'It’s time to stop unfairly targeting hospitality' - Hartlepool licensees warn of pub closures and job losses if forced to shut

That is the fear of local licensees and business owners as Downing Street considers a range of options for the hospitality sector particularly in the North East and North West where it says Covid-19 infection rates are rising fastest.

But town businesses say they are being used as a political football and warned of dire consequences if they have to shut again.

Scott Weir, of independent chain Tees Inns, which owns four pubs in the North East including the King John’s Tavern in Hartlepool town centre, said: “I understand that decisive action needs to taken to reduce the spread Covid.

"I have invested thousands of pounds across my four pubs to ensure that they are safe and we haven’t had any requests from Track & Trace since we re-opened on July 6, having served thousands of customers.

"It’s time to stop unfairly targeting hospitality. We’ve already seen pub closures and job losses across the industry and a second lockdown will see more closures and therefore job losses.”

Scott said the Government has not yet provided the industry with scientific evidence to back up the restrictions on it, adding: “We have been singled out, charged and found guilty without any supporting evidence.”

On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said early data suggests a significant proportion of exposure to the virus is being seen in the hospitality sector.

But Scott pointed to recent figures that showed just 4% of virus cases occurred in food outlets and restaurants.

Lee Dexter, who owns The Marine Hotel at Seaton Carew, called on the Government to be clear about its intentions so businesses can make plans.

"It’s the uncertainty that’s killing us,” he said.

Regarding the potential impact of enforced closure, he added: “It depends on how much the Government is prepared to support us and our staff which is our biggest costs.”

Mr Dexter said trade had roughly been cut in half following the new ban on separate households mixing announced last week.

Darab Rezai, chairman of Hartlepool Licensees’ Association and owner of The Harbour View restaurant on Hartlepool Marina, also warned of the impact of closures.

He said: “You’ve got to not forget that the bars and restaurants have got a very important role to play in everybody’s life.

"It (closure) would have an impact where we would see the effect for many years.

"If we lose them we have no fabric of our society. It might have been some people attended bars and restaurants have had Covid-19, however the bar and restaurants are not the cause of it.

"It is not definite they will close. I hope they don’t and hope they [the Government] think again.”

Mr Rezai added the industry was also a major employer, particularly of young people.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said he was working with Chancellor Rishi Sunak to consider fresh support for the hospitality sector because businesses could be put in a “really difficult, intolerable position”.

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