Peterborough city centre restaurant’s booze ban so it can open after lockdown

A Peterborough city centre restaurant that has been hit harder than most since the pandemic began has been forced to stop serving alcoholic drinks as it prepares to reopen next Wednesday.
2020 World Buffet at New Road, Peterborough EMN-200714-1739570092020 World Buffet at New Road, Peterborough EMN-200714-173957009
2020 World Buffet at New Road, Peterborough EMN-200714-173957009

It is the latest bodyblow for 2020 World Buffet in New Road, a £750,000 multi-cuisine restaurant which only opened in March - one day before the government’s initial lockdown was enforced.

It did reopen in August - weeks after measures were relaxed and also operated a takeaway service - but since the November lockdown has been completely closed once more.

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Like most in the hospitality industry, Paul Sharma, one of the owners, has been counting down the days until December 2, when lockdown ends and he can reopen, subject to the Government’s new tier system.

The Paper Mills, Wansford EMN-180928-151255009The Paper Mills, Wansford EMN-180928-151255009
The Paper Mills, Wansford EMN-180928-151255009

However, today he said he had been left with no option but to run on a self-service buffet basis with soft drinks only.

“If we do the table service we are allowed to sell alcohol, but getting hundreds of items to the table in a limited time is just a heck of a job and we won’t be able to cope up with the customers’ demand,” he said.

“If we do the normal self-serve buffet we are not allowed to sell alcohol, which is ridiculous, but we have no option but to follow the rules provided by the council. It doesn’t make any sense. We have a Covid secure venue and we are fully compliant like any other business.

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“So unfortunately we had to opt for the no sale of alcohol and the self serve buffet. We will be serving a range of soft drinks, including mocktails, and unlimited self serve food at a fixed price.”

City centre Nepalese and Indian favourite Gurkha Durbaar, in Broadway, will be making up for lost time by opening seven days a week in the run up to Christmas.

“If everything is normal we will open seven days a week in December; we usually close on Monday,” said Prem Devkota, “We would like to encourage our customers to book a table in advance to manage social distance properly. It’s a festive time and everybody will be excited to go out and have nice time. Here at Gurkha Durbaar we will make sure all our customers will have festive vibe and have a joyful time.”

Elsewhere, The Paper Mills gastropub at Wansford, is looking forward to opening its doors on December 2nd at 11.45am.

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“We have taken the opportunity (during lockdown) to decorate and refurbish key areas where appropriate and our new exciting winter menu will be available from when we reopen,” said owner Sarah Evans. “The Paper Mills has its Christmas decorations in place as we​ want to ensure you enjoy the best of festive welcomes.”

Thanking customers for their support, she added: “We look forward to seeing all our customers very soon. Let’s enjoy these last few weeks of what has been for all of us a really difficult year and here at The Paper Mills it is our task to deliver that in a timely, hygienic and safe manner.”

Also raring to go - but waiting on Government tier announcements on Thursday - is Ram Krishna Bashyal, at Hampton Vale’s Gurkha Lounge, who said: “If allowed we will be fully open.” The restaurant is currently operating a takeaway service. And John McGinn, at the Dog in a Doublet, was in similar mood: “We’re going full throttle into Christmas!” he said,