Replacing EU hospitality workers after Brexit 'will take 10 years'

British Hospitality Association says hotels and restaurants could go bust unless ministers allow staff from EU countries to remain in jobs

The shortage of British workers in UK hotels and restaurants is so severe that chains such as Pret a Manger will need 10 years to replace EU staff after Brexit, the British Hospitality Association has warned.

Days after Pret’s human resources director told MPs that just one in 50 applicants for jobs at the company were British, the BHA predicted that hotels and restaurants would go bust unless ministers allowed EU migrants to continue to work in low-skilled jobs after the UK leaves the bloc.

Related: Pret a Manger: just one in 50 job applicants are British, says HR boss