SAVE OUR PUBS
‘We’ve been forced into a loselose situation with spiralling costs, reduced trade and no kind of support’ - landlord’s passionate plea to Government
A Wearside pub is urging the Government and the council to offer more support for businesses after stricter lockdown measures came into place – with fears of even tighter regulations possible soon as cases continue to rise.
Anthony Payne, landlord of the Ox & Plough in Oxclose, Washington, was nominated for an award along with his team for their community work during lockdown.
The pub reopened in July as lockdown eased, but now with measures being brought in first as part of the North East restrictions and now expected nationally, he has written an open letter to Sunderland MPs, councillors and the Government calling for action.
The letter, which was sent to Health Secretary Matt Hancock among others, urges support for small businesses as they face reduced footfall and operating hours, with fears some pubs and restaurants maynotsurvivethislatestwave of restrictions, which include closing between 10pm and 5am, and offering table service only.
It reads: “I am in full support of doing what we can to combat this virus and minimise its spread. However, I urge you to consider the major economic impact to small businesses like mine.
"We haven’t yet fully recovered from being closed for nearly four months and are now faced with reduced revenue, increased costs and further major disruption to our trade.
"Pubs like mine will start to close for good without the support from our Local Authorities and Government.
"Pleasehelpmineandother pubs in the region survive.”
Mr Payne said the Ox & Plough is seeing just 30% of normal trade.
He said: “By asking businesses to remain open but having to increase their operating expenses with staff, further clamp down on hygiene which we’ve already invested heavily in but then compound that by having reduced operating hours with an already reduced foot fall is making it extremely difficult to be able sustain a business.
"If they want to take this sort of approach, local authorities and the Government need to realise businesses need to be supported before they have to close permanently.
"When we were forced to close in March at least we could stop our outgoings, now we’ve been forced into a lose-lose situation with spiralling costs, reduced trade and no kind of support, and we’re not alone.”