Everywhere you look in Rochester High Street you'll see businesses advertising for workers in their windows.

It's a local take on a national problem which has seen 80% of venues short with at estimated 200,000 vacancies up for grabs, according to UK Hospitality.

Earlier this week, we reported how one of the Towns' most popular eateries has been forced to close because it hasn't got enough chefs and front-of-house positions.

The Fire Station Brasserie, Chatham, will be temporarily shut while bosses try and find more recruits.

Owner Rebecca Collins, who also runs The Vines of Rochester and Cooling Castle Barn, has been shocked by the lack of interest.

Across her businesses she has had 70 positions open for months.

Despite offering low working hours compared to the national average and a range of perks, she fears there aren’t enough people wanting to work in the industry any more.

Ryan Denny, licensee of Ye Arrow and Jolly Kight in Rochester, said virtually every cafe and pub in the High Street was looking for people – he's hunting for a chef and bar staff.

He said: "I have loyal workers who are prepared to work hard and a good clientele. But it does involve more work doing table service.

"Hopefully that will be relieved on July 19 when people can order at the bar.

"I don't know why people are leaving, we pay a good hourly rate. Perhaps some people don't like the idea of working weekends after lockdown."

He added that despite the financial challenges of the last year his business is booming.

He said: "It's the best yet. People are prepared to come out even when the weather isn't great, they just want to get out."

Beni Jory is manager of The Quills restaurant and is advertising for a head waiter and chef.

He said: "I think in some cases, people have got lazy and got used to a change in lifestyle.

"We have had staff who have not come back and others who have been furloughed and moved back in with their parents, come back and left.

"They are getting £800 instead of £1,000. I think that will all change when furlough ends. There will be lots of people looking for jobs.

Medway Licensed Victuallers' Association chairman John Brice said is finding it difficult to hire staff ahead of the reopening of his refurbished pub.

He said: "I cannot find a cleaner. I think one of the problems is that a lot of eastern Europeans who worked here went home at the beginning and have not come back.

"And increased paperwork and regulations to get back to the UK has put some of them off coming back."

Mr Brice, who runs the King George V in Brompton, added: "There are those who have been furloughed who don't want to go back to work and others who have found work which doesn't involve late nights and long hours."

UK Hospitality says many have found alternative jobs during the pandemic working less unsocial hours and, in some cases, with more pay.

Other findings are that people have got used to being furloughed and don't want to return to full-time employment,

In an attempt to lure employees back, many businesses are offering above minimum wage and other incentives, including weekends off.

Shepherd Neame – Kent's biggest pub owner – has launched a massive recruitment drive before hopefully a full re-opening later this month.

The Faversham-based brewery is advertising for 300 jobs across the south east as the hospitality sector struggles to get back on its feet.

The Vines of Rochester – a restaurant and boutique hotel – opened its doors for the first time in May, but put off opening the hotel fully for a few months during the recruitment drive.

Ms Collins revealed Cooling Castle Barn has reopened for weddings after a severely pandemic-affected year, with the company offering some couples who had their weddings postponed the opportunity to marry at The Vines of Rochester instead.

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