Charlie McVeigh launches #ProjectPint to get the nation back to the pub

Draft House founder and entrepreneur Charlie McVeigh has launched #ProjectPint to promote the safe reopening of pubs by celebrating the nation's love of a pint.

McVeigh's campaign and accompanying petition asks the government to allow drinking and dining out venues to reopen and take care of their customers through social distancing. It will also seek to reassure consumers that hospitality operators are well-versed in looking after their punters.

He said: "With the forced closure of our community pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs we have lost something incalculable from British daily life. It is essential that we get them back open absolutely as soon as it is safe, to start to repair the immense social and economic damage caused by Covid-19 and lockdown.

"The longer venues remain closed or subject to restrictive distancing regulations, the less likely it is they will ever be able to reopen and trade sustainably. It would be a tragedy if hard-hit communities were to lose their community hubs even while they are only just beginning to emerge from the nine-week lockdown."

The campaign is also asking people to share stories from their favourite pubs using the hashtags #ProjectPint and #FreeThePint.

The petition can be seen here.

For a full interview with Charlie McVeigh and more on #ProjectPint, see next week's edition of The Caterer.