Once upon a time we spent £3k making our shop covid secure! At the request of the government.

We reduced our capacity to 80%.

Customers queued in an orderly manner socially distanced and got served behind screens keeping staff and customers safe. And then sat down on sanitised
Tables and chairs between screens. And their food and drinks were served at the table by a server wearing a face guard.

We served thousands of customers without incident.

Then the government made us do table service increasing costs and putting our staff more at risk...
Households could then only meet up in groups or bubbles. And footfall was reduced further.

And again we rose to the occasion and did everything we were asked to!

The ONS data was then published showing hospitality was only responsible for 2-3% of outbreaks
Again we served thousands of people without incident.

We took names and addresses and lots of abuse!

We did eat out to help out which Was great help!

Then the schools went back and cases started to rise.

Mass outbreaks at universities
Last week 22% of school kids in secondary schools were off for covid reasons!

We could only serve takeaway in November

We were put into tier 3 and we can only serve takeaway in December

And I don’t believe the North will exit tier 3 for a long time!
We are having to explain the to loads of out loyal customers that we won’t be back open next Wednesday!

For many we are their community hub.

I don’t want my business to harm anyone.

And I know it’s impossible to have any venue 100% safe.
But we have tried to make our venue as covid safe as possible

I don’t get stressed about my business and we will survive, but I do get stressed about the injustice I believe we are being subjected to.
An industry shut in all but name, our staff supported but derisory grants for hospitality businesses that will kill an industry.

A government showing data to support their claim that hospitality need to be closed, is frankly laughable!

No support from local MP’s
And restrictions suitable for a packed pubs being imposed on coffee shops and restaurants.

If we don’t move from tier 3 to tier 2 quickly a lot of venues won’t survive .

And all the restrictions are being handed down by people who don’t understand our industry.
So we will remain the sacrificial lamb that stays closed. While everyone else opens back up.

Until somebody legally challenges this situation. @UKHofficial @UKHospKate
You can follow @MorpethLarder.
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