Latest restrictions are ‘a concern for the whole of the hospitality industry’

Marlon Jones, who runs the Boar’s Head Pub in Newmarket alongside his wife Gemma, said there would be ‘long term ramifications’ to the fortunes of the hospitality industry, particularly with the cold, dark winter months on the horizon.

Marlon added that the Government’s messaging had become confusing, with members of the public being encouraged to ‘Eat Out To Help Out’ last month, but now - in Marlon’s own words - the Government is telling people to “drink up and sling your hook” instead.

Marlon told the Leader: “I’m not too bothered about the 10pm closing time. I think it’s probably the right thing to do, because obviously the later it goes, people get drunk and start not social distancing.

“For us, it’s more about the rule of six, and how that applies to pubs. There’s a lot more we have got to do now, including having three or four more extra members of staff on each shift. You’ve got to have someone to meet customers at the door, someone to make sure the sanitise and make sure they do the track and trace, and someone to take them to their seats. And of course, more extra cleaning.

“It’s all necessary because of the new rules, but we can’t really increase our prices because it wouldn’t be fair on our customers, so we’re losing more on cleaning products and paying for the extra staff.

“There will be long term ramifications, especially as it gets colder, and as flu season gets here, fewer people may want to come out - but we will still have to have the extra staff, in case more people do turn up.”

Marlon continued: “The Government’s attitude towards it all is really capricious, the way they’ve been flip-flopping about. They are telling us one thing, and then doing another. It just doesn’t make sense.

“Everyone’s already confused about what’s going on in the world, and then to be told to go out last month, to push everybody out the doors, and yet now it starts to feel like going back into lockdown!

“For smaller businesses in particular, this is all really quite detrimental, and if there is another lockdown I can’t see there being much in the way of Government assistance this time around. It’s just not sustainable for a small business to keep losing money.

“They are confusing the issue even more with the 10pm closing time rule, as though Covid-19 is some sort of gremlin and as soon as 10 o’clock comes it turns into this little monster.

“People are just going to start to get really confused - should I stay in, should I go out?

“It’s the same with going back to working from home, and wearing face masks. There’s just no cohesion, there’s no rhyme or reason to it.”

Marlon said that we are lucky in this part of the world, as customers have generally been compliant, and recognise that the rule changes have to be followed while in the pub.

He said that in bigger towns and cities, non-compliance might be more of an issue - but added a cautionary note by warning that people in less badly affected areas, such as here in Lincolnshire, should not be lulled into a ‘false sense of security’ regarding the possible spread of the coronavirus.

Marlon concluded: “We’re not rich and we’re not poor, but we’re all doing what we can to survive.

“The main thing is that as long as we all get through it, that’s what’s most important.”

Meanwhile, Oliver Crossland, owner of The Ranch, said that the 10pm rule was brought in at short notice and was ‘frustrating’, as many existing bookings after 8pm had to be cancelled - but added that it was a ‘strange’ situation and he understands the reasons for it.

He said he feels more sorry for pubs, rather than restaurants, who may be more badly affected by the 10pm closing rule.

Oliver said: “We are now open an extra hour earlier, and I think we’re opened ourselves up to different customers. Maybe the ‘late lunchers’ from 3pm on Friday and Saturday afternoons.

“Business-wise it is frustrating, The atmosphere has taken a hit. But, for us, anything is better than being shut instead.”