Ed Sheeran refuses to furlough bar staff at tax payer's expense

Ed Sheeran will not be accessing any government funds to pay staff at his London bar.

The Shape Of You singer - estimated to be worth £170m - co-owns Bertie Blossoms restaurant and bar in Notting Hill, which was forced to close in March due to the lockdown imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus.

A representative for Sheeran told The Sun: “The business, co-owned by Ed Sheeran and Stuart Camp, is not, and will not, be accessing any Government scheme of any kind, including furloughing, grants, loans and so on.”

Bertie Blossoms - believed to be named after the 29-year-old singer’s wife Cherry Seaborn - opened in September 2019 with a launch party attened by the likes of Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy.

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Like the rest of the UK’s leisure industry it was forced to close in March, leaving employees including bar and waiting staff, chefs and kitchen assistants, out of work.

Businesses can reclaim up to 80 per cent of staff wages from the government, at taxpayers expense, during the lockdown period, up to a threshold of £2,500 per month.

Victoria Beckham faced criticism when it emerged that she had applied for government assistance to pay 30 staff at her fashion label during the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Spice Girl and her husband David Beckham are estimated to be worth a combined fortune of £355million.

Last year Sheeran announced he was taking time off - following two years of touring - to spend some quality time with wife Cherry.

Read more: Ed Sheeran announces music hiatus after 'non-stop' two years

The Thinking Out Loud singer secretly married his childhood sweetheart in December 2018 and revealed they're planning to start a family.

He said in June: "I'm starting a life with Cherry. I can't spend the next 20 years on the road.

"Kids would be the different thing. I wouldn't mind sacrificing for them.

"If someone told me you can't tour again for the next ten years if you have kids that is fine, because that is what I have signed up for.”