The city’s pubs and bars call last orders for the next four weeks
WE TAKE A TOUR OF HULL’S NIGHTSPOTS AS THE NATION ENTERS ITS SECOND LOCKDOWN
AS the clock ticks down towards the 10pm curfew and the second lockdown, dozens of people are streaming out of the bars in Hull’s Avenues.
Outside Pipers in Newland Avenue one young man looks to have been drowning his sorrows too much and throws up in the street as other small groups go in search of masked taxi drivers to carry on the remaining two hours left of the day.
It has been a busy night on the Avenues, but there’s a sense of foreboding in the chill air. As lockdown 2 comes into force at 12.01am on Thursday, the pubs and clubs will be deserted for four weeks, at least. In Hull’s Old Town, it had already been enough. By evening on Wednesday most pubs were closed and only a handful of customers were drifting out of the area in darkness.
All pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be closed for a month after the Government imposed a second full national lockdown in a bid to halt soaring rates of coronavirus.
For most in the trade it is a tough ask. Already reeling from the downturn in trade, they now face a long month of uncertainty.
Toby Bell at Pave in Princes Avenue said the first lockdown was “mega mega difficult difficult” and remains unsure about the outcome of lockdown 2.
“We were expecting the lockdown,” he said. “Because the first one was mega difficult, we were very close to not being a business.
“The second time round. I don’t know.” A number of businesses in Princes Avenue are still able to provide takeaways to keep things going, but Toby says Pave are unable to extend th their service into lockdown 2.
“We are completely shutting,” he added.
“It was sprung on us so quickly we haven’t had time to think.
“There’s been a lot of people out. A Wednesday night you wouldn’t usually have to book but we’ve had a flooding of bookings.
“I’ve seen tons of police. It’s madness.”
Some owners agreed that the lockdown was necessary.
Darren Wood at Bowery in Princes Avenue said: “It’s a shame, but I think it’s the right to do.
“It should have been an all or nothing situation.
“If it’s just a month I think we’ll survive just
Because the first one was mega difficult, we were very close to not being a business.
Toby Bell
fine. As long as they keep us on furlough the staff will be fine.”
Andrew Murphy at 80 Days says he just wants s the coronavirus “to be over and to get rid of”.
“I’m not surprised by the lockdown,” he added. “If it works it’s for the best.
“I want it to be over and to get rid of it. If it can bring the numbers down and get Hull back to Tier 1 that’s a big thing for me.
“As long as it can do what it’s meant to do then I’m all for it.”
However, some are more sceptical about the idea of shutting down for a whole month.
Sharley Holdsworth, 59, believes another lockdown “isn’t the answer”.
She said: “I don’t believe in this lockdown. As soon as it is over it will all come back again.
“It is not going to go away and a lockdown isn’t the answer.
“I’m not abiding by the rules, if I’m going to get it I’m going to get it whether I abide by the rules or not.
“First time I have been out in a month but I thought I would have to come out for the last night.”
More concerning for business owners is having to spend another month without trade.
Since the hospitality sector was given the go-ahead to reopen on July 4 earlier this year pubs, bars and restaurants fought hard over the next four months to recoup the losses from the first lockdown.
Support was provided by the Government to help them through these difficult times, but one
No one wants to see another lockdown but we’re doing what we can
owner says “i “it’s ’ not enough”. h” “I wish we didn’t have to close for a month,” said Ollie Bingham, of The Hangout Bar in Newland Avenue.
“We’re doing takeaway cocktails. We need to do something as the government support isn’t enough.
“The grant doesn’t even cover our rent. I was kind of expecting it since the last one. I wish they didn’t keep blaming hospitality.
“You’re safe in a bar and we’ve done everything they’ve asked.
“We will survive it. It’s going to be difficult, especially in the run up to Christmas which is usually ll the busiest i time.” i ”
“We’re upset we can’t have people dining with us,” said Zoe Carver at Crafted. “Lockdown came not long after we opened. “We’re doing takeaways and takeaway cocktails. No one wants to see another lockdown but we’re doing what we can.
“We’re not able to keep all of our staff on but we’re not making any redundant.
“I think we will survive it.
“We do well on our takeaways. We have a loyal base of people around Hull which is really nice and we try to help the local community as much as we can.
“It’s a shame.”
Ollie Bingham