Uncorked

Shortage of sommeliers and staff hits resurgent restaurants

From sommeliers to chefs, severe staff shortages have caused headaches for restaurants, pubs and bars in the UK as they seek to reopen for business. While restaurant and pub owners have welcomed the chance to begin reopening their doors, most are concerned about recruitment, according to research by hospitality consultants CGA and Fourth.

Many hospitality staff have been forced to find alternative work following Covid lockdowns, yet the research also noted that ‘Brexit has also caused a steep drop in people travelling from Europe to work in the UK.’

Wages have risen in some cases as venues seek extra help. Hourly weekend wages for temporary staff have increased by 9% on average since 2019, and in some instances up to 14%, according to recruitment platform Indeed Flex.

‘Since the hospitality trade reopening, we have received emails almost daily from agencies or restaurants looking for sommeliers,’ Federica Zanghirella, vice president and course director of the UK Sommelier Association, told Decanter.

‘It’s the worst it’s ever been in terms of recruitment,’ added Master Sommelier Xavier Rousset,