Wetherspoons boss slams Tier Three closures
Opening for takeaways ‘unlikely to be a realistic proposition’
PUB giant Wetherspoon is “extremely disappointed” its venues in Nottinghamshire will have to stay shut to punters in Tier Three restrictions.
The pub chain has a number of branches in Nottingham city centre and in the wider county.
But, like all hospitality venues in the tough Tier Three, they will all have to keep their doors closed when England emerges from its second lockdown tomorrow.
The company’s chairman, University of Nottingham- educated Tim Martin, says the Government has “extended a form of lockdown, by stealth”.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon added: “We are extremely disappointed that our pubs across Nottinghamshire, including many in Nottingham itself, cannot open as they are in Tier Three.
“We look forward to reopening them as soon as they move out of Tier Three and are confident that our customers will welcome that, too.”
The company has 315 pubs in Tier Three in England that will remain shut. This group of pubs will remain closed, since opening for takeaways is “unlikely to be a realistic proposition”, the company says. Mr Martin added: “The company has campaigned for pubs to revert to the rules agreed between the pub industry, civil servants, local authorities and health officials, which were introduced when pubs reopened in July.
“These rules greatly reduced pub capacity and provided strict social distancing and hygiene standards but, with difficultly, allowed pubs to trade viably.
“It is very disappointing that yet another raft of regulations has been introduced, which has effectively closed half our pubs. In reality, the Government has extended a form of lockdown, by stealth, in large swathes of the country.”
Tier rules will be reviewed by the Government on December 16.
But experts have warned that people must continue to face restrictions ahead of the Uk-wide easing of measures over Christmas. Restrictions have been tightened after Government scientific advisers warned previous measures had not been effective enough.
The Government has extended a form of lockdown, by stealth, in large swathes of the country
Tim Martin