THE hospitality industry has ran into difficulties as a shortage of staff has begun to disrupt the industries recovery as it comes out of the year long lockdown.

Bars, pubs and hotels have seen a sharp fall in recruitment which has gravely impacted business in the sector, at the same time as restrictions have allowed many to return to service.

Businesses in Cumbria have found themselves being impeded in their recovery due to the lack of staff.

Kendal’s Duke of Cumberland pub, owned by Chris Moss and Joshua Macauley, has recently temporarily ended its serving of food due to shortages of staff.

Chris said: “It’s a very sad time for us as owners, and its a real challenge for everyone in the industry.

“But we had to make the decision because we could not get the staff we needed to continue.

“It’s not really about us at this pub, it’s about the whole industry which is going to struggle.

“Brexit might have something to do with it, as well as the restrictions we’ve been under this year.

“Our priority is to make sure our staff are treated fairly so we would not make them work the hours needed to be made up for to continue food.”

The New Union has found difficulty in recruitment as a lasting side effect of lockdown.

Owner Phil Walker said: “We’ve been looking for staff recently but found nothing at all.

“People have gotten used to staying at home which I completely understand, or a lot of people in the industry have found jobs with better hours for them.

“In the South Lakes we don’t have a lot of young people or university students here who tend to take up these jobs.

“I see it being a long term problem for the industry but at least we are back open which is a start.”

Julie Rogers. director of Helm Mount Lodge and Cottages, say they have seen a rapid return of tourists since restrictions were lifted.

She said: “We do know that staff shortages in the hospitality sector are causing terrible problems for restaurants and other accommodation businesses.

"A combination of Brexit and Covid has created the perfect storm."

Project Manager for Kendal BID, Simon Thomas said: “The shortage of hospitality staff is hitting the whole industry nationwide and Kendal is no exception.

"Covid-19 and the repeated lockdowns affected hospitality far more than most other industries. Only theatre has been similarly devastated.

"Unfortunately many pubs and restaurants will not reopen even when all the restrictions are lifted, and the staff shortage will certainly be a factor when owners & landlords are assessing their viability.

"The current regulations require pubs, bars and restaurants to have more staff to provide a safe service for customers while the pool of available staff is at an all time low. Many experienced hospitality and catering professionals have left the industry during lockdown and found careers elsewhere.

"There is arguably also a strong Brexit factor, especially here in the Lakes, where many European workers have traditionally come over to work in hospitality. Figures show the numbers of workers coming to the UK. since the process of leaving the EU began have been decreasing. Travel during lockdown has been a further complication which has rippled down from top hotels to local pubs.

"There is no quick fix for this problem. Some restaurateurs are offering existing staff a bounty or bonus if they introduce new recruits to the company. Relocation packages are set to become more generous for the right staff.

"I think we will all have to get used to the fact that service may be a little slower and menus may be a little smaller to allow for shortages.

"There has been so much fast food and pan-global menus for years now, so perhaps this is a chance to reset to a more relaxing and leisurely experience when we go out to eat.

"Kendal is fortunate in having so many and varied restaurants available for home delivery too, so if you can’t get a table in town, you can still support your local businesses by ordering takeaway.

"The staff issues will sort themselves out in the long term but in the meantime we will have to be patient and supportive of our hospitality venues here in Kendal."

MP Tim Farron has the hospitality industry has been neglected by the Government which contributed to this crisis.

He said: "The government should have listened to our hospitality industry when they said that they needed immigration rules that would give them the staff they need.

"Sadly the government ignored our area and brought in harsh restrictions which are now causing serious damage to many local businesses just as they were doing their best to fight back from the pandemic.

"I am seeking an urgent meeting with the immigration minister so that we can put to him a proposal for better immigration rules that would allow our businesses to be saved."

Economy, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder and Liberal Democrat Councillor Robin Ashcroft described the crisis as a knock on effect of Brexit.

He explained: "The current shortage within the workforce is clearly a major problem, particularly for hospitality and the wider visitor economy.

"Currently, the UK has 1 million fewer workers than it did this time last year. This is a national issue and patently it’s one of the knock on effects of Brexit and the consequent loss of access to employees from the EU.

"It’s an issue of huge importance, not just for South Lakeland, but for the wider British economy and the national government really does needs to get a grip of this and come up with a workable permit system based around actual wage levels that employers can realistically pay."