‘We have been left with no other choice’

A popular Wearside pub is to close temporarily as stronger restrictions are set to be imposed across the North East from midnight tonight.

Posting on Facebook, The Sky Lounge Washington Snooker Club informed customers of the difficult decision to temporarily close.

The Sky Lounge cited the spiralling costs of adhering to guidelines, tougher restrictions, the risk of fines and slamming the decision-makers for not better supporting pubs and the hospitality industry.

Owner of the Sky Lounge, Mark Farnsworth said: “We just simply can’t leave ourselves open to prosecution and have been left with no other choice.

“This is our business, our livelihood, our staff ’s jobs, it’ s everything to us. We simply can’t monitor a pub like ours with one household per table or have the facilities to monitor everything we’re being asked to do. Costs are increasing because of the rules that are being forced upon us, but they’re also forcing our takings down.” The Sky Lounge is a usually profitable business, taking in revenue of over £1million per year, but according to Mark, this year they may struggle to make a tenth of that. The post from the Sky Lounge read: “It is with huge sadness, trepidation and being massively let down from the powers that be that unfortunately we will be temporarily closing from tonight until this crazy 1 household restriction is lifted. “It is impossible for us to operate in those circumstances without putting undue pressure on staff."