‘It’s treasonous!’ Bar owner slams government over virus response
RESTRICTIONS ARE TOO HARSH, HE SAYS - BUT MP DISAGREES
A CAFE and bar owner in Hinckley has hit out at the government’s “treasonous” response to the coronavirus outbreak, which he says is devastating his business.
Graham Butler runs Carter’s Lounge and Restaurant, in Waterloo Road, as well as two-floor music and nightclub venue, Eivissa, in the same group of units.
Carter’s is still doing takeaways and deliveries for its ribs, burgers, Sunday roasts and other menu favourites, but takings have fallen by 80 per cent this year and plans to expand their offering continue to be frustrated.
Mr Butler said of the government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak: “I believe that what’s happening is treasonous. They are supposed to serve us.
“We are a democratic country and they are making these massive calls on our behalf even though the majority would disagree if it went to a vote.
“All the big housing companies, all the big players in the retail sector can sell things – and we’re being told we can’t. We’re the fall guys.”
Graham launched Carter’s Lounge in August 2018, named after his first son, with the business expanding into a small neighbouring unit in early 2019, while Eivissa launched in December last year.
The business received a support grant from the government, but the money was quickly used up just to cover their bills.
He said: “The way they have dealt with it could have been done a lot differently. If the problem is with the elderly, they could have invested the money in them and let us stay open.
“They have gone too far to go back on themselves. They have invested too much in track and trace but it’s still not working.”
After the first lockdown was lifted for hospitality venues in June, Carter’s relaunched with Covid-19 measures in place and with customers required to book a table in advance.
As nightclubs were unable to reopen, Mr Butler decided to invest £15,000 to recreate Eivissa as a sitdown venue with table service, but
it only opened for a single day before Lockdown 2 was announced in late October, and the business continues to be closed as part of the county’s Tier 3 restrictions.
He was hoping to open a rooftop terrace for guests this year.
Graham said: “We took the gamble to invest in Eivissa and we have not been able to open. It’s not a good situation. It’s OK them saying you can do deliveries, but it’s not enough.”
He said the tough restrictions are affecting people’s mental health, and he has suffered from anxiety in the past, which is starting to come back because of the pressures of this year.
Several hospitality ventures launched in Hinckley town centre soon after the first lockdown eased, including street food takeaway Snack Shack, on Rugby Road, just around the corner from Carter’s.
The New Baron of Hinckley pub, on Regent Street, was relaunched while the former home of French eatery Petite Chouette was taken on by another group and opened as café bar, RuSiana.
New owners also took on the former The Gravity sports bar, reopening the large venue as Revival, with a fresh cocktail and food menu, in October.
It had to close again just a few weeks after opening.
Family-run eatery Café Español, in Castle Street, decided not to reopen after the first lockdown eased, while town centre Chinese restaurant Kiki Wong, also on Castle Street, closed in September, after seven years in business.