Christmas looks like a non-event, says eatery boss
OWNER ONLY HAS 2 BOOKINGS AND FEARS THEY’LL BE AXED
It’s a real shame... you would get a lot of Christmas work and family parties. Bablu Miah of Claypot Lounge
A BURTON restaurateur has said he is missing what should be one of the busiest times of the year as venues are forced to stay closed during lockdown.
Normally restaurants would be packed with bookings as the Christmas party season gets under way.
But due to the second lockdown and social distancing rules, few have been booked, with eatery owners fearing they will miss out on should be one of the most lucrative times of the year.
Bablu Miah, owner of Claypot Lounge in New Street, said he has just two Christmas party meals booked for Boxing Day and he fears they could be cancelled due to the pandemic.
He feels the hospitality sector has been targeted and even though they have done everything to make their businesses as safe as possible during the pandemic they are suffering.
He has offered a takeaway service during both lockdowns but says that will not been enough indefinitely and, like many restaurants and pubs in the town, he fears his business may have to stay shut if the town is put in the toughest tier restrictions today.
Mr Miah, who lives in Birmingham, said: “Trading as just a takeaway service is not the same.
“Thankfully we have had some regular customers who would normally eat in ordering a takeaway but it’s not the same as we love seeing our customers eating and enjoying the food in front of us. We had already taken orders from customers who wanted to come back and eat in after the lockdown was lifted, but now it’s looking like we will have to cancel them.
“It’s a real shame, especially with the lead-up to Christmas, you would get a lot of Christmas work rk and family parties and from a business usiness point of view, it would d be a really fruitful time of the year.”
With the Government due to announce the new Covid tiers today, Abdul Muhit, owner of Manzil Gold in Guild Street, Burton, fears the currrent situation in Stafaffordshire could also hit his plans for the festive season. He said: “Since the start of the second lockdown, business has been very quiet and it’s nowhere near as busy as we were when the first lockdown was announced.
“I am just waiting to see what happens on Thursday.
“I I know it is i very unlikely [that restaurant restaurants will be able to offer sit-dow sit-down meals] based on the figures f but I am hoping we are allowed to o open and look forward to serving my customers again.” Staffordshire was p put into the high Tier 2 level of Covid re restrictions at the end of l last month before the secon second lockdown was brought in.