WORCESTER hospitality businesses are feeling the pressure after being forced to shut for the best part of two years, they say furloughed staff have moved on, and the industry is in crisis.

Restaurants, pubs and cafes across the city are desperate for new staff now lockdown restrictions are easing but say that there are slim pickings as furloughed staff move on to greener pastures.

Nic Gibbons, landlord of the Anchor Inn in Diglis Road, said 'there are absolutely no hospitality staff around'.

He said: "No-one wants to work long, hard hours anymore,

"Lockdown had all hospitality staff either on furlough or made redundant so the staff got jobs in warehouses or working for delivery companies, and have decided to stay and not come back to the hospitality sector.

"Customers are waiting longer for drinks food etc because there’s no staff to poor drinks, serve food, or cook the food."

Sam Barriscale, owner of Ma Baker's, in Cranham Drive, Warndon echoed the pub bosses sentiments.

He said: "Many in the hospitality business have had the time to realise that there is more to life than late nights and weekends at a not brilliant rate of pay, so they've found more rewarding careers elsewhere.

"All it means for us is upping the wages and offering a better experience for employees, shorter hours and better pay. However, this means that food and drink costs will go up exponentially.

"That along with the delivery driver shortage is going to really hit our pockets."

Will Bradley of the Alma Tavern in Droitwich Road added: "When the furloughed staff got other jobs they saw there was less pressure and more social time so the hospitality industry looks less desirable, it is a lifestyle and a fun environment to be in - but not for everyone."

This is a problem that has affected the entire industry, not just here in Worcester, but across the UK.

The situation is also further exacerbated by Brexit, industry leaders say, with many of the EU workers who used to fill a large proportion of these roles having opted to return to mainland Europe.

Leading to the very vocally pro-Brexit boss of JD Wetherspoon urging the government to bring in a new visa scheme to help EU workers enter the UK.

Tim Martin told the Telegraph: "The UK has a low birth rate. A reasonably liberal immigration system controlled by those we have elected, as distinct from the EU system, would be a plus for the economy and the country."