Tube strikes could cost restaurants 50% of business

A wave of proposed Tube strikes this month could cost central London restaurants up to 50% of their business.

That's the warning from the chairman of the Restaurant Association, Richard, Earl of Bradford, who runs Porters English Restaurant in Covent Garden.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has scheduled a walk-out for six hours from 9pm on Sunday, followed by further stoppages in the second weekend of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

"They are damaging the restaurant industry, damaging individual restaurants, damaging staff, and give a terrible impression to our visitors, on whom many restaurants depend," Bradford said

The dispute is in support of driver Arwyn Thomas, who has taken a claim of unfair dismissal to a tribunal with the result expected by the end of the month.

Lord Bradford condemned the union for calling the strike when only 29% of the drivers voted for the strike and before the result of the claim for unfair dismissal is known.

"Mr Crow RMT leader] and his colleagues should think about the harm that these strikes cause to businesses which provide employment to thousands of people in the central London area and who lose out because of the union's action.

"I'm very concerned if this is a foretaste of what's to come during the year and into 2012, when we have the Olympic Games."

Ironically, Crow and colleagues were this week spotted spending £650 in Scott's in Mayfair.

Earl of Bradford - A Minute on the Clock >>

By Neil Gerrard

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