Will the AA's Covid Confident accreditation be enough to entice customers back into restaurants?

Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox

Deputy Editor

Do customers need the peace of mind that an establishment has been thoroughly checked according to an industry-backed standard?

According to the AA, yes, they do.

The group has today launched a Covid Confidence accreditation scheme, which has been backed by 19 industry trade bodies, to give consumers trust to return to hospitality businesses once the UK's lockdown measures are lifted.

Those businesses which are eligible to apply - restaurants, hotels, bars and pubs - can do so free of charge, and will have to go through a stringent application process involving a risk assessment, proof that the relevant procedures and measures are in place, as well as that staff have been given the appropriate training to ensure customer safety.

Though government guidelines for the sector haven't yet been announced, the AA's risk assessment and training requirements will, it says, reflect them.

Applicants, who will need to have a food hygiene score of three or more to apply, will have to sign up to a Covid Confident Charter and commit to updating procedures as government advice is issued, as well as submitting to any future audits to make sure they are still compliant.

Once restaurants are allowed to reopen - expectedly on July 4th - the AA will list all Covid Confident accredited establishments on its website, ratedtrips.com.

Simon Numphud, MD for AA Media, said: "At the AA we are committed to supporting our colleagues across the industry as we work together to rebuild consumer confidence. We believe that many members of the public will be looking to enjoy days out, short breaks, eating out and other experiences as lockdown eases, but that confidence in the sector is vital. We hope that the Covid Confident scheme will be a valuable stepping stone for establishments to restore consumer confidence as lockdown eases."

Kurt Jansen, director of the Tourism Alliance, added: "We need to restart the domestic tourism industry in order to protect local jobs and businesses in tourism destinations. This scheme does that by ensuring that every property is safe so that visitors can relax and have a well-earned break in a secure environment."

The news comes as the entire hospitality industry is under severe threat, with industry body UKHospitality warning that as many as 30,000 bars and restaurants might not reopen after the lockdown unless some clarity and additional support is provided by government.

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