Government officials said to be working on a 'Plan C' which could see tougher restrictions introduced in the new year

Government officials are working on a potential 'Plan C' which could see the return of having to check into hospitality settings, a ubiquitous facemask mandate and an extension of Covid passes to different types of venues.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister gave a press conference outlining 'Plan B' measures, the first of which - compulsory facemasks in more settings than previously, now including theatres, cinemas and hospitality when guests aren't seated - have come into force today, to which will be added official guidance to work from home where possible and Covid passes in nightclubs and large venues from next week.

'Much more challenging'

The UK Health Security Agency has warned the doubling time for Omicron variant infections could be as little as 2.5 to three days, and official told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the fight against the virus is set to become "much more challenging."

Under the new rules, which, according to The Daily Mail  officials are currently drafting up, the NHS Covid check-in app would be made compulsory in pubs and restaurants to enable the use of the Track and Trace system, facemasks would be compulsory in all indoor spaces and vaccine passports would be used much more widely.

Already hospitality bodies have warned of the devastating effects of 'Plan B' on hospitality, and businesses are reporting mass cancellations in the run-up to Christmas, usually the most lucrative time of the year.

'Unhelpful speculation'

UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls said that she had not been briefed on the possibility of implementing a 'Plan C,' but should this come to pass, she said: "I hope Ministers will move swiftly to quash such unhelpful speculation - hospitality cannot be asked again to bear a disproportionate burden ‘just in case’ - when socialising at home poses greater risk."

Meanwhile, others have been swift to point out the gaps in the government's plans and ponder what the future of hospitality might be, whether under Plan B or the as-of-yet unconfirmed Plan C.

I’ll remind people that Supermarkets are also licensed premises,they have been ALLOWED to declare that they cannot police masks and restrictions, due to staff safety concerns.

Hospitality is no different,if anything, our staff would be at FAR greater risk from aggression.#PlanC

— Adam Brooks (@EssexPR) December 10, 2021

Pubs have been though it all - you can only have a drink if you eat a Scotch egg or if you sit outside in sub-zero temperatures, tears for Tiers, last Christmas a lost Christmas. This Christmas, more uncertainty, Plan C?#LoveYourLocal Support it if you can.

— Roger Protz (@RogerProtzBeer) December 10, 2021

How have you been affected by the new restrictions? What would Plan C mean for your business? We'd love to hear from you, contact us here or on social media if you'd like to share your experience.