Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Six more months
Wedding venue and pub bosses fear their takings will be slashed as they expect to be hit by the government’s tightened coronavirus restrictions.
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson announced a raft of measures that could last for six months, after England’s chief scientific adviser issued a dire warning about the potential for 49,000 new infections a day by next month.
Among the changes is a curfew – brought into force today – forcing all pubs, bars and restaurants to close their doors at 10pm.
Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Faversham brewer Shepherd Neame, believes the measure will increase transmission of Covid-19, as revellers will choose to socialise in unregulated areas.
“This curfew is pandering to the typical myth that people in pubs at 10pm have lost control of their senses and drunk too much - it’s just not the case,” he said.
“Do we really want young people dispersing onto the streets at night and moving to unregulated environments?
“Most people do not go to the pub to get drunk; they go to socialise.
“We fought tooth and nail to get on a recovery path and now the industry is being pushed back to an unviable level again, which will result in job losses and
Charlton Park in Bishopsbourne admissions have more than doubled in the two weeks, taking Britain to a “perilous turning point”.
He also warned that “significantly greater restrictions” could be imposed, if the infection rate does not improve. This came a day after the government’s chief scientific and
medical advisers told how the UK could be on track to have 200 deaths a day in November. As part of Number 10’s stricter approach, pubs and restaurants will be prohibited from opening between 10pm and 5am and have to offer table service only. However, takeaway venues will be able to operate during those times as usual. Restaurateur Phil Harris, of Michellin-starred The Sportsman in Seasalter, believes the changes could cause his takings to fall by 25%.
“It’s frustrating, but it has to be done. If we have to have the doors locked and lights off at 10pm, that’ll be difficult,” he said.
“What we might have to do in that event is take our last bookings at about 7.30pm, then we would probably lose about a quarter of our business business. ” Prior to the announcement in Parliament this week, Canterbury pub magnate Charles Smythe said reduced opening hours would force him into temporarily closing The Seven Stars and The Black Griffin.
The Prime Minister’s plans will also see indoor sports involving more than half-a-dozen people - such as indoor football -, banned, cutting the list of
Alison Wallis,of Thenightyard
activities exempt from the rule of six.
Office staff have been told to work from home where possible; while the wearing of face masks will be made compulsory for employees in the retail industry and those operating in confined spaces, like taxis. Philip Ritson, who manages the long-established Canterbury Hi-fi in St George’s Place said: “There are so many mixed messages because it’sits OK to sit in a pub without a mask on, but I have to wear one behind the counter.
“But we can only hope that these new measures will start to have an effect pretty quickly.” Yan Cowley who owns the Canterbury Camera Centre in St George’s Place says he and his staff are also not relishing the new resgulation. “It’s not pleasant to have to wear one, especially for long periods, but if it’s the rules we have to abide by them,” he said.
Adam Hopkins, who manages Cycles UK in Whitefriars, added: “I’m afraid it is what it is and we just have to get on with it.” Elsewhere, weddings will be halved in size, with a maximum of just 15 people allowed to take part in celebrations. Now, venues across the district are anticipating more couples to push their big days back until next year in the wake of Mr Johnson’s announcement. Alison Wallis, of The Night Yard in Highland Court Farm, told the Gazette: “It’s been very challenging and frustrating until now.
“Of course theth business has lost money - we can’t have the weddings and we’ve had to reschedule them t until next year, so we can n’t sell the days,” she said.
“But during lo ockdown, we’ve taken 10 booki ings in 2021 and 2022 - so, obviou usly, romance is very much still l alive.” Meanwhile, Ccharlton Park’s weddings dire ector, Gabrielle Wales, says sh he had already been looking for alternative ways for the Bishopsbourne B country hous se to generate funds. “Financially, we’re having a very bad time and a are looking for other things s to do, like afternoon teas on a Sunday S - but that doesn’t pay like e weddings,” she said.
“It must be mu uch, much worse for the big venu ues who are holding weddings ev very day.”