How Peterborough pubs and restaurants will feel the impact of 10pm closing which starts tonight

Announced on Tuesday, venues must close by 10pm, and provide table service in addition to existing post-lockdown measures.

Darren Peachey runs Venture Pubs with wife Carly, leasing numerous pubs across the region including the Limetree, Cross Keys, Dragonfly, Dragon and Three Horseshoes in Peterborough.

He said the decision was disappointing and felt the hospitality industry was being punished for the actions of a few, and that ultimately it might mean pubs shutting if there wasn’t more government support as seen during lockdown earlier this year.

“We are very disappointed by the new measures as we have been following the guidelines in our pubs and feel that the blanket restrictions will adversely affect the hospitality sector in a way that will mean thousands of closures throughout the country,” he said.

“We can’t understand the curfew and how it will positively affect the reduction of the spread of the virus, but that is not the main issue here as we have been closing our pubs early for weeks now.

“We are now moving into the time of year with colder weather and therefore people are not going to want to sit outside. Couple this with reduced capacity inside, we are going to see reduced turnover for our pubs and increased costs from utilities, rent, Sky and BT and general maintenance costs. The table service is going to create increased staffing costs that no hospitality business can afford at this time.

“Unless there is more support from the government and the companies associated with the pubs then it will be more cost effective to close the business down completely. We will not allow our business to lose money for the next 6 months just to keep a pub open. It does not make any sense to do this with the hope that next year will be better.”

“We knew that the pubs would be the first to be blamed for the spike in the virus and to be honest they are correct when it comes to the pubs that we all know have not been sticking to the initial rules that were put in place. The majority have been punished for the actions of the minority.”

“It is a very difficult balancing act to try and control and I do not envy the government’s task of having to deal with this, but, I do believe that hitting the hospitality sector as hard as they have done will not have the desired effect. It would have been better for us all to be closed down until next year when we might have a vaccine that can start to get a grip on this virus.

“I can see a total lockdown in the next 6 weeks as the measures put in place will not reduce the R number below 1.”

Paul Hook, who owns Charters pub and the East restaurant at Town Bridge, and The Brewery Tap on Westgate, was pretty much in agreement that pubs and restaurants were being treated as an easy target by the government.

“I understand the need to keep Covid under check but I am still disappointed that the hospitality industry is being targeted with this 10pm restriction,” he said.

“This sector has been hit hard and is already on its knees. 

“ I am not quite sure what it is going to achieve.  What is the difference between people going out to a restaurant at 8 or 9pm to eat rather than 6 or 7pm which is what will have to happen? They are still doing the same thing, eating in the same environment. That does not make sense to me.

“We at East and Charters and The Brewery Tap have done a lot to help control the virus and to create a safe environment for people and I question the validity of the restrictions. My worry is that it is a headline grabbing gesture - the government wanting to be seen doing something and we are a soft target.”

The new rules have created particular problems at 2020 World Buffet in New Road because of its buffet style of food service not in keeping with government expectations.

The restaurant will instead introduce a whole new menu of table service dishes - each £3.99 - from its variety of world cuisines.

Paul Sharma said: “ This is the only option left and this will be a brand new concept for a big venue like this and the food quality will be kept at top notch. 
We will hire extra staff to make sure the service is delivered efficiently 
“This concept will be implemented until further notice and once things are back to normal we will return to a normal buffet restaurant.”

Prem Devkota, at the Indian and Nepalese restaurant Gurkha Durbaar, on Broadway in the city centre, was fearful diners might be put off dining out, but would be putting measures in place to combat it.

“It is definitely going to impact our business, especially at weekends when we were used to taking bookings for 8pm or 8.30pm. Now those bookings will be difficult and people might be less encouraged to go out, especially with only six on one table and the new restrictions on opening times.

“But it is what it is. We at Gurkha Durbaar will start catering people from 4pm on Saturday and we do have a big enough space to maintain social distancing too.

“Also we will keep on doing Eat Out To Help Out every Tuesday and Wednesday and this will help us to bring in new customers too.”

Dinesh Odedra, owner of the Banyan Tree in Westgate, said he felt the new measures weren’t justified.

“Forcing restaurants to close at 10pm is not going to achieve anything,” he said.

“Diners are already well spaced and they observe social distancing. Better policing of offending venues would have more impact.

“We will lose the little trade we just started to build up.”

Stuart Johnson, at The Golden Pheasant, in Etton, said he thought the government had got it wrong, but didn’t think early closing would be too detrimental to his business.

“For us as a general rule it’s not an issue as we are a destination pub and our clients generally go by 10 to 10.30pm,” he said.

“It’s the pubs around the universities that should be closing early to stop the kids drinking into the hours.

“We have been open since 4th July and only since the unis are back on campus is the rate going up. Pubs as a rule are safer than the supermarkets to visit with constant antibacterial cleaning and social distancing.”

At The Pack Horse in Northborough, Heidi Semple, said they were embracing all the changes and focussing our business to fit in with the new rules, which meant adjusting food serving times and calling last order at 9.40pm.

“ There is a balance we must find that keeps the business open and keeping customers safe,” she said.

“We have more staff to accommodate table service, masks for customers if required and also have the test and trace QR code on each table. We are a safe venue and welcome respectful customers. 

“We have also extended the £10 off our menu Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to now include Thursdays.”

Adebola Adeshina, chef patron at fine dining restaurant The Chubby Castor, was philosophical about the ruling.

“We just have to get on with it,” he said.

“We regularly have 8.30pm bookings, so we will just be asking people to come earlier.

“We have already had people changing the times of their bookings already, without being asked which is nice.”

Rony Choudhury, at The Bombay Brasserie, on Broadway, felt similarly.

“I think we all  should think about our future and safety first,” he said.

“Businesses and other activities come later. 10pm closing time is good and fair for all, remember we’re all going through most difficult of times .”