Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, England’s fine dining industry has encountered many problems. Policy that had been created to limit the spread of the virus meant that restaurants had to close their doors to the public. While the Westminster Parliament did put in place loan schemes for businesses and a furlough scheme for the staff that they employed, neither initiative has proved adequate for all restaurants, and many have found their closure to be permanent. Fine dining establishments located in England’s capital city, London, have been hit harder than many that exist in other areas of the UK. As Edmonds has posited, restaurants in central London are heavily reliant on tourism (2020). This reliance on gastro tourists, in a world where many people have been unable or unwilling to travel, coupled with hidebound traditionalism, has added to restaurant’s vulnerability. Yet, some fine dining establishments have sought to modify their business models in order to confront the “new normal” and appeal to adapted culinary leisure practices. In this paper, I explore the detrimental impact that COVID-19 has had on London’s fine dining industry and the challenges that it has faced. For this to be achieved, I analyse Parliamentary records, established statistical data, restaurant websites and relevant press content. It is hoped that this will produce a clearer understanding of what has happened, what may continue to happen, and what might happen after the “new normal” ceases to either be “new” or “normal”.
Presenters
Carina Jane ManseyPhD Researcher, Department of Sociology, City, University of London, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Tourism and Leisure Industries
KEYWORDS
COVID-19, Fine Dining, London, Culinary Leisure, Gastro Tourism
