THE money spent supporting Dorset’s hospitality industry through the Covid crisis will “all be in vain” unless more aid is put in place straight away, the chancellor has been told.

A letter to Rishi Sunak sets out the views of Wonky Table, the hospitality group that was set up at the start of the lockdown and now represents more than 500 businesses.

It is also backed by chambers of commerce, business improvement districts, BCP Council leader Drew Mellor, Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood and New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne.

Andy Lennox, who founded the group, wrote: “The money spent over the last 6 months will all be in vain if a further robust financial package is not put in place immediately.”

He welcomed the return of 80 per cent furlough but said that without more support, many employers would not be in busienss.

“Businesses are now set for zero trade up to Christmas, a potentially very weak Christmas. We will then enter the historically quiet 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.

He called for grants to help the hospitality, night time economy and events sectors, which should be more than the grants of up to £3,000 currently on offer.

The reduction of VAT to five per cent should be continued “indefinitely” and rate relief should be extended for another year, he said.

Businesses with an alcohol licence should be able to offer alcohol for delivery or takeaway, he added.

He said new loans to replace the current bounce back loans and business interruption loans should be introduced immediately, or the limits on the current loans increased.

“We hope that the government will consider these proposals as a collective and an essential extension of the lifeline which the hospitality industry needs to survive the current situation,” he said.