Pubs worried and confused as they face stricter rules on opening

PUBS AND breweries in South Yorkshire have been left reeling from “devastating” Tier 3 restrictions, which will be put in place from Saturday.

The rules state that pubs and bars cannot serve alcohol without a “substantial meal”. But what that constitutes and whether once the meal is finished the diner has to leave immediately is troubling owners.

IanBlaylockwasplanningtoreopen the Brewery and Tap in Doncaster town centre next month for the first time since March and is now worried he could remain closed until next spring.

He said: “What constitutes a substantial meal? Who knows? There’s a theory that it’s pie and peas or a pasty and a bit of supermarket salad.

“It’s absolute madness. Four weeks of lockdown that’s OK – but does it get extended again into the busiest part of the year which is Christmas.

“If we don’t have Christmas, January and February are traditionally dead anyway. Is there potentially four months of no trade at all? ”

Ed Wickett, owner of Kelham Island Brewery in Sheffield, said the new arrangements would not stack up financially if tables filled up with single customers, sitting over a pint and a meal for an hour.

He added: “Pubs are designed to be full, with as many covers as you can get. We are not going to need as many staff as there won’t be as many customers. It’s a vicious cycle.”

Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said publicans had done everything to make their premises safe and had been operating with reduced trade for months.

To avoid becoming a “sacrificial lamb” he said pubs needed financial support to compensate for either having to close or stay open with extremely low footfall while they serve food.