DECEMBER WRITE-OFF
▪ City hospitality venues resigned to restricted opening until next year as the North East stays in Tier 3 measures
It’s usually the biggest, most profitable, month of the year for hospitality, but December is officially a write off for city bars, pubs and restaurants after it’s been announced that Sunderland will remain in Tier 3.
Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that Sunderland, South Tyneside and there st of the North East will remain in the highest tier as health leaders warned the Government not to move areas out of Tier 3 measures “prematurely”.
While many had remained optimistic that Sunderland would be dropped to Tier 2 after the tiers were reviewed on December 16, others say opening within the tightened restrictions isn’t viable.
"It’ s for the best ,” said Katrina Quinn, publican at the family-run Stackyard in West Herrington.
“Running a pub in th e previous Tier 2 was difficult enough, but this new Tier 2 is even stricter.
"Obviously, we would love to be open as normal, but this news takes the pressure off us trying to police people at Christmas.
"Financially, we’ve lost December anyway and at least this time, when the case numbers go up in January, which they will, they can’t blame the hospitality industry, as they have done all along.”
In the meantime, Stackyard, like many pubs, will continue with it stake out food options.
"That’ s helping us pay the bills at the minute, and it means when we can open we will be in a position to do so,” explained Katrina.
Steve Lawson is landlord at The Times Inn in Southwick. As he doesn’ t serve food, he’s one of the many pubs in Sunderland which would remain closed rega rd less of whether we’ d dropped a tier as the new tightened tier system means alcohol can only be served with a substantial meal in Tier 2.
He said: “It’s the pubs who serve Christmas meals that I have the biggest sympathy for as it would have made a big difference to them.
"We had already booked a table for Christmas Day which was £200 to start with, with tips and drinks on top, and that’s just one table.
"For me, I’m working on the fact I’ll be closed in December and January, but if we don’t reopen in February that will be really painful.”
Neil Bassett is part of the team behind The Ship Isis pub in Silksworth Row and Mexico 70 in High Street West.
He said: “I’m a little disappointed that we’ve remained in Tier 3. I know a lot of our customers are itching to get back into Mexico 70 and our team was looking forward to getting back to it too.
"But I can understand the reasoning behind it, we take safety very seriously and we’ve got all our measures in place ready to reopen as soon we are allowed, hopefully in January.
"We can just have a de - lay ed Christmas then instead.
"In the meantime, we’ve been teaming up with our other business The Ship Isis on weekends to serve takeaway fried chicken with all the American trimmings. It’ s regularly been selling out. All the details are on our social media pages.”
STACK Sea burn also remains closed for sit-in custom in Tier 3, but is still operating a click and collect service.