UK eateries face staff crunch as EU workers leave

London

AS EU nationals leave Britain in ever greater numbers ahead of "Brexit", restaurants such as pizzeria chain Franco Manca are reporting shortages that could spell trouble for a sector that relies on immigrant labour.

The number of EU nationals leaving Britain, most of them from central Europe, rose by 33,000 to 122,000 people during the 12 months to March, according to the latest data following last year's Brexit referendum.

Franco Manca's parent company, Fulham Shore, said that the prospect of new controls on immigration when Britain leaves the bloc was "alrea…