‘Every shift would be roulette for footfall’

Andrew Golding, whose bars have been hit by an 80% reduction in footfall, says the new restrictions make each shift a “roulette” as to whether the business can cover costs or even make a profit.

He explained: “When it all comes down to it, to survive, we can only run our businesses efficiently and maximise revenues from our seated capacity if we have a ‘perfect sitting’ and if all the tables have bums on the seats that have been made available (maximum occupancy).

"With the new restrictions it will be impossible to guarantee the venues can achieve this with the probability of a table of four now being used as a two and so on, and thus we cannot protect the business from running at a loss, every shift would be a roulette and impossible to forecast footfall."

Whilst not mixing outside of households and support bubbles indoors was previously guidance, this latest announcement has made it law in Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland, with those who flout the law risking fines.

Andrew said: “This new change in law alters things massively and puts more pressure on the pubs to get the customer screening process on top of the NHS track and trace, before table reservation and the seating process, right. Also, do we run two processes of checking now?

"We have seen in the past some customers are reluctant to abide by the rules in its full integrity and in many instances we have refused service and entry as such as this situation arises, if the ownership is now on the pubs to ensure households don’t mix I think this is a very big ask.”