Lancaster district pubs digest new 'substantial meal' rule as city MP blasts government for 'mishandling crisis'

Lancaster MP Cat Smith said that going into Tier 3 was not inevitable, and that she was deeply concerned about the district's hospitality sector.
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As a raft of new Covid-19 restrictions were announced by the government today, pubs were again left scratching their heads over what they can and can't do.

New Tier 3 rules - which only Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region are currently under - mean that pubs can only stay open if they serve "substantial meals" to customers, and then only if they visit from the same household.

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Many "wet pubs" have already announced that they will be closing from tonight, October 16, at the 10pm curfew time.

Pubs will no longer be able to only serve alcohol.Pubs will no longer be able to only serve alcohol.
Pubs will no longer be able to only serve alcohol.

One Morecambe publican said that "many businesses would go under" as a result of the new restrictions.

Others say they will be offering a delivery and take out service, but it is understood that if a pub serves food, it is also allowed to serve alcohol, although customers have to buy a meal first.

Morecambe BID manager John O'Neill said the decision to close pubs was 'disappointing' as the night-time economy is not driving the infection rate.

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Lancaster Pubwatch chairman Tim Tomlinson said the pubs that are forced to close - the ones that don't normally serve food - would be getting the least worst option.

Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said the government has lost control of the virus.Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said the government has lost control of the virus.
Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said the government has lost control of the virus.

Mr Tomlinson said that the one household per table rule introduced last Wednesday when the city went into Tier 2 was already making a massive dent into much reduced sales, and that in some cases sales are down by as much as 80 per cent.

"This is simply not survivable," he said.

"We are still waiting for full details on what the new Tier 3 rules will mean for those of us who can serve food and there are more questions than answers at the moment.

"If we choose to close will our staff be funded by furlough in the same way as premises who don’t serve food and therefore have been forced to close?

Lancaster district has been placed into the Tier 3 "very high level" of Covid-19 restrictions.Lancaster district has been placed into the Tier 3 "very high level" of Covid-19 restrictions.
Lancaster district has been placed into the Tier 3 "very high level" of Covid-19 restrictions.

"What is a substantial meal?

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"The strange example of a Cornish pasty versus a Cornish pasty with salad was used by one cabinet minister.

"As for pubs being forced to close it is possibly the least worst option for a lot of pubs.

"Despite all the loss of sales as a result of reduced capacity, fewer tables, 10pm curfew etc, most pubs were struggling, but getting by.

"However the one household only per table rule that applied from Wednesday when we went into tier 2 was making a massive dent in our already much reduced sales.

"In some cases sales are down by as much as four fifths.

"This is simply not survivable.

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"Restriction after restriction after restriction, but without any support from the government meant the losses many pubs were expecting to face would put them under in a matter of a few weeks.

"No one wants to be closed, but for a lot of businesses, having a the wages paid (albeit at 66% of the usual levels) by the government and a small grant to go towards the cost of the overheads is probably better than trying to stay open and hemorrhaging money.

"It keeps the staff in employment and allows us to just keep our heads just above water until we can reopen and serve customers in some way closer to normality than we are allowed at present."

John O'Neill, manager of Morecambe BID said: "It's not unexpected but it's still disappointing given the fact that the Lancashire councils have been lobbying the government not to put Lancashire into Tier 3 and that the Night Time Economy is not driving the infection rate.

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"Morecambe BID have worked with our hospitality venues and they have worked hard to comply with the rules, and the fact that our local Covid infection rates are some of the lowest in the County is testament to the fact that the procedures put in place are working.

"This should be a busy time for the Hospitality Sector in the run up to Christmas so we can only hope these measures are in for the shortest period of time possible".

Lancaster MP Cat Smith said: “Moving into Tier 3 was not inevitable.

"It’s the government’s complete mishandling of this crisis, with rising rates across Lancashire, which has contributed to a devastating second wave.

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"The UK government has lost control of the virus, lost control of the message – and is no longer following scientific advice.

"We are reaching a crisis point and we badly need the Test and Trace system fixed and working if we are in any hope of not repeating the terrible scenes we witnessed earlier in this pandemic.

"But, like the government, the national, largely privatised, test and trace system has failed.

"I’m deeply concerned about the hospitality sector with local businesses telling me they need more support and I am doing all I can to get them the financial support they need.

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"The government must act now to save lives, fix testing and protect the NHS.”

Hannah Horner, landlady at The Borough, in Lancaster's Dalton Square, added: "We are extremely disappointed for all our staff and customers that we have been placed into Tier 3 though the health and well-being of our community is very important to us.

"Despite us serving food, the restrictions on socialising inside and outside now coupled with the caution felt by our customers mean the borough is doing a fraction of the business it normally would.

"We suspect that these restrictions will not be lifted in four weeks and are preparing ourselves for a very different winter and Christmas to normal.

"Rest assured though we will definitely be back to our best as soon as we can be."