Mansfield pub owner says decision to keep county in Tier 3 measures is 'devastating'
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The county is to stay in the toughest Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs during a statement in the House of Commons today.
Gary Jordan, Chair of the Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Business Group, said: “On a personal level I am disappointed, but I knew it was coming. Our hospital numbers are rising, we have a lot of over 60s. I think it was inevitable, we need to get the numbers down.
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Hide Ad"I will be canvassing, as leader of the 2020 group, with our MPs for Mansfield and Ashfield. What we need now from the politicians is more support for our hospitality trade.
"The latest decision means that some bars in the Mansfield may not reopen. So, let’s see if we can get some support for these businesses.”
Jonno Edwards who has four pubs in the Mansfield town centre AndwhyNot, The Cheeky Monkey, The Red, and Industria, said: “Deep down we knew Tier 3 was going to stay.
"From a business point of view it is absolutely devastating and crippling for our industry. For bars and pubs and restaurants, December is a pivotal month.
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Hide Ad"But the human being side of things mean it has to be the right decision, with the virus on the rise. I think it was the right thing to do and all we can hope is that people will support us and our industry when we go into Tier 2.”
Wendy Parker, who has run The Railway Inn, on Station Street said “We are all fed up of it. Why us in the pub trade? People are still shopping. At some stage we are going to have to get back to normal. I have a lot of elderly customers banging on the door today saying let us back in! I have to tell them, it’s not me, blame Boris! For many pensioners coming here it’s a bit of company.
"The government has done what they can with wages, but It is going to affect a lot of pubs badly. I have been here 30 years, I don’t want to be the last pub left standing!”