East Midlands Chamber has described the re-opening of indoor bars and restaurants as a 'crucial milestone' in economic recovery.

Commenting on the reopening of hospitality businesses to indoor customers yesterday (Monday), East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: "This marks another crucial milestone in our economic recovery and there will be many pubs, restaurants, cafés, cinemas and other businesses celebrating the opportunity to either expand their capacity or reopen for the first time this year.

"Those businesses have been hit harder than most during the pandemic.

"But we've argued all along that they will be viable in a fully functioning and open economy.

"So it's vitally important our communities are ready to support them now they are able to once more.

"Business confidence has returned strongly in recent months due to the success of the vaccine rollout and bold assurances from the Prime Minister about the direction of travel, with the latest Quarterly Economic Survey by East Midlands Chamber showing a net 53 per cent of businesses expected their turnover to improve over the coming year, with a third (net 35 per cent) anticipating a rise in profits.

"For this belief – and, as a consequence, our economic recovery – to be maintained, businesses will need to see yesterday as just one more step towards normality.

"That means they require certainty about what the future holds, including the fourth stage of the roadmap commencing irreversibly as planned on 21 June."