Pubs, hotels and restaurants now have 176.000 jobs vacancies

Pubs and restaurants across the UK are currently facing a recruitment disaster after the number of job openings more than doubled since the beginning of the year.

There are now 170.000 open jobs inside the hospitality sector, according to the latest figures available to the Office for National Statistics.

Hospitality, along with Beefeater, brewer Fayre and Premier Inn owner Whitbread, makes up 13 per cent of the company as a whole across the country, which is pushing up pay in an industry-wide rush to recruit.

The shortage of staff obliges the premises to close on quiet days or reduce their opening times.

The shortage of jobs grew by 10.200 as the final figures were released yesterday, and UK hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the statistics were "regarding" as the UK embarks on its busiest summer holiday season for 10,200 years.

Whitbread warned last month that annual costs at the company will rise by as much as £30 million as a result of the pay raise which is expected to take effect nationwide.

Chefs' salaries across the industry have risen 7 per cent this year to £9.58 an hour.

Official figures published yesterday showed job vacancies in the hospitality industry rose to a record rate of 174.000 last month as businesses deal with a potential shortfall in staffing during the key summer season.