A GROUP representing more than 500 hospitality businesses has called on Boris Johnson to help the industry after Covid restrictions “put an end to Christmas”.

Wonky Table, which sprang up during the first lockdown, speaks up for restaurants, bars, clubs, pubs and events companies locally.

In a letter to the prime minister, founder Andy Lennox said the decision to put the BCP and Dorset council areas into Tier 2 restrictions had “effectively put an end to Christmas for our industry” – and that for many, the end would be “forever”.

Mr Lennox wrote: “Businesses have now had no trade up to Christmas and will have a disastrous Christmas.

“We will then enter the historically quiet dark quarter of January-March in 2021 without the traditional reserves of November and December trade – not to mention the extra pressure we already have on our businesses carried over from the initial lockdown.”

He said the industry should receive grants more generous than the current help available to all businesses, which is capped at £3,000. The discounted five per cent VAT rate should be extended, as should business rates relief for another year, he said.

The group also wants government’s bounce back loans and business interruption loans extended.

The letter has also been signed by other bodies including business improvement districts and town chambers of trade. Mr Lennox is urging local MPs to back its demands.