Peterborough pub boss slams Lockdown ban on his beer takeaways

Andy Simmonds, who runs the independent Ploughman at the Werrington Centre is one of a number of licensees across Peterborough who has helped pay the bills throughout the first two Lockdowns and Tierings by selling his beers on a takeaway basis. The Hand and Heart, in Millfield, Yard of Ale in Woodston and Woolpack at Stanground have fulfilled a similar role.

However that right was taken away by the government’s current Lockdown introduced this week - much to the annoyance of Andy, who was hoping for a U-turn when parliament discussed it on Wednesday.

“Being able to sell my beers contributes to me paying the bills for the pub, and also helps people in my community who don’t want to go into a shop but go to their local pub, buy a couple of pints of their favourite beer and take it home to drink,” he said.

“I had high hopes hanging on the debate on Wednesday as there had been growing support among some MPs. I hoped the Government would see sense and realise it is not pubs selling beer that is doing the damage and spreading the virus. I was hoping that they would allow us to continue.”

Ironically the award-winning pub - twice the city’s Camra Pub of the Year - has an off sales licence and an off sales entrance at the back , which is just yards from the Tesco store which can sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm.

“I have a purpose built off licence at the back of my premises and I do not understand why pubs like mine are banned from selling beer to people to take away in sealed containers, while next door to me people are outside Tesco drinking until all hours after buying beer in there?

”How is me selling takeaway real ales from 3pm to 7pm seen as a problem?”

Critical of the Government’s restrictions and lack of transparency, he added: “They have shut us down at the busiest time of year - the Christmas period keeps us going through January to March when it can get quiet.

“The grants and any help is welcome, of course, but it does not even cover the rent.”

Angela Hopkin, at the Yard of Ale, was equally critical of the Government’s handling of the restrictions which had taken its toll on the hospitality sector..

“We served takeaway during the two previous lockdowns which supplied local people with real ale and homemade woodfired pizza,” she said.

“I just cannot believe that the Government has taken that little privilege away from us.

“There weren’t many pubs Peterborough that supplied takeaway ale and the ones that did such as The Ploughman and Woolpack all operated limited hours and time slot collection. This was regulated and I really cannot see where the problem is.

“The supermarkets are making a killing on alcohol sales because the Government has given them the power and they are monopolising the covid restrictions..It’s perfectly fine to push your way around a supermarket with hundreds of other people to collect your favourite tipple but you cannot book a 10minute slot to collect your ale from your local that is struggling to keep afloat.

“The Government has offered a grant which won’t touch the sides when it comes to keeping businesses afloat during the coming months. Let’s hope they see sense and allow pubs to serve takeaway again albeit to off load our current stock.”