioned closures, l but are you estimating? we run 400 ubs in the but are you estimating? we run 400 pubs in the situation but are you estimating
let s speak to craig hassall, ceo of the royal albert hall. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news this evening. what sort of a hit are you taking? rslur bbc news this evening. what sort of a hit are you taking? a hit are you taking? our christmas sales were a hit are you taking? our christmas sales were doing a hit are you taking? our christmas sales were doing tremendously - a hit are you taking? our christmas| sales were doing tremendously well until a macron hit and then they plateaued and we are seeing a huge drop in sales until 0micron hit. i know the west and is suffering with covid, we have been 0k, touch wood, but the impact on sales is certainly being seen across the industry. certainly being seen across the indust . , , ., ., industry. equity, i understand, have written a letter industry. equity, i understand, have written a letter to industry. equity, i understand, have written a letter to rishi industry. equity, i understand, have written a letter to ris
in sales but in city centres, we had one polyp that is taking £82 all day and that is simply unsustainable and we will be able to keep that. i haste we will be able to keep that. i have to very quickly we will be able to keep that. i have to very quickly get we will be able to keep that. i have to very quickly get to we will be able to keep that. i have to very quickly get to my we will be able to keep that. i have to very quickly get to my last - to very quickly get to my last point. he said he would do whatever it takes to have the government support the livelihoods. but will it take? he support the livelihoods. but will it take? , ., , ., take? he brought it up with a furlou:h take? he brought it up with a furlough scheme take? he brought it up with a furlough scheme that - take? he brought it up with a furlough scheme that saved l take? he brought it up with a - furlough scheme that saved countless jobs and we need something like that. we have a number of families that.
they are being abandoned, or could be? i they are being abandoned, or could be? ~ , they are being abandoned, or could be? ~ , . be? i think there is so much unknown- be? i think there is so much unknown. we don t - be? i think there is so much unknown. we don t give - be? i think there is so much unknown. we don t give the| be? i think there is so much - unknown. we don t give the impact of this variance on people s lifestyles. at the moment, the government advice is causing people to not want to go out and see concerts and shows, and that is heading down a kidding us immediately. it would be a shame if the government investment is not followed through and it is too early to tell about the financial impact, but certainly the sales impact is being seen right now across the sector. ~ , ., , being seen right now across the sector. ~ i. , ., sector. when you said we ust don t know. what sector. when you said we ust don t know, what would h sector. when you said we ust don t know