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Coronavirus: McDonald's and Nando’s to close all UK restaurants Coronavirus: Greggs to close all stores to prevent spread
(about 1 hour later)
McDonald's will close all 1,270 of its restaurants in the UK by the end of Monday, as fears over the spread of coronavirus escalate. Greggs has become the latest food retailer to say it will close its shops temporarily to help fight coronavirus.
Nando's has also said it has closed its approximately 400 restaurants in the UK "until further notice". The bakery chain, which has more than 2,050 outlets, said all shops would shut on Tuesday night to help maintain social distancing.
Costa Coffee, sushi chain Itsu and sandwich bar Subway also planned to close their UK branches on Monday. McDonalds, Nando's, KFC, Costa Coffee, Subway and Pizza Express have already announced similar measures.
On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said restaurants and cafes must close, but exempted takeaway food places. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told restaurants and cafes to close, but has exempted takeaway food places.
That prompted Pizza Express to close around half of its restaurants to diners, while it kept the rest open for takeaway orders. Greggs, which has about 22,000 employees, had already converted its stores to provide solely a take-away service.
However, since then the pizza chain has said it will also close all of its stores until it is safe to open them again, and will not be offering home delivery. But it said: "It is now clear that to protect our people and customers we need to go further and temporarily close our shops completely.
The chains all said they wanted to protect the wellbeing of staff and customers during the coronavirus outbreak. "During this period, with support from the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, we intend to maintain employment of colleagues at full contract hours for as long as is practicable."
McDonald's employs around 135,000 people in the UK, the majority of which are on zero-hours contracts. McDonald's had earlier said it would close all 1,270 of its restaurants in the UK by the end of the day, affecting 135,000 workers.
The chain said staff employed directly by the company would receive full pay for their scheduled hours until 5 April.The chain said staff employed directly by the company would receive full pay for their scheduled hours until 5 April.
By that time it expects the government's financial aid package, announced on Friday, to have kicked in, with staff paid 80% of their wages.
A spokeswoman told the BBC she expected McDonald's franchises, which decide their own pay policies, to follow suit.
Previously, McDonald's had closed its seating areas but had continued to offer takeaway and drive-through services.
McDonald's UK boss, Paul Pomroy, said: "Over the last 24 hours, it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants is increasingly difficult and therefore we have taken the decision to close every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm on Monday 23 March.McDonald's UK boss, Paul Pomroy, said: "Over the last 24 hours, it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants is increasingly difficult and therefore we have taken the decision to close every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm on Monday 23 March.
"I have been clear throughout this that we would only continue to operate whilst it was safe for our people and together with our franchisees, we feel now is the time to make this decision." Nando's said its bosses had "decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants".
Last week, Mr Pomroy had said the chain would stay open as "for as long as it is safe to do so". Pizza Express has also said it will also close all of its stores until it is safe to open them again, and will not be offering home delivery.
However, it reduced its opening hours and cancelled its annual Monopoly promotion, where prizes included a number of foreign holidays and cruises. The chains all said they wanted to protect the wellbeing of staff and customers during the coronavirus outbreak.
In a tweet posted on Sunday night, Nando's said its bosses had "decided that the best course of action right now is to temporarily close our restaurants". Costa is to close 2,000 branches by the end of Monday, but said its hospital branches would remain open for the time being, and the chain would continue to provide free hot drinks to all NHS workers for the next two weeks.
It said the health and safety of its customers and staff was its "highest priority".
Nando's has about 20,000 staff in Britain.
Costa is to close 2,000 branches by the end of Monday.
A spokesman its hospital branches would remain open for the time being, and the chain would continue to provide free hot drinks to all NHS workers for the next two weeks.
Its 19,000 staff, many of whom are on the minimum wage, will be paid in full for the next eight weeks.Its 19,000 staff, many of whom are on the minimum wage, will be paid in full for the next eight weeks.
Sandwich chain Subway will also close its UK stores from 17:00 GMT on Monday. It tweeted that many of its franchise owners were "continuing to support the nation's frontline workers... by donating food responsibly, over the next few days".Sandwich chain Subway will also close its UK stores from 17:00 GMT on Monday. It tweeted that many of its franchise owners were "continuing to support the nation's frontline workers... by donating food responsibly, over the next few days".
"We'll be back with you as soon as we can," it added."We'll be back with you as soon as we can," it added.
Julian Metcalfe, who runs Itsu, described the decision to close as "heartbreaking".Julian Metcalfe, who runs Itsu, described the decision to close as "heartbreaking".
"Whilst we are closed we'll continue to do everything we can to look after our people, who are being wonderful, strong and supportive," he said in a statement."Whilst we are closed we'll continue to do everything we can to look after our people, who are being wonderful, strong and supportive," he said in a statement.
The hospitality industry, which was already struggling from slowing consumer demand, has been put under severe pressure by the coronavirus outbreak.The hospitality industry, which was already struggling from slowing consumer demand, has been put under severe pressure by the coronavirus outbreak.
Last week, industry leaders warned of widespread closures of pubs, cafes and restaurants without state support.Last week, industry leaders warned of widespread closures of pubs, cafes and restaurants without state support.
On Friday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the government would pay 80% of wages of furloughed employees, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.On Friday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the government would pay 80% of wages of furloughed employees, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
The move will not, however, cover many self-employed and "gig economy" workers, unless they are paid via their company's PAYE system, as is the case at McDonald's.The move will not, however, cover many self-employed and "gig economy" workers, unless they are paid via their company's PAYE system, as is the case at McDonald's.
On Sunday, a Treasury spokesman said the government had strengthened the safety net for the self-employed under universal credit, and was deferring income tax self-assessment payments.On Sunday, a Treasury spokesman said the government had strengthened the safety net for the self-employed under universal credit, and was deferring income tax self-assessment payments.
"We have always said we will go further where we can and are actively considering further steps," the spokesman said."We have always said we will go further where we can and are actively considering further steps," the spokesman said.