Melton landlady voices concerns over new early closing restriction

Sharon Brown, who runs The Grapes in Market Place, is relieved the new measures, which apply to bars and restaurants as well, do not extend to closing the hospitality sector down as was the case when lockdown began in March.

But she says the early closure time is still a blow for an industry which was just beginning to get back on it feet since pubs and eateries were allowed to open again July.

Sharon told the Melton Times: “I’m grateful the prime minister hasn’t shut pubs and I don’t mind the restrictions if they help pubs stay open.

“But I just think people are not going to just go home at 10pm - they are going to go on and party, which could lead to households mixing.”

Sharon plans to call last orders at 9.30pm to give customers time to finish their drinks.

But she said: “I think he’s got it wrong on this.

“He should have said pubs must close at 10.30pm because it is going to cause a problem on football nights when matches are being shown.

“If games go to extra time customers are going to want to watch the end of them and that may be a problem getting them out at 10.

“It will be an issue for sports bars like The Cutting Room which have big screens and where people go to watch football.”

The early closure of hospitality businesses will also see staff suffer with a loss of wages, Sharon points out, particularly at pubs like hers which stay open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

She added: “Someone like my daughter will lose 12 hours a week, which is a big hit for a single parent.

“I don’t think they’ve got it right when this early closing is going to mean losing money and jobs in the industry.”

Hospitality businesses got some good news today in the Chancellor’s announcement in that the VAT cut from 20 per cent to five per cent, which was brought in in July, will be extended until March.

Certain businesses, including those in the hospitality sector. must now take names and addresses of customers to aid the NHS test and trace system so people can be informed if someone in their vicinity has subsequently tested positive.

A new Covid-19 app was launched today in England today and Melton pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, the Regal Cinema and other venues, as well as their customers, are being advised to download QR check-in codes ready to use it.

Shelagh Core, manager of Melton BID, said: “Businesses are being urged to ensure they have their own NHS QR code posters visible on entry in their premises so customers who have downloaded the new NHS Covid-19 app can use their smartphones to easily check-in.

“The QR code poster will also provide an alternative way for businesses to collect the contact details of customers, visitors and staff on their premises.”

Go to www.gov.uk/create-coronavirus-qr-poster to create a coronavirus QR code for a business. A link will then be emailed to the business so it can be displayed in the premises.

The new restrictions come in as numbers of new Covid-19 cases across the Melton borough are falling.

Data from Public Health England shows there were just two positive cases in the week to September 19.

This is seven fewer than the week before.

Infection rate is four cases per 100,000 people, compared to the England average of 17.

There have been 30 Covid-related deaths in the borough up to September 11 and 249 people have tested positive since the pandemic started.