Pubs and restaurants in North of England face ’11th hour’ with talk of second lockdown closures – iNews

Hospitality leaders in the North of England have hit out at the Government after a Cabinet member refused to rule out shutting pubs and restaurants in the region.

The Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Thursday that ministers are currently considering what steps we should take as he warned of a fast and serious situation in cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle, where coronavirus cases have risen.

Westminster has found itself under increasing pressure to act after Scotland announced a new wave of restrictions, with hospitality businesses set to close for an indeterminable amount of time at 6pm on Friday.

Dr Adam Kucharski, a scientist advising the Government, warned that there are pretty serious outbreaks in parts of England and medics warned of increasing hospital admissions if stricter measures arent taken to quell the spread.

It has left publicans and restaurateurs in limbo, unsure whether they will be able to pay staff, meet rent obligations, or even prepare for Christmas, one of the industrys busiest and most lucrative periods.

Its just getting ridiculous now, said Stosie Madi, who runs the Parkers Arms in Lancashire.

Nobody understands what the hell any of them [ministers] are on about. We need to know if were going to be able to pay our rent and pay our staff. Were already trying to deal with this senseless curfew.

Blaming us [hospitality] is stupid. Theres no proof were spreading anything weve not had one case reported in the pub. And yet were constantly in limbo. We need something that makes sense its all just complete bollocks. I dont even know if well be open for Christmas.

Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester, said there had been a lack of communication from London, and said closing businesses in parts of the North would only widen the gap with the South.

He told i: Theres been absolutely no communication whatsoever. Its frustrating. As far as I can see, theyve leaked considerations to the press with no consultation or discussion with who will feel the impact.

As far as we can see, theyre making the North-South divide wider. Ive talked to a lot of operators who are considering shutting completely. Theyve had enough.

Almost half a million people work in the night time economy in Greater Manchester. What now? Theyre scared for their jobs and theyre worried they wont be able to pay their rent or put food on the table.

This is the 11th hour. It feels like the final blow.

With numerous ministers claiming fresh lockdowns are the only option in order to curb the spread of Covid-19 in areas where transmission rates of infection have risen, many in hospitality deem the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the architect of the popular Eat Out to Help Out scheme, as their only hope for greater pragmatism.

In Liverpool, chef Paul Askew, from the Art School restaurant, called on the Chancellor to promise to introduce new financial support packages in the region if it finds itself tightly locked down again.

Another lockdown of hospitality businesses is the last thing we want, having only just got back up and running, he said.

Its been feeling like a gradual dismantling process since curfew and consumer confidence has been knocked.

What we need is Westminster to follow the lead of Liverpool in announcing support packages that match the sanctions were facing.

The uncertainty has not only left hospitality professionals worried, but local people too, who had started to get used to being allowed out to pubs and restaurants again.

Daniel Callaghan, from Newcastle, said: Young people are being blamed for going out when only last month they were encouraged to do so.

The hospitality sector is being thrown under a bus. Shutting everything down again doesnt seem viable. Thousands of people have already lost their jobs.

What are people supposed to do? We cant repeat the same cycle. Therell be nothing left.

Read more:
Pubs and restaurants in North of England face '11th hour' with talk of second lockdown closures - iNews