Uncertainty is ‘killing industry’ warns pub boss
SHE FEARS WASTING BEER AMID COVID CRISIS
A DERBYSHIRE pub says it could be forced to pour beer down the drain if stricter Covid restrictions are brought in.
Ruth Lewis, landlady of the Robin Hood in Overseal, said publicans needed certainty from the Government if they are to avoid wasting money following a difficult two years.
Pubs normally need to know if they can order beer for the busy New Year’s Eve, but an announcement on whether pubs will actually be allowed to open that day is due next week.
Ms Lewis says this is too late for many pub owners, who will have already had to order barrels of beer to be stocked for the date.
She says if the Government does decide to close pubs over New Year, then it needs to do so now, otherwise beer worth thousands will be poured down the drain as it won’t keep for long periods.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this week there will be no restrictions over Christmas amid growing concerns of the spread of the Omicron variant of covid-19 which on December 21 saw another 90,000 cases in the UK. However, he did not ruled out imposing restrictions after Christmas which could include on in social mixing or even to a full lockdown as seen in 2020. He said he was looking at the figures ‘hour by hour.’ However, Mrs Lewis said the uncertainty of not knowing if pubs will have to close is “killing the industry without even closing it” as they risk pouring beer down the drains.
Asked whether she had concerns about the hospitality industry and the increase in Covid cases, Mrs Lewis said: “I would rather go into lockdown and just be safe. My husband found it hard during Covid with illness.
“It is not nice for the hospitality industry but safety comes first.
“We do have an older age group here and my customers have had problems. We try to protect them.
“I am actually annoyed that we have had to put our beer orders in for New Year with the possibility that we will be shut down. It is very worrying. Last lockdowns we had to pour our beer down the drains [as it does not keep] but this time the breweries will not replace them.
“It is the uncertainty of it all. I don’t think Boris Johnson realises what he is doing. The breweries are upset because they are producing all this beer but will they be able to sell it?
“It is killing the industry without even closing it.”
However, other pubs are hoping for a restriction-free Christmas and New Year period.
Carl Stout, who runs the Devonshire Arms in Station Street, Burton, said: “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course. Everyone is in different circumstances.
“From our point of view we want to continue to trade because once we have that momentum it is a great thing.
“We would be disappointed it we had to close because that kicks people out of the habit of coming to the pub and we need to encourage people to come out.”
Amanda Addis, who runs the Coopers Tavern in Cross Street, Burton, said she had taken all the precautions she could, saying: “I have had both of my vaccinations and my booster. What more can I do?
“We are spraying every table and seat and the toilets. We have never stopped doing that.”