'We are being punished' - Dorset pubs and restaurants hit out and fear for futures as lockdown looms

England will be in a national lockdown from 0.01am this Thursday until Wednesday, December 2, and will see non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues temporarily shut.

As reported, businesses have said a second lockdown will be 'devastating' as one gym launched a £5,000 fundraiser to pay for its business overheads and its self-employed instructors. 

Bars, pubs and restaurants must also stay closed except for delivery or take-away services. Pubs cannot sell alcohol to takeaway however.

Some pubs are now offering cheap alcohol in the run-up to Thursday in a bid to shed stock.

This includes Wetherspoons pubs which are selling pints of real ale for 99p. Customers have until 10pm tomorrow to claim the offer on any real ale.

'We are being punished'

Rhos Thompson, landlord of the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth, was distraught at the prospect of shutting his pub for a second time this year.

He said that “pubs are not the problem” and believed that the hospitality industry is being “punished” despite businesses’ efforts to be coronavirus compliant.

He added: “It is very disappointing that our pub and others will close during this lockdown.

“We have worked extremely hard to make the pub a safe place for everyone and we have taken on the measures and advice given to us.

“It feels like we are being punished for something that isn’t our fault. If you go to any pubs in the area, they are so safe and been relatively Covid-free.

“We have installed hand sanitisers, introduced QR code for the track and trace system and the table service so customers can stay at their tables. We have done all we can.”

Mr Thompson felt that supermarkets have an “unfair advantage” of being able to sell alcohol while bars, pubs and restaurants cannot offer takeaway alcohol orders. Pubs previously were allowed to sell takeaway alcohol in the first national lockdown.

The Portland Road pub, which is the only pub in the Wyke area, will be closed during lockdown but may look into carrying out community work in the area.

Mr Thompson issued a rallying cry for fellow pub landlords to support each other during these “difficult times”.

“First thing we will do is another deep clean and I will look for things to do around the pub”, he said. “There’s always any opportunity to improve the business during these times.

“We will get through this and we will survive this. As long as we pubs work together, share advice and pull together, we will come out of this challenging period.”

Temporary closures could have 'catastrophic' effect on businesses

Keith Treggiden outside Rendezvous

Keith Treggiden, manager of Rendezvous, Royal Oak and Slug and Lettuce, said the news was "gutting" and could have a "catastrophic" effect on some businesses.

He said: "We just got back into the swing of life and had managed the businesses accordingly and controlled the influx of crowds but bars and pubs are being penalised.

"My main thought is that we will not be open until January judging from how the first lockdown went, but we can only hope that we will be open for Christmas period."

Brett Dunster, owner of Bacaro on Weymouth’s Esplanade, had braced himself for a lockdown announcement - but was surprised by the timing of Saturday’s briefing.

He said: “I was really surprised. I knew a lockdown announcement was coming but it came quicker than I thought it would be.

“We are disappointed as we opened three weeks ago but I am a firm believer of following the rules and measures to keep each other safe.”

Following the lifting of the first lockdown, Mr Dunster made the decision to overhaul the Aura nightclub into an Italian restaurant in a bid to survive as a business.

The move, which created 12 new jobs, has been a successful venture so far – but fears a second lockdown will “stunt” Bacaro's growth.

Mr Dunster said: “We have had a lot of support from local people who have wanted to support local businesses like ours and that has been a boast.

“Of course, closing down will shunt the growth of the business. We have been open for three weeks and have received some feedback from customers so we will spend some time to read them and how to improve.

Inside the newly rebranded Bacaro on Weymouth seafront. Picture: Bacaro

“We will be hoping we can reopen after lockdown during the festive period but that’s down to government guidance.”

A priority for him, however, is the wellbeing of his staff members.

He said: “We will be supporting our staff members and have told them to take four weeks off and look after themselves and families.

“We have some support networks in place, and we will be checking up on their mental health and wellbeing. It is so important to do this.”

Mark Fellows, manager at Old Ship Inn in Dorchester, was saddened by the news but is awaiting further guidance from the Government.

The historic pub will carry out some refurbishment ahead of its reopening.

Since the lockdown announcement, dozens of non-essential businesses around Dorset have shared news that they will close or offer a food takeaway service.

The Little Ship on Portland will use the time to carry out maintenance and create a new menu while Chickerell based Turks Head will continue to offer a takeaway and delivery service.

Many businesses are already in a very precarious position ahead of second lockdown, says business leader

Dorset Chamber chief executive, Ian Girling, had every sympathy with business owners given how compliant they have been with coronavirus measures.

He has called upon the Government to develop test and trace systems and a long-term strategy to tackle Covid-19.

He said: “There is no doubt many businesses will be devastated by this second lockdown, particularly when they have already done all they can to comply with requirements.

“These announcements have been made in a haphazard way and whilst we have seen some relief with the extension of the furlough scheme until December, this is only a short-term solution.

“Many businesses are already in a very precarious position and forward financial support for employers and employees needs commensurate with the scale of restrictions imposed.

“This time needs to be used to enable mass test and trace systems and the development of a long-term strategy to dealing with this pandemic.

“Hopefully this will also be a wakeup call for the many individuals who continue to blatantly ignore requirements - and businesses are paying the price for this. Everyone has to do their bit in this time of crisis.”

Parliament will debate and vote on these coronavirus measures which, if passed, will come into force on Thursday.