Worthing and Shoreham's pubs hit by 10pm curfew: 'We will just lose money'

New restrictions introduced to combat the hastening spread of Covid-19 have hit a hospitality industry just getting back on its feet after lockdown.
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From Thursday (September 24), pubs and restaurants have been forced to close at 10pm, introduce table service and make customers wear masks when not at their tables.

Tim Taylor co-owns the Corner House and Beach House in Worthing, as well as the Tap House in Shoreham.

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The latest restrictions capped off a ‘year to forget’, he said, as table service drives up staffing costs and Friday’s takings fell to around 30 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

Corner House, WorthingCorner House, Worthing
Corner House, Worthing

“We will just lose money,” said Tim, adding the only way to really mitigate the loss was to encourage people to come out earlier.

“Increases in staff costs are just something we will have to swallow – it’s either that or we lose the reputation for good service we’ve spent years building up.

“It’s a difficult time and it’s difficult for everyone, but we are quite confident we can batten down the hatches and get through the other side.”

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With premises expected to be empty by 10pm, last orders have to be called at 9.30pm and no food can realistically be ordered after 9pm.

Tim said restrictions made it stressful for staff who have to remind customers of the rules, with some getting angry when asked to leave or wear a mask.

He said it felt like the hospitality industry has been left to ‘police the nation’, with licensees responsible for enforcing social restrictions around eating and drinking out.

“It’s surprising how many people don’t realise that these rules have been introduced by the Government and it’s not our staff who have introduced them,” he said.

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The end of the furlough scheme will bring more misery, with its replacement described by Tim as ‘almost useless’ for the hospitality industry.

It does not cover part-time or zero hours contracts, on which pubs and restaurants rely heavily.

A targeted scheme aimed at the specific needs of industries would have been more appropriate, he argued. Instead, the financial burden has been handed to the hospitality industry.