Light at the end of the tunnel
EASING OF LOCKDOWN A LIFT FOR RESTAURANTS & HARIDRSSERS: PAGE 6 BREWERY BOSS ISSUES NOTE OF CAUTION ON PUBS’ REOPENING:
Abrewerybossdoubtswhether many pubs will immediately reopen once coronavirus lockdown restrictions begin to ease.
Mark Anderson, the managing director of Maxim Brewery,whichproducesSunderland’s legendary Double Maximbeer,believesthe“costs will outweigh the benefits” for many venues once outdoor hospitality can return from potentially as early as April 12.
Responding to Prime MinisterBorisJohnson’sroadmap outoflockdown,MrAnderson said: “I have my doubts that many pubs up here will open from April because it will not be worth their while at first.
"Not everywhere has a beer garden and those that do will still have to abide by socialdistancing measures with the rule of six and people unable to stand up.
"Then, of course, there’s no guarantee that the weather will be better at that point as it might be too chilly for people to go out.
“So you are still talking about limited numbers and in many cases the costs will outweigh the benefits.”
With Maxim Brewery requiring around a fortnight to brew and deliver to pubs and restaurants, it is likely to wait until the sector begins seating customersindoors–provisionally from May 17 – before resumingitscaskaleproduction.
Mr Anderson said: “There are still as many questions as answers at the moment.
"Weneedaroundtwoweeks to turn around cask beer and wedon’twanttodisappointthe pubs who are reopening.
"But the dates aren’t fixed and we don’t want to produce beer which we then can’t sell because the opening date has been put back again.
"Plus the pubs need the numbers in to justify buying in the first place because with real ale it needs to be drunk within five days of opening.”
Maxim Brewery lost about £3,000 in costs and sales when it was forced to literally pour about 7,200 pints of festive ale down the drain when pubs were forbidden from reopening last December.
Withreopeningstillatleast six weeks away, Mr Anderson is hoping Chancellor Rishi Sunakwillsupportthehospitality sectorinnextweek’sBudgetby providingmoregrants,extending furlough scheme and introducing a rates-free period.
In the meantime, Maxim is continuing its popular drivethrough bottled takeaway service at its Rainton Bridge premises. Further details are available from 0191 584 8844.
A Sunderland artist has been making his mark on Sunderland’s beaches.
The anonymous artist – who uses the name ‘Eyes’ when making his stunning creations – was hard at work between Roker and Seaburn over the weekend.
Hundreds of people took time out from their daily exercise walks along the promenade and clifftop to watch him work.
Eyes said he had been inspired to create sand art by Trainspotting director Danny Boyles’ Pages of the Sea project in 2018, which saw the faces of people who had travelled abroad to serve during the First World War created on beaches across the country to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
"I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now. I thought ‘If somebody can come down and do that, I can have a go’,” he said.
"It started off small and it's got bigger and bigger.
“It doesn’t take long to plan out the designs but the raking takes a while.”
In the past, important dates, such as VE Day and International Women’s Day have been marked, with photos shared far and wide across social media after people spotted the outlines.
Passerby Colin Stead is a fan of Eyes’ work and was using his drone to capture a bird’s view of the on-going work as it appeared in the sand.
"I have seen him a few times but by the time I have got home and got the drone it has been too late,” he said.
"This time I was just passing, I saw 30 or 40 people at the railings and I thought: ‘Eyes is down there’. Luckily I had the drone with me and I got down to the beach as he was just starting.”
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Kevin Stephenson:
It's madness to re-open schools without vaccinating staff
Ann Whitfield: Teachers should have injection
Smithy
Wilkins: Seems reasonable. Higher risk first.
Peter Porter: Teachers should be vaccinated. Simples.
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Peter Dodsworth: Teachers are front line workers .... vaccinate ASAP ....
Graeme Wharton: All teachers and teaching staff should be vaccinated.
Joanne
John Green
Jr: Teachers and retail staff should have been one of the top priority
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Steven Willis: Public transport and retail workers are the most at risk of infection
Elaine Johnson: Just give them it for goodness sake and get the kids back to school