Hospitality businesses reflect on impact of Covid-19 pandemic

Hospitality businesses on the Isle of Man say they’re still recovering from the repercussions of having to shut down or adapt their ways of working due to Covid-19.

This week marks five years since the pandemic started.

The hospitality sector was one of the most affected on the Island.

Andy Saunders is the owner of Quids Inn, and a representative of the Licenced Victuallers Association – he’s described the pandemic as 'a terrifying period'.

He says business owners had to dig deep into their reserves, to pay rents and taxes, adding it's been difficult to build those reserves back up:

Restaurateur John Kinley, who owns Ocean Views in Onchan, told Manx Radio they had to adapt quickly as they’d only launched their business six months before restrictions were brought in.

He says whilst that proved successful the sector is still struggling due to a number of other knock-on effects:

Manx Radio has invited Treasury to respond to the VAT concerns raised – we are awaiting a response.