THE coming days could be crucial for hospitality businesses amid fears that an “enormous wave” could close for good in January and February.

Restaurateur Andy Lennox, who started the Dorset industry group Wonky Table, said 60 per cent of members had told him December trade was down on last year.

Another 36 per cent said business was only “slightly up” on last December, even though Christmas 2021 was blighted by the omicron strain of Covid-19 and caution about going out.

He said: “I think we’ll see an enormous wave of people closing their doors in January and February.

“The next days will be absolutely key. I encourage people to go and support their local independents. If you haven’t booked a Christmas party, go and book into a local independent or pub or go and buy a gift voucher or something like that.”

His comments came after Southbourne restaurant SoBo:Fish said business was 70 per cent down on last December and urged people to support independent business.

He said the World Cup had hit trade, even at his pub the Old Thatch, on top of the cost of living crisis.

“The World Cup has destroyed us in the last couple of weeks. It was 7pm last Saturday night – 26.5million people stayed inside to watch it with their mates and everyone else went to the pub,” he said “We had the game on in the pub but we had 140 people in the pub for the bar, They weren’t really drinking and spending money.

“Even though we showed the World Cup, we were probably 30pc down on what we could expect on a Saturday night.”

Mr Lennox said 36 per cent of Wonky Table members responding to his survey told him trade was slightly up on last year, but since omicron led people to stay at home in December 2021, “that’s really not good”.

“We would expect to see sales 40 per cent up on last year,” he said.

“So basically about 14 per cent of the market is having a good to okay Christmas.

“For independents, after three long hard years, this December was going to be our golden goose. I think we’re going to see a lot of people go to the wire in the new year,” he said.

Mark Cribb, owner of the Urban Garden restaurant in Bournemouth, also recently urged people to support independent business.

“It’s the toughest period we’ve probably ever had. Think about the sort of restaurants you want to exist,” he said.

“Christmas started a little later but we’re pretty busy at the moment,” he added.